# Station 1 (Easy) - Solution Guide

## Quick Reference

**Difficulty:** Easy (Ages 5-8)
**Cities needed:** 4
**Tokens provided:** 4

---

## The Correct Route

### Step-by-Step Solution

**STEP 1:** "Look at the map! Santa is flying up from Central America. Where is his first stop?"
**Answer:** **Mexico City, Mexico**

**STEP 2:** "From there, fly northeast to the city at the very bottom of the East Coast of the United States."
**Answer:** **Miami, Florida**

**STEP 3:** "Next, Santa heads west to the city in the ROCKY MOUNTAINS. Look for the mountain range in the middle of the map!"
**Answer:** **Denver, Colorado**

**STEP 4:** "Finally, Santa crosses into Canada to the city on the Pacific Ocean. It's just north of Portland!"
**Answer:** **Vancouver, Canada**

---

## Complete Solution

**The 4 correct cities (in order):**
1. Mexico City, Mexico
2. Miami, Florida
3. Denver, Colorado
4. Vancouver, Canada

**When all 4 tokens are placed correctly, the Workshop Beacon lights up!**

---

## Reed Switch Wiring Diagram

### Series Circuit Configuration

```
[+5V Power Supply]
    ↓
Reed Switch @ Mexico City
    ↓
Reed Switch @ Miami
    ↓
Reed Switch @ Denver
    ↓
Reed Switch @ Vancouver
    ↓
Workshop Beacon LED (with 220Ω resistor)
    ↓
[Ground]
```

### How It Works
- All 4 reed switches wired in SERIES
- When a magnetic token is placed on a city, that reed switch CLOSES
- ALL 4 switches must close simultaneously for current to flow
- Only when magnets are on ALL 4 correct cities does the beacon light
- Wrong placements do nothing (those positions don't have switches)

---

## Map Features Checklist

### Visual Clues on Map:
- ✓ Santa sleigh icon in Central America (Guatemala/Honduras area)
- ✓ Rocky Mountains clearly visible with brown/gray terrain shading
- ✓ Denver positioned WITHIN the Rocky Mountains
- ✓ Miami at southeastern tip of Florida peninsula
- ✓ Vancouver on Pacific coast, clearly north of Portland
- ✓ All 15 cities clearly labeled

### Required Terrain Features:
- ✓ Rocky Mountains (through Colorado)
- ✓ Sierra Madre ranges (Mexico)
- ✓ Cascade Range (Pacific Northwest)
- ✓ Appalachian/Smoky Mountains (eastern USA)
- ✓ Pacific and Atlantic coastlines
- ✓ Country borders (Mexico/USA/Canada)

---

## Staff Quick Reference

### If Players Are Stuck:

**Hint Level 1 (Nudge):**
"Have you looked at where Santa is on the map?"

**Hint Level 2 (Direction):**
"Step 1: Find where Santa's sleigh is and see where he's heading."
"Step 2: Look at the southeastern corner of the United States."
"Step 3: Can you find the mountain range in the middle of the map?"
"Step 4: Look for the Canadian city on the Pacific coast."

**Hint Level 3 (Specific - only if really struggling):**
"Step 1: Mexico City"
"Step 2: Miami"
"Step 3: Denver"
"Step 4: Vancouver"

---

## Build Notes

### Panel Size:
- 2 feet wide × 3 feet tall (24" × 36")
- Portrait orientation

### Reed Switch Placement:
Mount 4 reed switches on BACK of panel at these positions:
1. Mexico City position
2. Miami position
3. Denver position
4. Vancouver position

**Spacing:** Ensure switches are at least 3-4 inches apart to prevent cross-detection

### Power:
- 5V DC power supply OR 3× AA battery pack (4.5V)
- Current draw: ~20mA when LED lit (very low)

### Testing:
1. Place magnets on all 4 correct cities → beacon should light ✓
2. Place magnets on 3 correct + 1 wrong → beacon should NOT light ✓
3. Place magnets on wrong cities → beacon should NOT light ✓
4. Remove one magnet from correct pattern → beacon should turn off ✓

---

## All 15 Cities on Map

1. Mexico City, Mexico ⭐ (CORRECT)
2. Cancún, Mexico
3. Miami, Florida ⭐ (CORRECT)
4. Atlanta, Georgia
5. New York, New York
6. Chicago, Illinois
7. Denver, Colorado ⭐ (CORRECT)
8. Phoenix, Arizona
9. Los Angeles, California
10. San Francisco, California
11. Portland, Oregon
12. Dayton, Ohio (event location)
13. Vancouver, Canada ⭐ (CORRECT)
14. Toronto, Canada
15. Montreal, Canada

---

**Created:** November 23, 2025
**Status:** ✅ Complete
**Files:**
- `station-clue-card.html` - Player clue card (5"×7", print-ready)
- `map/easy-map.html` - Map with labels (36"×24", print-ready)
- `solution-guide.md` - This file