Editor's Note: We received a message Friday afternoon that the event is now full. Organizers are creating a waitlist and are still looking for volunteers. Email escapeportelgin2017@gmail.com if you would like to help out. 

Hub Staff

Wit, cleverness and an open mind are just a few of the skills a team will need as they take part in the upcoming community fundraiser, Escape Room, in support of local youth mental health initiatives.

On March 25, five Port Elgin establishments: Queen’s Bar & Grill, Boston Pizza, Allen’s Fireside Grill, Chester’s Bar & Grill and Lakeshore Recreation, will open their doors to lock pre-registered teams into mobile escape rooms.

An escape room is an adventure game in which players are locked in a room and have to use elements of the room to solve a series of puzzles and escape within a set time limit.

One of the fundraiser’s organizers, Rob Fawcett, was blown away by the response, as 30 percent of the spaces were booked in less than 24 hours. Fawcett said that on Tuesday February 7 organizers created a Facebook event page and, without sharing it with anyone, the page had over 400 hits by the next day. Sixty-four 45 minute time-slots have been slated for the one-day event and, at the time of publishing, there was still room for six-45 minute slots with a cost of $25 per person; with no more than 10 and no less than six people on a team.

Fawcett said that he has not planned to extend the event to two days, as he wants to do it right the first time. “There’s a lot to go into it from here to the end of the project. If it’s a success maybe I’ll do another one in the summer,” he said. There are lots of opportunities to do it.”

Fawcett went on to say that he will create a waitlist and hopes that he can spread the word about youth mental health with everyone who inquires.

The two recipients from the fundraiser will be Keystone Child, Youth & Family Services out of Owen Sound and WES for Youth Online out of Walkerton. Fawcett said that both organizations help with youth mental health in the Grey Bruce area.

“WES for Youth Online has created an avenue for kids and youth to access counselling online. It’s great for kids who are nervous about calling in or talking to councillors, here is an opportunity for them,” said Fawcett.

Organizers are looking for volunteers to help set-up the rooms and are welcoming students who need volunteer hours. Fawcett said that they will get to see what the rooms are all about and even take part in their own escape. “We want to run through it with our volunteers to see what we’re doing and allow them to participate in it a bit.”

Fawcett, who has seen a few escape rooms in his time, said teams will need to work together. “The biggest thing you need to do is listen to everyone. It’s an amazing team building adventure. If you listen to everyone on your team, younger or older, they’ll all have input and you don’t want to discredit anything that someone suggests.”

To inquire about the event e-mail escapeportelgin2017@gmail.com.