Co18Tulalearning through play: a guide to educational quests

An independent guide to educational quests and games. It is not a school, an educational institution or an event organizer, and it has no connection to the former website on this domain.

Collections

Reading collections

A collection is a short path through the guide for a specific occasion. Instead of reading the sections in order, pick the situation that fits and open the suggested pages in the order given. Each collection starts with the basics and ends with material for those who are ready for a bigger game.

The beauty of a knowledge game is that it adapts to the circumstances: rain outside, a roomy backyard or a long holiday table — there's a format for every occasion.

— Editor's view

Collections are made up only of pages already published in the guide. We mark which ones are good for a first look and which are best saved for when you've got the basics down.

A rainy-day quest at home

For anyone who needs to keep a group entertained indoors when going outside isn't an option.

  • A room-to-room questGetting started

    A short plan for a game at home on the main page: theme, a route through the house, tasks, hints and a finale.

  • If a team gets stuckGetting started

    Answers about hints, arguments and how to win back the interest of someone who's gotten bored.

  • The full station-based questGoing further

    The hands-on article with steps, sample ideas and a prep checklist.

An outdoor journey game

For a yard, a backyard or a clearing at camp, where the route can stretch out and include more movement.

  • The journey game idea (in Russian)Getting started

    How to turn a route into a journey through “lands of knowledge” and which stations are easiest to come up with.

  • Safety at the venueGetting started

    Answers about chaperoning younger kids, the meeting point and tasks that every player can do.

  • Route and inclusionGoing further

    Topics on story, route, venue and accessibility, gathered on the sections page.

A quiz for a big family

For a holiday table that brings together little kids, grown-ups and grandparents.

  • The host's glossaryGetting started

    Short definitions: briefing, hint, logic chain, prize-giving.

  • All ages at one tableGetting started

    Answers on giving everyone their own part of the job and choosing tasks for different ages.

  • Tasks of varying difficultyGoing further

    How the hands-on article alternates riddles, ciphers and general-knowledge questions.

  • Guides

    How to design an educational quest with stations: preparation, steps with sample ideas, mistakes and a checklist. The article catalog is here too.

  • Questions

    Short answers about preparing a quest, what to do during the game, and kids, age and safety.

  • Reference

    The host's glossary: station, route sheet, hint, cipher, rebus, anagram, briefing, meeting point.

  • Sections

    A map of the guide: story and route, tasks, hosts and rules, safety and inclusion.

Sources

  • General experience of people who host family and children's games

The advice in this guide draws on the shared experience of people who host family and children's games and is written in general terms. If your venue, camp or club has its own safety rules, they take priority over our suggestions: whenever the two differ, follow those rules and the decisions of the adults responsible for the players.