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‘Escape’ event at Indian Trails library offered tweens a glimpse into the ’80s

Caleb Lim, 13, of Buffalo Grove, and Sofia Bierman, 11, of Wheeling, participated in Indian Trails Library’s first-ever “Escape the 20th Century” event Sept. 21, 2019 for middle schoolers at the library in Wheeling.
Caleb Lim, 13, of Buffalo Grove, and Sofia Bierman, 11, of Wheeling, participated in Indian Trails Library’s first-ever “Escape the 20th Century” event Sept. 21, 2019 for middle schoolers at the library in Wheeling. (Elizabeth Owens-Schiele / Pioneer Press)

By Elizabeth Owens-Schiele

Middle school students looking to “Escape the 20th Century” experimented recently with a smaller scale version of an escape room at the Indian Trails Library in Wheeling.

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The hourlong activity Sept. 21 with a 1980s theme brought together 11 local middle school children to work together on solving clues, using their math skills to solve puzzles and teamwork to open combinations to win a Rubix cube and more.

“They needed a couple of hints, but once they got going in the right direction, they were able to solve all of the puzzles on their own and they did Escape 1986,” said Katie Burke, early literacy librarian and co-coordinator of the event.

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Using a special box of puzzles from the educational Breakout EDU program, the original set of clues were based on computer programs from the ’80s such as math blaster. This initial set of clues, Burke said, led to a solution and set them on the path to solve the puzzles.

“The rest of the clues we had hidden around the room along with some kind of red herrings,” Burke said. “They got derailed a few times but they were able to refocus. They actually all worked together as one group.”

Middle schoolers also had to use their math skills to solve one of the clues, using the quotient from different number pairs to figure out one of the lock combinations. When they solved all of the puzzles, each child was awarded a mini Rubix cube, a treasure for them to go along with the theme, along with neon sunglasses and DIY slap bracelets.

“Some of it is just working on problem solving,” Burke said of the educational component of the event. “You got this whole set of clues and had to figure out a structured way to deal with those and use teamwork. This gives them chance to meet different people to work together as a team because everybody has a different perspective.”

She said some of the kids did say they had been to a professional escape room for a birthday party before but others had not.

“For them to get a chance to experience this and if it’s something they really enjoy, they’ve tried it out in a no-fail, free library program situation,” Burke said. “So if they want to try it out with their family or friends, then they know more what they’re getting into.”

Megan Lev, 11, of Buffalo Grove, was glad she came.

“I liked the teamwork,” said Lev. “I have never done an escape room before. This was like an escape room but it was in a box. We were in a room opening a box.”

Indian Trails Library held its first-ever “Escape the 20th Century” event Sept. 21, 2019 for middle schoolers at the library in Wheeling.
Indian Trails Library held its first-ever “Escape the 20th Century” event Sept. 21, 2019 for middle schoolers at the library in Wheeling. (Elizabeth Owens-Schiele / Pioneer Press)

Caleb Lim found it challenging.

“It started out slow but then we eased into it,” said Lim, 13, of Buffalo Grove. “We collected a few combinations then once we found the key, we found shapes to unlock the small boxes. After we unlocked it, we found a bar code and looked it up online then we were able to help Mario finish his staircase.”

Sofia Bierman, 11, of Wheeling, also enjoyed the event.

“It was fun. We all worked together and found some clues.” Bierman said. “We did some division and equations on the stairs to help Mario get onto the stairs.”

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Burke said she plans to offer a similar program for kids in the spring.

Elizabeth Owens-Schiele is a freelancer.

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