Science North has jumped on the bandwagon of the escape room trend.
You and your friends are invited to get together and attempt to bust out of the science centre's new escape room starting Jan. 20.
“Here at Science North, we're always looking for new, fun innovative ways to bring things and new experiences to Northern Ontario … and we came upon escape rooms,” said Reneé LePera, Science North's senior manager of visitor services and sales.
“We're hoping that it creates a space for people to set their technology aside and really engage in great communication, team building and fun together.”
Unsurprisingly, Science North's escape room has a science theme.
It's called CortX Laboratories, and involves visitors signing up to take part in a “science experiment.”
But when the situation takes an unexpected turn, teams have 45 minutes to find an antidote. Be prepared to use your logic and math skills to solve a series of puzzles and codes.
By the way, no cellphones are allowed — they stay outside with the escape room game master.
“We've done some focus groups, and very few of them have succeeded,” said LePera. “Most it takes them more than 45 minutes. We will have leaderboards so we'll be able to track the teams and who's done great.”
There are already at least two privately operated escape rooms in Greater Sudbury. LePera looks at that as something that could be mutually beneficial.
“We actually see it as an opportunity to partner with other people,” she said. “We have different markets. How can we engage the other operators and maybe do some cross promotion?”
The escape room is suitable for ages 16 and up, although children younger than that are welcome in a private booking with adult supervision. The minimum group is two people and the maximum is eight.
Tickets cost $25 per person plus tax (members save 10 per cent). Visit Science North's website for more information and to purchase tickets.
Sudbury.com's newsroom staff will be trying out the escape room this week. Watch out for a video featuring our experience.
