Teacher Operations Manual Teacher Operations Manual
Ride the Wave: Soul Surfer Escape Room
Total Time 60 Mins
Mission Overview
Students navigate 4 core stations and 1 high-energy bonus challenge. Each station yields a unique Wave Token to be recorded on their tracker.
Station 1: Shoreline Shift
Caesar Cipher Decoding (+3 shift)
Station 2: Signal Surf Morse Code
Decoding distress signals (ALOHA)
Station 3: Wave Watcher
Word search & hidden word (BALANCE)
Station 4: Stroke Sorting
Reading & ranking swim strokes
Bonus Challenge: The Final Heat
Scavenger hunt & puzzle assembly
Setup List
Stations 1-4: Print materials and place at designated areas.Bonus Station: Print & cut Gear Tags (L-I-N-E-U-P) and hide them throughout the room.Scorecards: Print one Wave Tracker per team.
Pacing Guide
Time Phase 00-05 Briefing (Resilience) 05-40 Rotation (Stations 1-4) 40-55 Bonus Race (Final Heat) 55-60 Debrief
The Scripted Briefing
"Surfers, the tide is coming in. You have 60 minutes to clear Stations 1-4. If you reach the finish line early, the Final Heat Bonus awaits those with the extra grit. Bethany Hamilton didn't need easy, she just needed possible. Paddle out!"
Ride the Wave Intro Slides Ride the Wave
Escape Room Experience
The Bonus Heat Starts Now
The Spirit of
Resilience
Inspired by the true story of Bethany Hamilton, we're diving into the heart of Hawaiian surf culture.
Surfing isn't just a sport—it's about overcoming obstacles, finding balance, and never giving up.
Soul Surfer Spirit
Your Mission
Navigate
Visit 4 core stations across the island.
Solve
Unlock ciphers and tokens to advance.
Conquer
Unlock the Final Heat Bonus challenge!
Collect all 4 Wave Tokens to unlock the Bonus Station!
The Island Map
01
Shoreline Shift
Caesar Cipher
02
Signal Surf
Morse Code Comms
03
Wave Watcher
Terminology Search
04
Stroke Sorting
Swimming Mechanics
B
Final Heat Bonus
Scavenger Race!
Ocean Safety
1
Work together as a pod. Everyone contributes.
2
Respect the gear. Leave every station clean for the next crew.
3
Clock is ticking! You have 60 minutes to finish the escape.
Paddles Up!
The swell is building. Go, go, go!
Shoreline Shift Caesar Station Station 01
The Shoreline Shift
The Decipher Mission
Bethany Hamilton's story is one of perspective. Use the Decoder Key (-3 shift) to reveal the message below.
FRXUDJH GRHV QRW PHDQ
Caesar Decoder Chart (Code → Plaintext)
D → A
E → B
F → C
G → D
H → E
I → F
J → G
K → H
L → I
M → J
N → K
O → L
P → M
Q → N
R → O
S → P
T → Q
U → R
V → S
W → T
X → U
Y → V
Z → W
A → X
B → Y
C → Z
!
Your Wave Token:
The Wave Token for this station is the first word of the decoded message.
Wave Tracker Scorecard Wave Tracker
Soul Surfer Escape Room Scorecard
Team Name
1
Shoreline Shift (Caesar)
2
Signal Surf (Morse)
3
Wave Watcher (Search)
4
Stroke Sorting (Reading)
B
Bonus: The Final Heat (Race)
"I don't need easy. I just need possible." — Bethany Hamilton
Escape Room Answer Keys Master Answer Keys & Master Codes
Ride the Wave: Soul Surfer Escape Room
Station 01: Shoreline Shift
Message: COURAGE DOES NOT MEAN THE ABSENCE OF FEAR
Token: COURAGE
Station 02: Signal Surf
Decoded Word: ALOHA
Token: ALOHA
Station 03: Wave Watcher
Hidden Word: BALANCE (Found on Row 7)
Token: BALANCE
Station 04: Stroke Sorting
Order: 1.Freestyle, 2.Backstroke, 3.Breaststroke, 4.Butterfly
Token: FBBB
Bonus Challenge: The Final Heat
Scramble: LINEUP | Final Word: UNSTOPPABLE
Token: UNSTOPPABLE
Teacher Setup Checklist
Station 01: Confirm students used the decoder chart correctly.Station 04: Sorting order is Freestyle (1) to Butterfly (4).Bonus Heat: Groups must unscramble "LINEUP" to receive the gear puzzle.Wave Tracker: Verify tokens: COURAGE, ALOHA, BALANCE, FBBB. Final Heat Bonus Station The Bonus Challenge
The Final Heat
PHASE 1
The Scavenger Hunt
Locate the 6 Hidden Gear Tags hidden throughout the room. Write the letter found on each tag in the boxes below, then unscramble them.
Tag 1
Tag 2
Tag 3
Tag 4
Tag 5
Tag 6
Unscrambled Location:
(HINT: It rhymes with "Wine Cup")
Phase 2: The Puzzle
When you clear Phase 1, tell the teacher "The Lineup".
Teacher: Cut out these 6 Gear Tags and hide them.
L
Gear Tag 01
I
Gear Tag 02
N
Gear Tag 03
E
Gear Tag 04
U
Gear Tag 05
P
Gear Tag 06
TEACHER: Cut this image into 12 jagged pieces and place them inside a "Bonus Challenge" envelope.
SURF
UNSTOPPABLE
The back of this puzzle should have the final Wave Token word written large: UNSTOPPABLE.
Signal Surf Morse Station Station 02
Signal from the Surf
International Morse Code Key
A • —
B — • • •
C — • — •
D — • •
E •
F • • — •
G — — •
H • • • •
I • •
J • — — —
K — • —
L • — • •
M — —
N — •
O — — —
P • — — •
Q — — • —
R • — •
S • • •
T —
U • • —
V • • • —
W • — —
X — • • —
Y — • — —
Z — — • •
The Spirit Word
Decode this word being flashed from the rescue boat. Write your answer in the light-colored boxes.
• —
• — • •
— — —
• • • •
• —
"Enter this word as your Station 02 Wave Token."
Wave Watcher Word Search Station Station 03
Wave Watcher
P
I
P
E
L
I
N
E
X
B
Z
Q
X
L
O
N
G
B
O
A
R
D
W
A
A
C
V
B
F
I
N
S
J
X
A
X
T
I
D
E
M
O
B
E
A
C
H
P
S
W
E
L
L
H
J
K
L
M
Y
A
W
I
P
E
O
U
T
R
F
D
S
D
B
A
L
A
N
C
E
S
H
U
O
D
S
H
O
R
E
B
R
E
A
K
G
L
P
A
D
D
L
E
V
C
B
X
H
E
S
U
R
F
G
H
J
K
L
W
A
X
L
E
A
S
Stroke Sorting Station Station 04
Stroke Sorting
Mastering the Motion
Athletes must master four distinct strokes. To navigate the waters like Bethany Hamilton, understand their efficiency and grit.
The Freestyle is the foundation. As the most efficient and natural way to move, it is the easiest stroke for beginners to learn for speed.
Next is the Backstroke. It allows for constant breathing, but it is slightly more difficult than freestyle because you cannot see where you are going.
The Breaststroke is technically complex. It relies on a high-precision "whip kick" and timing. It is the second-most difficult stroke to execute perfectly for competition.
Finally, the Butterfly is the ultimate challenge. Requiring a powerful "dolphin kick" and immense power, it is notoriously the hardest stroke to maintain.
The Hierarchy of Water
Rank the strokes from 1 (Easiest) to 4 (Hardest) based on the article.
1
Easiest
2
3
4
Hardest
STATION 04 TOKEN
"Combine the first letter of each stroke in order (1 to 4)."
