Calling all secret agents! Are you ready to throw the most thrilling spy-themed party that will have tweens talking for weeks? Whether celebrating a birthday or looking for a fun weekend activity, a secret agent party is an explosive mix of mystery and adventure. With the release of our exciting game, Echo Spy Academy: The Hidden Agenda, here is your top-secret guide to planning the ultimate espionage experience for the young super spies in your life. Let's decode the details together!

1. Top-Secret Invitations

To build anticipation, print our free invitations and place them inside a 9 by 12" brown bag or manilla envelope marked 'Confidential.' To add suspense, write phrases like "Your Mission Should You Choose to Accept It" on the outside of the envelope. 

2. Spy Training Stations

The game's premise is a tween/teen spy school, and this event is their annual dinner party. Within your party space, set up different stations where your guests can learn essential spy skills. Include a laser maze created with string or streamers, a fingerprint lifting station, or a code-breaking challenge they must solve with ciphers. Here are several exciting and manageable ciphers that are perfect for engaging young minds while keeping the mystery alive:

• Caesar Cipher - One of the simplest and most famous ciphers, the Caesar Cipher involves shifting the letters of the alphabet by a set number of places. For example, with a shift of 3, A becomes D, B becomes E, and so on. Provide the kids with a key (the number of shifts) and let them encode and decode messages.
• Pigpen Cipher - This cipher uses a simple substitution alphabet represented by symbols arranged in two grids or "pigpens." Each letter is defined by the part of the grid that surrounds it. This visual cipher is fun and easy to learn, making it great for kids. Provide them with the pigpen key and some messages to practice on.
• Reverse Alphabet Cipher—Also known as the Atbash Cipher, this involves substituting each letter of the alphabet with its reverse counterpart (A becomes Z, B becomes Y, etc.). It is straightforward to use and easily decoded, making it satisfying for young spies.
• Number Substitution Cipher - Each alphabet letter is replaced with a number (e.g., A=1, B=2, ..., Z=26). This cipher type is simple but can be more complex by adding or subtracting a constant. Give the kids coded messages in numbers and let them translate them back to text.
• Keyword Cipher - This cipher uses a keyword to rearrange the letters of the alphabet. The keyword (minus any duplicate letters) is written first, followed by the remaining letters of the alphabet. For example, using "SPY" as a keyword, the cipher alphabet might start as SPYABCDFGHIJKL... and so forth. Messages are then encoded using this new sequence.
• Invisible Ink Cipher—This is not exactly a cipher, but using invisible ink (like lemon juice or milk) is a thrilling way for kids to write secret messages that only appear when the paper is heated. This can be a magical and scientific addition to your cipher station.
• Binary Code—Teach kids how to use binary code, in which a series of 0s and 1s represent each alphabet letter. This introduces them to a fundamental concept used in computers and digital communications. Provide sheets with the binary codes for each letter and let them encode and decode messages.

3. Disguise Gear

No spy is ready without the right disguise, and sometimes, if you think someone's suspicious of you, you might need to 'double disguise.' Since your guests have already come to the party dressed in an assigned persona - have a box of some extras available, like non-prescription glasses, sunglasses, mustaches (stick-on), wigs, hats, etc, so they can change their appearance on the fly. 

4. Mystery Mission - Playing Echo Spy Academy: The Hidden Agenda

The main event is the mystery party game. Ensure you have read the host instructions thoroughly and have prepared your kit in an organized manner. Print the example timeline (or take a screenshot) and have it with you during the party to ensure all materials and activities are done in the correct order.

5. Interrogation Room

Set up a snack bar that doubles as an "Interrogation Room" where the agents-in-training can refuel. Serve mysterious-looking foods and drinks like "truth serum" punch, "dynamite" sticks (carrots and celery), and "spy snacks" (cookies shaped like question marks). Here are some more party food ideas: 

• Agent's Trail Mix - Combine pretzel sticks (logs), chocolate chips (covert chips), popcorn (stealth puffs), and almonds (secret crunches) for a snack mix that spies can munch on while deciphering codes.
• Mystery Meatballs - Serve small meatballs with a variety of dips. Label the dips with code numbers instead of their names to keep the spies guessing what they are dipping into!
• Code Crackers with Top Secret Toppings - Offer an assortment of crackers with cheese, cold cuts, and veggie slices. 
• Undercover Veggies and Hidden Dip - Serve a platter of raw vegetables with a "hidden" dip. You can place the dip in a bowl, cover it with a lid, or disguise it in a hollowed-out bread bowl.
• Decoded Chips and Salsa - Rename a simple dish of chips and salsa to something like "Decoded Chips and Salsa" to fit the theme. You can use black bean chips and red salsa for a dramatic contrast.
• Secret Message Cookies - Bake sugar cookies and use icing to write simple coded messages or numbers on them. Kids can have fun decoding their dessert!
• Disguised Drinks—Serve clear beverages like lemonade, water, or Sprite and call them "Invisible Ink" drinks. For an added touch of mystery, you could add a drop of food coloring to the bottom of the glass before pouring the drink so the color reveals itself as the drink is consumed.

6. Surveillance Footage

What's a spy party without a bit of surveillance? Set up a photo booth area with props where the kids can take pictures in disguises. You can have backgrounds resembling famous landmarks or a "Most Wanted" poster. Renting a 360 photo booth is always a blast. 

7. Debriefing Session

As the party winds down, gather all your mini-agents for a debriefing session where they can share their experiences and perhaps vote on the best spy of the day. This is where you can fit in the optional awards ceremony (and just call it a debriefing session). Giving the players input on some awards by ballot voting is a great idea!

8. Top-Secret Party Favors

Send your spy guests home with a party favor bag labeled “Classified Survival Kit.” Include items like a mini flashlight, a notebook, a pen that writes in invisible ink, and anything else fitting the secret agent theme.

Hosting a spy-themed party for tweens doesn't just entertain; it engages them in critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. It’s an exciting way for kids to dive into the world of espionage and enjoy a day filled with adventure and intrigue. So, put on your party planner hat, and let the covert fun begin!

Whether you're planning a low-key afternoon mystery party or an all-out espionage extravaganza, these hosting ideas will ensure your party is a hit with the tween crowd. Get ready to be the coolest host in the spy world!