How to Create a Harry Potter Escape Room

How to Create a Harry Potter Escape Room with a small staff and less than 200$ having not actually read the book (yet) or seen the movie (still) and also never having been to an escape room

The Yellowknife Public Library

MYSTERY! Why make an escape room? We (really) care what you think Time is money & money is money The ins & outs

GRYFFINDOR Why make an escape room in the first place? You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the brave at heart, Their daring, nerve and chivalry, Set Gryffindors apart;

MYSTERY! Why make an escape room? We (really) care what you think Time is money & money is money The ins & outs

HUFFLEPUFF We (really) care what you think. You might belong in Hufflepuff Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffs are true, And unafraid of toil;

Three rounds (53 + 104 + 78) 235 participants Which equals approximately 1% of the population of Yellowknife) Waitlists of over 5 pages (6 teams per page = 30+ teams waiting)

Some things I adjusted based on feedback from patrons, staff & “listening in” v Hide instructions in the room about how to use the “high school locker” lock v Added a red herring related to the “piece of cake” clue v Told them to open the first scroll to get started v Added a kitchen timer to the room v Took all their cell phones and kept them with me in the “magic cell phone basket” v Added another word to the spell to lengthen their time in the room (added about 5 -10 minutes approx. ) v Realized we could charge for this! But of course, we didn’t charge for this. Partnered with Avens (assisted living home for elders in the community) to buy them a book cart for their Book Lovers Program

Other themed escape rooms people requested: v. Hobbit v. Percy Jackson v. Alice in Wonderland v. More Harry Potter! v. Scooby Doo v. Twilight v. Hunger Games v. Avengers v. Star Wars v. Superheroes v. How to Train Your Dragon v. Mortal Instruments v. Marvel

MYSTERY! Why make an escape room? We (really) care what you think Time is money & money is money The ins & outs

RAVENCLAW The ins & outs. Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, If you’ve a ready mind, Where those of wit and learning, Will always find their kind;

How on earth did I create a one hour escape room without ever having been to an escape room or reading Harry Potter?

From a Programming Librarian webinar

MYSTERY! Why make an escape room? We (really) care what you think Time is money & money is money The ins & outs

SLYTHERIN We (really) care what you think. Or perhaps in Slytherin, You’ll make your real friends. Those cunning folk use any means, To achieve their ends.

Breakaway Edu Kit: $150 Harry Potter Wand: $20 Little Golden Snitch: $5 Bunch of things I found in the library: FREE Two baskets I found at the swap shop in the mall and tried to buy: ALSO FREE TOTAL: $175

MYSTERY! Why make an escape room? We (really) care what you think Time is money & money is money The ins & outs

MYSTERY TIME!

TOP FIVE TEAM NAMES 1. Snapes on a Plane 2. Straight Outta Azkaban 3. Granger Danger 4. Snitches Get Stitches 5. Siriusly? Honourable Mention: Granger Zone

MYSTERY! Why make an escape room? We (really) care what you think Time is money & money is money The ins & outs

Megan Clark Public Services Librarian Yellowknife Public Library House: Ravenclaw mclark@yellowknife. ca