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Mystery on Lake Superior
Ecological Thinking Role-Play Game
Welcome to Mystery on Lake Superior!
This program is designed to get participants thinking deeply and critically about the ecosystems in which they live and the other living beings who inhabit those ecosystems with them.
A unique workshop and wonderful gateway to deeper environmental thinking, Mystery on Lake Superior, takes the form of an interactive, interpretive, role-play game, creating intrigue and excitement for the players while they learn about Lake Superior and its inhabitants.
Whether in an office or out in a natural setting, the players set the stage for solving the mystery. Each player is a particular aquatic species, and all of them are suspects! Provided with an engaging backstory about their unique connection to Little Bay, Lake Superior, the players will discover information to help solve the mystery of the poisoning of a dog named Max. Using creativity and powers of deduction, the players will determine how the incident happened, who or what is the culprit, and what their motives are. Using the preliminary 'evidence', the information uncovered during gameplay, and the players' knowledge of the Lake Superior food web, they will have to solve the mystery.
This game is designed to raise ecological, biological, and ethical questions regarding the notion of "invasive" species. Using a role-play style mystery game, hilarious costumes, and critical thinking, participants will come to a more nuanced and empathetic view of the living beings and ecosystems around them. As a fun and engaging workshop, Mystery on Lake Superior can be used as either a unique starting-point or as a deeper dive into critical environmental thinking for any organization.
Program Details
Core idea
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Using a fun and interactive role-play mystery game to prompt critical and empathetic thinking regarding the ecosystems and living beings around us
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Forming a relational, care-based understanding of one's place in the world
Ideal for
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Organizations looking to deepen their environmental thinking and empathy, including businesses, environmental NGOs, and community group
Headwaters Highlights
A meaningful relationship with the natural world
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Unique to Headwaters, we intentionally weave environmental philosophy, naturalist knowledge, and eco-social history into everything we do, developing a relationship with nature far more meaningful than simply "enjoying the outdoors"
Time away from cellphones
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With no cell phones or other electronic devices permitted during our programs, it is a gloriously rare opportunity to unplug and re-connect
Character Development
All of our programs intentionally develop moral character, with a special focus on the following traits:
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Joy for life and its experiences
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Care for others and our world
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Wonder about life's mysteries
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A feeling of awe for both the grand vistas and the little things
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Respect for the wellbeing of others and our world
We place an emphasis on developing resiliency as the groundwork of moral character
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Resiliency teaches us to keep going even when things are uncomfortable. Because of this, it is the core of moral character, enabling us to ask, "what is worth doing, even if I fail?"
Where this program can take place
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Indoor space
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Local green space or nearby park
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In a wilderness setting
Program length
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2 hours
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The length of this program can be modified based on the needs of the participants