Host Forest Lantern Trail

A gust has scattered the lantern instructions. Find the clear path, share the lantern supplies and recover the exact trail word. Collect five named badge digits and use the final sheet. Every clue is on the table; ask the host for one hint at a time.

Before you start

Print one player pack and two record sheets per team. Keep the host answers and all three hint levels with the adult.Keep every clue as a full sheet at one table. Put the final sheet face down until all five results are recorded. Nothing needs cutting, folding or hiding.Give each child a pencil. Choose a reader, recorder and checker, and swap jobs after each clue. Use one team for 2–4 children or two teams for 5–6.

Team

Clue check & hints

1. Trail

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

Begin at S and trace only white cells.

Hint 2

The first move from S is right. Follow only edge-connected white cells; a corner touch cannot cross a wall.

Hint 3

The connected corridor reaches row 5, column 5. Copy the exit label printed there.

Reveal host answer

The open corridor from S reaches row 5 column 5, exit 7; the other labelled exits are separated by walls.

2. Stores

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

Loose units are not parcels. Every parcel has equal weight.

Hint 2

Remove 2 loose units from 4. That leaves 2 for the equal parcels.

Hint 3

Share 2 equally among 2 parcels. Substitute one parcel's weight into the second rule.

Reveal host answer

Remove 2 from 4; share 2 among 2 parcels to get 1. Check 2 x 1 + 3 = 5.

3. Keeper

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

No item can belong to two people. Cross out each forbidden pairing.

Hint 2

Fox cannot have two items, so Fox must have Lamp.

Hint 3

Cross Lamp off for the other two people. Apply the last NOT rule, then find Hare's item.

Reveal host answer

Owl has Map; Fox has Lamp; Hare has Flag. Hare's item gives 0.

4. Signal

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

Start at L and check every letter.

Hint 2

The exact word starts in row 3, column 1. Check its letters against the target.

Hint 3

In that row, copy column 5, the cell immediately after the complete word.

Reveal host answer

Only row 3 has LAMP followed immediately by 7. Other rows have changed or reversed letters.

5. Order

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

The printed cards are deliberately out of order.

Hint 2

Read trail must come first. Work out which action comes directly after it.

Hint 3

The first two actions are Read trail, then Check lamps. Finish the chain and read position 2.

Reveal host answer

The only order is Read trail > Check lamps > Mark path > Open gate. Position 2 carries 3.

6. Final

Mark this clue complete

Hint 1

Keep all five named badge results beside this sheet.

Hint 2

At Start, choose Stop 1. Dead end has no path to Finish.

Hint 3

Follow Stop 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to Finish. Copy the badge digit beside each stop in that order.

Reveal host answer

77130

Start > Stop 1 > Stop 2 > Stop 3 > Stop 4 > Stop 5 > Finish; Signal > Trail > Stores > Order > Keeper

Suggested timeline

3 minutes: Read the story, show the badge record and choose roles.
4 minutes: Solve Trail. Offer one hint level at a time if wanted.
5 minutes: Solve Stores. Offer one hint level at a time if wanted.
6 minutes: Solve Keeper. Offer one hint level at a time if wanted.
undefined minutes: Solve Signal. Offer one hint level at a time if wanted.
5 minutes: Solve Order. Offer one hint level at a time if wanted.
5 minutes: Use the five results on the final sheet.
2 minutes: Read the ending and thank each teammate.

Pause whenever the group needs a break. This is a planning estimate.