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stefoodie
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Our 7 and 10-yo boys are into spy gear these days and asking for some items for Christmas -- the Amazon reviews are not encouraging. Any suggestions for quality, affordable stuff?
Also looking for ideas on how we can turn this interest of theirs into a positive thing. Books/ideas for discussion?
Thanks so much!
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stef
mom to five
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Marjorie
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Stef,
My mother bought my girls the Usborn Spy's Guidebook with DC-ROM encoder last year and it is quite good and is not based on high-tech. It talks about codes, using disguises, changing your looks, leaving messages in hidden places etc. Also you could find references to positive spying in history. We just finished Toliver's Secret and Redcoats and Petticoats. Both books talk about how important using signals and hidden messages were in the Revolutionary war. There are MANY other great examples in history.
YIC
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Marjorie
Lettres de mon Moulin
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lapazfarm
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My ds got alot of the Spy Gear a couple of years ago. He liked it alot and it seemed to work pretty well. Quality seemed good enough.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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MacBeth
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We have enjoyed Spy Gear, as well as the Scholastic Spy club materials a few years ago. Funny, though...Trip's favorite discovery was that the UV light used for fingerprint dust illumination also illuminates glow-in-the-dark rosaries quite nicely... 
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
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marihalojen
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We were quite taken with the Cola Camera from the Spy Store at the International Spy Museum.
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~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
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stacykay
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My oldest ds went through a major spy-phase when he was young. His favorite gift (which he still has and uses!  ) was a mini spyglass, which I bought from Vision Forum. I looked at their on-line catalog, and it wasn't in it.  I had been thinking about getting one for two of the younger boys, now that they are older.
Here is something that looks neat. Andhere is one that is similar to the one ds has, except this one is larger (ds's is about the size of a roll of film) and more $$.
Oooh, I think this is very close to what ds has.
We live near a community college that has summer classes for kids. I was able to send ds to a class that was run by the nearby State police department, and it included fingerprinting, casting footprints, and other fun stuff. I think you could do things like this? Maybe tour a state police post or local police dept.?
And we also have this book, but in hardcover.
I hope this is helpful!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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ladybugs
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Sometimes, Big 5 has mini-binoculars on sale...Just an idea...
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Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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ladybugs
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Usborne books also sells True Spy Stories
And don't forget, Donna Marie sells them, too!
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Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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stefoodie
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Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!!!
We'll try to make it to the Spy Museum next DC trip -- wow, I'd never heard of it before now, thanks! And the cola cam is *very cool*.
Stacy, glad you reminded me. I had enrolled the 10-yo in a summer camp/class 3 years ago -- Forensics for Kids -- where they did fingerprinting, etc. Maybe they have one locally too, I'll have to ask around.
Thanks again!!! You gals are the best! 
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stef
mom to five
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ladybugs
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Stef,
Big 5 has these walkie talkies on sale right now and these binoculars right now....
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Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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ladybugs
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I was too quick...they have these too!
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Love and God Bless,
Maria P
My etsy store - all proceeds go to help my fencing daughters!
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amiefriedl
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We have a couple of pieces and I was impressed with how well they work.
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In Christ the King through Mary our Mother,
Amie
Blessed with an awesome hubby and Mom of ds10, dd7, dd3 and dd 10months.
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Spy gear
