Who doesn’t get excited about a field trip? Taking students to an escape room can be an amazing experience, especially if you’re aiming to build teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Here are some tips to make it a memorable and enriching adventure:
- Ask About Student Discounts
Reach out to local escape room businesses to ask about any discounts they might offer for school groups. Many businesses will be more than willing to work with you, especially if they know you might come back year after year. - Check for Guest Speakers or Game Designers
See if the business has a game designer who might be willing to meet with your class. Having a designer discuss how they put puzzles together or what goes into creating an escape room experience can be eye-opening for students. I’ve had several companies send out a guest speaker, and it’s been a highlight of the trip for students. - Bring Your Idea Notebook for Debriefing
Use the bus ride home to debrief and reflect! Bring along your Idea Notebook, and ask students to jot down their thoughts on how the puzzles were linked. Encourage them to think about how each clue led to the next—this reinforces that completing the game involves a series of steps and that each piece of the puzzle matters.
Taking your class to an escape room isn’t just a fun field trip—it’s an interactive lesson in logic, teamwork, and planning. Plus, who knows? You might even spark a life-long passion for game design!