Guard Up

A very productive trip to DC for our contingent to support museum funding and fight against censorship. In addition to both Senator Markey and Rep. Seth Moulton stopping in to hear our points (as well as a staffer for Warren), Director Meghan Gardner had the distinct honor of reconnecting with one of one of our former summer campers, Caleb Levy. Caleb is a recent grad from Museum Studies and spoke of how his years at Guardian Adventures camps was impactful for him.

Meghan also had the opportunity to mention the EU funded project she is working on for her Masters Degree that is focused on creating civic dialog between participants of different (or even opposing) political views.

We are planning to reach out to Seth Moulton’s office as a follow up but also to introduce our GRIT program for addressing trauma in war veterans (something he is particularly interested in).

Even with the cancelled flight home (and taking a long train ride instead), this has been a deeply inspiring and educational trip.

What if a 20 minute game could change behavior months later?

Excited to share this conversation with Eng from XP on Guardian Adventures’ Meghan Gardner about Games for Emotional Engagement.

🎧 Audio Podcast
Publishes: Sunday February 22, 2026 at 12:00pm ET
Listen: http://universityxp.com/podcast/158

🎥 Video (Slide Deck)
Publishes: Sunday March 1, 2026 at 12:00pm ET
Watch: http://universityxp.com/video/158

In this episode, we talk about Transformative Game Design.

“Games are structured play. Within that structure, we can create safe exploration.”

“A well designed game can be educational. The debrief is where transformation happens.”

“It is not enough for a game to feel powerful. Three months later, did behavior actually change?”

Transformative game design aims for sustained, measurable change in behavior or perspective.

Most change is a micro needle shift. Small. Repeatable. Compounding.

And sometimes, “The game itself became the alibi for a difficult conversation.”

Because games open discussions that nothing else can.

If you design for impact rather than engagement alone, I would love to hear your thoughts.

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Hey Teachers and Educators! This is free event from the Smithsonian and Guardian Adventures that teaches you how to use the huge library of Smithsonian 3D assets as well as run an exciting mystery adventure for middle schoolers about the Spirit of St. Louis flight. Join us Wednesday January 21 at 4:30pm ET on Zoom and let the adventure begin!

Legend has it that in 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh stayed awake and alert for over 30 hours to complete the first ever solo non-stop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris in 1927…but what if he had help?

Join us for a FREE live training event for educators. Learn to facilitate a sci-fi themed interactive STEM adventure centered around exploring the Spirit of St. Louis, where learners ages 8-10 travel back in time to ensure Lindbergh makes history! Register here: guardup.com/spirit-of-stlouis

National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

Hey Educators! Hope you can join us and learn how to run this exciting STEM adventure using Smithsonian 3D Assets!

(Know any teachers or homeschool parents? Please share this post)

Legend has it that in 1927, Charles A. Lindbergh stayed awake and alert for over 30 hours to complete the first ever solo non-stop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris in 1927…but what if he had help?

Join us for a FREE live training event for educators. Learn to facilitate a sci-fi themed interactive STEM adventure centered around exploring the Spirit of St. Louis, where learners ages 8-10 travel back in time to ensure Lindbergh makes history! Register here: guardup.com/spirit-of-stlouis

National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

We’re honored to share our work in Transformative Design at this year’s International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) conference exploring how immersive experiences can spark curiosity, inspire growth, and create lasting impact.

Join our founder, Meghan Gardner, for three sessions focused on designing experiences that go beyond entertainment to foster genuine transformation:

🎯 Beyond the Walls: Plan & Fund Your Next Outreach Project
🗓️ Nov 17, 10:00–11:00 AM
Discover strategies for developing mobile exhibits, digital courses, and outreach programs that extend learning beyond your institution.

💡 How to Capture SuperFans: Designing Deeply Transformative Experiences
🗓️ Nov 19, 8:30–9:30 AM
Learn how transformative design can cultivate lifelong fans and emotionally resonant experiences—from Disney and Meow Wolf to Smithsonian and Royal Caribbean.

🔬 Transformative Experiences in Museums & Science Centers
🗓️ Nov 19, 3:30–3:50 PM
Explore real-world examples of design that inspires reflection and engagement at institutions like CERN and Smithsonian.

We’re excited to connect with partners shaping the future of education, themed entertainment, and cultural engagement.

Hey friends! If you know an educator or teacher or homeschool parent, please let them know that we have partnered with Smithsonian staff and been granted use of the Museum of History’s 3D assets in our latest stem week adventure to be held over zoom next Thursday at 10 AM Eastern time. 

Please register in advance! 

https://guardup.com/spirit-of-stlouis/

Solve the Mystery of the Spirit of St. Louis! - Guardian Adventures Join us for an exciting online STEM adventure: The Spirit of St. Louis is missing from the Smithsonian's Air & Space Museum! This is a Zoom-based interactive adventure designed with 3D assets and permission from the Smithsonian for ages 8-10 and runs 30 minutes.

Calling all - looking for game submissions!

Our client wants more games for their guests. Please check out our call for submissions: https://guardup.com/game_submission/

Interested in making a game for an international client? We'd love to read your pitch!

Game & Activity Submissions - Guardian Adventures Submit your original game or activity idea for cruise guests. If accepted, get paid, gain credit, global exposure, and potential additional opportunities.

The first time I met Byout: The Palestinian Live Action Role Playing (Larp) Organisation was when I was in Norway for a conference about live action roleplaying. This nonprofit Palestinian larp group has been growing and thriving on the West Bank for almost 20 years. My dear friend Kjell made the introductions at the conference and we sat at a table together, talking about our dream to create therapeutic larps for children in Gaza. We talked about the work that they had already been engaged in to help children refugees... and the differences they had seen first hand as children learned to play again and how this play helped them process their trauma. We talked about how Bait Byout was creating a safe space for all, regardless of background or gender. And that Inclusion is listed as their first fundamental value for their organization.

In that meeting, we forged an agreement to work together to see this plan come to be. Before we parted ways, they gave me this beautiful ceramic medallion that represents the Palestinian refugee children. This is our reminder of why we are doing this: For the children who have had their childhood destroyed by death and bombs.

Because our teams are located outside of the conflict zones, we can begin the training with refugees immediately. And once it is safe, Bait Byout will bring the program into Gaza itself.

Today is the last day of our fundraiser. We have only 3K left to raise. Please consider supporting our initiative for both Gaza and Ukraine to help address the trauma of war in children, teens, and adults.

https://zurl.co/8IEbL

Thank you,
Meghan

Two weeks ago today I had surgery to remove a softball sized lesion from inside my abdomen. My family and I spent 2 weeks not knowing if it was cancerous. Thankfully, blessedly, it was not. No one wants to be in that place of not knowing... but this space also provides an opportunity to do something we call "Life Review" in my hospice work.

This is where you go through your life and take a look at what you have done, the high points and low points, the regrets and the gratitude. I did this up to my current day. I asked myself if there was anything on my "Bucket List" - things I wanted to do or see or experience. And what I found didn't really surprise me: The only item on my "bucket list" is to make a difference in the world... to leave it a little bit better in some capacity than when I arrived.

My dear friend and I were talking about the long hours we are putting in this passion project to bring therapeutic games to Gaza and Ukraine to help children heal from the trauma of war. He told me a story about meeting an elderly woman of high regard as a political activist. She noticed he was tired from a long work day and she gently told him, "How privileged are we that we can go to bed exhausted from working to make the world a better place."

I love that story. And I repeat these words to myself often: I GET to make a difference in the world. How lucky am I?

And so it is that I surrender to sleep each night with a full heart. Knowing that children in war zones will have a way to express themselves through a unique form of play therapy that gives them the path and the words to start the healing process.

If you would like to be a part of this global team, please consider donating to our small fundraiser. We have only 4K left to raise and only 4 days to do it in. Not everyone has the privilege of donating - and for you, I thank you for sharing this post and believing in our cause. If you do donate, know that your money is going to a cause that is trying to bring emotional healing to those who are often overlooked: The children of war.

To donate: https://zurl.co/1pzh0

Thank you,
Meghan Gardner
Director
Guardian Adventures