MYSTERY BUS ADVENTURE
Days when schools are closed mid-week can present a challenge for working families. St. Alban’s, Oakland / Franklin Lakes, has begun a new program to help out. On Wednesday, September 26th, twenty-one children, youth and adult chaperones boarded a bus at 9AM and only the chaperones knew where they were going! It was the first Mystery Bus Adventure and it was a huge success! The program, designed by St. Alban’s rector, The Reverend Kathryn King, involves a series of clues and surprise boxes, opened throughout the day as the Adventurers journey from one prearranged location to the next. The clues, drawn from common knowledge and basic scripture texts teach and challenge the participants to make connections with each other and the sites they are visiting. “It is a great way to include some religious education, fun and fellowship while supporting working families” said Rev. King. “We hope that this will be the first of many. We plan to run 2 or 3 a year; some for elementary ages and one each year just for junior and senior high”.
On Mystery Bus Trip #1 the first set of clues, based on the 4th day of creation, led the group to the planetarium at the Newark Museum where they enjoyed a private presentation. The next stop, also at the Newark Museum, was to play a live game of CLUE in the Ballantine Mansion to discover who stole the precious family jewelry. Stop number three was found by following clues based on the passages of the 23rd psalm and took the group for a picnic at Branch Brook Park where they also enjoyed kite flying and a game of pick-up football. The final stop was reached after answering a set of clues about the meaning of “Sanctuary” in the history of the church and clues drawn from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The adventurers arrived at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Morristown where they were greeted with the carillon in the great tower playing just for them. The group then climbed the 125 small and winding steps to reach the bell chamber holding the 49 bell carillon. The group learned about the bells and even got to stand inside the largest bells. Up one more flight of stairs took the group to the open air top with a view of the entire area. Finally the group was treated to the opportunity to actually play the great carillon and send the sounds all over Morristown.
The parents waiting back at the church were greeted by excited kids with many stories to tell. The parents had been given the full itinerary prior to the departure in the morning. Both kids and adults were asking when the next adventure would be scheduled!
For more photos go to www.stalbansflow.org.