ArtEscape – creating outdoor escape games in cities

Art Escape Project – What is it about?

Youth work and non-formal learning can enhance young people’s creativity and innovation, through experimental nature, participatory approaches, and peer learning in times of pandemic and beyond. This project is about using the educational potential of Outdoor Escape Games with the theme of traditional fairy tales and myths.

Partner consortium. CODEC – Association for European Cooperation Development and Communication (Belgium) – lead partner, PlanBe Plan It Be It (Cyprus), Nuoriso – Ja Matkailukeskus Hyvarilaoy (Finland), Sindesmos Sistima Kai Genia (Greece), JumpIN Hub – Associação para a Inovação e Empreendedorismo (Portugal) and Badgecraft Ireland.

In this project, the partners in five Cities and Regions of Learning – Athens, Cyprus, Hoogstraten, Komotini, Nurmes and  Porto aim to enhance the skills development and competences of youth workers in the creation and managing outdoor escape games with thematic on traditional fairy tales and myths, that reinforce creativity, as well as to boost quality, innovation and recognition of youth work that support the creative potential of youth, thus contributing to the recovery resilience of the cultural and creative sectors.

We use the Cities of Learning platform for young people, youth workers and educators to be able to create and find Outdoor Escape experiences and get their learning validated and recognised with the use of Open Badges. This strategic partnership is part of a long-term collaboration between several Cities and Regions of Learning.

     

 

Art Escape develops educational tools for youth workers, educators, and teachers to promote cultural heritage and creativity through designing and facilitating Outdoor Escape Games in our local communities.

Activities:

  • creating a step-by-step guide on the creation of Outdoor Escape Games with a theme on traditional fairy tales and myths including outdoor escape rooms scenarios;
  • creating and offering an online learning course on how to create Outdoor Escape Rooms;
  • creating and offering learning pathways/playlists of outdoor escape games in the Cities of Learning platform;
  • training activity for youth workers and representatives of the art sector on how to manage the Outdoor Escape Games; with a thematic on traditional fairy tales and myths;
  • training activity to receive feedback and suggestions from the 16 pax on how they managed the pilot testing of the Outdoor Escape Games with a thematic on traditional fairy tales and myths.

The project is funded by the European Union through the ERASMUS+ programme.

IO1: step-by-step guide how to create Outdoor Escape Games

Project partners from Belgium, Ireland, Cyprus, Greece, Portugal and Finland developed a step-by-step guide “How to create Outdoor Escape Games with thematic on traditional fairy tales and myths”

In this guide you will discover and learn:

  • What is the difference between escape games Vs educational escape games;
  • How to create your own outdoor escape game with the topic of traditional fairy tales and myths;
  • What are the key elements of the escape game includes and what do you need to pay attention to when creating your game;
  • Why it is important to make a game on the theme of fairy tales and myths and how to adapt them to your city;
  • Practical advice, resources and platforms to help you create your game.

Click on this link to download the PDF version of the guide.

 

IO2 E-course on How to Create Outdoor Escape games

The course guides youth workers and non-formal educators through the process of creating outdoor escape games based on cultural heritage. In four learning modules, participants can find information and practical assignments to design an escape game outdoors with regard to learning goals and target groups of your organization.

The course content:

  • Learners’ onboarding to the course
  • Escape rooms in youth work
  • Outdoor escape rooms: scenarios
  • Outdoor escape game puzzle and digital tools

The course is available on the HOP online learning platform: https://hop.salto-youth.net/courses/ArtEscape

IO3 Outdoor Escape Games

CODEC Belgium created “The Hero of Antwerp” outdoor game. Watch a video presenting examples of puzzles and enigmas from their game and practical details of game design.

Plan It Be It created “The myth of Siren Leucosia” an outdoor escape game. Watch the video about the development process they went through, including identifying needs, and risks and handling controversy of mythical stories in a modern escape game.

Jump In Hub Portugal created an educational outdoor escape game “Porto – the Invicta City”. Watch the video where they explain the game’s logic and puzzles from the game.


Ekaterina Sysoeva from Hyvärilä youth centre talks about “Remembering: outdoor escape game in Hyvärilä youth centre” and the process of identifying target groups, testing and updating the game, and game flow.

Partners from System&G created a game Minotaur who?.