Cindy Crushes Programming: Taylor Swift Escape Room, by Teen Librarian Cindy Shutts

We wanted to do a Taylor Swift escape room in December since that is the month of her birthday. I think if I had to do this over again I would have chosen a different month. December is a harder programming month because of Holiday celebrations and also the end of the school semester so there are a lot of school activities. 

The plot of the escape room is: “. . . Are You Ready For It?”

In honor of Taylor’s Birthday, go “Back To December” in this immersive escape room where participants must work together to escape the “vault” by solving a series of challenges using clues inspired by the eras of Taylor Swift.

There’ll be “No Body, No Crime” if you escape the room in time!

This event is for teens in grade 6-12.

Supplies:

• Breakout edu Kit 
• Random other decor: We printed out posters on canva we found of each era
• Morse Code Guide and word in morse code
• Decor
• Map
• Pencils
• Greek Mythology Books
• Eras stage map with set sections written on them. 
• Posters we found on canva
• Cornucopia (a reference to “Safe and sound” from the Hunger Games Soundtrack)
• Red scarf I borrowed from a coworker (A reference to “All too well”

Locks and Clues: 

Directional Lock: West, North, South, East I will use a map 

I wrote  North South East West on the Eras tour stage map and then hid a note with the seat selections to match the lock code. 

Four Digit Lock: 

Find the Question:  -.. . -… ..- – is debut in morse code

The answer will be 2006 for the year it came out

Three Digit Lock:

I wrote “Glitch” on a piece of paper and the also “website” on a different one. This is the special website glitch that happens on Taylor’s Website.

321

Word Lock is Curse

“What happened to Cassandra?” 

I brought mythology books so they could look her up. They had to find a special hint for this one to use the books. Cassandra is a song on the Tortured Poets Society 

Key lock hides the key in room 

Final thoughts:  I was able to fix my jammed locks so this worked out easier. I did make this one harder since so many Taylor fans are always hunting for easter eggs.  I liked that it was hard and I did have to help the teens more this time.  The teens were able to release Reputation and Debut from the Vault. 

Filed under: Cindy Crushes Programming, Escape Rooms