Social Experiment in Disguise

Several high school graduates from diverse backgrounds and school recently received letters from my colleagues inviting them to an eight week summer camp. Out of the thousands of letters that were sent, only a few hundred answered them, and only a bakers dozen were chosen.

Day 1

As our contestants showed up for camp, the rules to the game were reexplained and they were told that for each week that they lasted in game they would received $500 plus room and board. They were allowed to go anywhere in the camp and when they hear the air raid alarm they need to rush back as quickly as possible to camp flag pole to receive further instructions. They were then handed an envelope and told that they could pick a prize from the chest based on the order they finished the instructions in the envelopes.

Several hours later the first group of campers finished their tasks and started selecting their prizes. The few guys that finished picked through the sporting items, while some rummaged through the craft beer and snack selections. Meanwhile. most of the ladies either chose make up, bottles of wine, or the cute little outfits.

Tatiana finished her tasks about midway and upon going to the chest she noticed a little black notebook with some codes and stuff written on the inside. Intrigued she picked out the book and scurried off to a nice quiet place to start reading through the book. Inside was some instructions to cut the notebook in half and she could keep the first half and whatever rewards came with that or follow the instructions in the second half of the book and get immunity at the first bonfire, but be locked in puzzle shack for up to 48 hours.

She cut the notebook in half and gave the first half to her roomie so her roomie could get the reward from that and then followed the instructions to the shack. Upon going into the shack , she noticed a really comfy bed, and being tired she decided to take a nap before starting on the puzzles.

Day 2

While the rest of the campers competed for head camper and the first two campers were selected for elimination. Tatiana started on the puzzles in the room. The codes in the book contained keys and secret hints to the puzzles and Tatiana made great time solving them. About halfway through she figured out that her end game was to find a key to a huge golden chest in the middle of the room. After several hours, fatigue and frustration set in. However she still managed to finish about 2/3s of the puzzles before settling in to bed for the night

Day 3

She woke up terribly late and realized she only had like 8 hours left to figure out the rest of these tests. And then it dawned on her and she reread the book looking at the different codes and realized that there was another code which gave her a secret location. She then moved leaf covered white bench and noticed some loosed flooring; picking up the flooring, she found a safe hidden underneath. She quickly looked around the room remembering that there was a painting with some roman numerals hidden throughout the painting and used them to open the safe. Inside the safe was filled with some slimy goo, so hesitant at first; she eventually dug around the slimy goo with her hand and found a key. Upon opening the chest was some written instructions congratulating her on receiving an extra week of immunity and the chance to open one of twelve envelopes for a cash prize. Choosing envelope eight--her favorite number-- she opened the envelope to find a check inside for twenty thousand dollars. Soon after, an air raid alarm went off in the distance and the door to the shack opened up.