Ethics and Dragons

A partnership with Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Libraries

The Cincinnati Ethics Center, in partnership with the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Libraries, is proud to present a core program for kids ages 11-18. The Ethics & Dragons program combines the traditional tabletop role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons, with discussion of ethical dilemmas in the context of a game.

Through gamified discussion, decision making, and group reflection students develop key abilities like:

Identifying when there is a moral issue at play
Understanding different moral frameworks
Engaging in thoughtful dialogue about complicated moral issues
Making difficult moral decisions, even when different values are at play
Having a sense of what to do when established rules don’t provide guidance
Developing resilience in standing up for what you think is right

The best part is, these skills are developed in a gamified setting that is attractive to middle and high school students.

Ethics & Dragons at Westwood Library

Ethics & Dragons at West End Library

Ethics & Dragons at Anderson Library

Ethics & Dragons at Reading Library

Ethics & Dragons at Groesbeck Library

Ethics & Dragons at Avondale Library

Ethics & Dragons at Westwood Library

Ethics & Dragons at Reading Library

Ethics & Dragons Programming Calendars

Spring 2026 Calendar

February 2nd-April 27th* with the first week of programming being a character creation session for participants.

Westwood Public Library	Mondays	4:00-6:00pm
Avondale Public Library	Mondays	4:30-6:30pm
Monfort Heights Public Library	Tuesdays	4:30-6:30pm
West End Public Library	Tuesdays	5:15-7:15pm
Anderson Public Library	Wednesdays	5:00-7:00pm
Reading Public Library	Thursdays	3:30-5:30pm
Groesbeck Public Library	Saturdays	2:00-4:00pm
Deer Park Library	Saturdays	2:00-4:00pm

* Ethics & Dragons will not be held March 16th-22nd.

Building a sense of community takes time and shared history. Making friends can be difficult at a young age but participating in the Ethics & Dragons program makes it easier. This program gives kids practice with social situations. Over time, even the kids that prefer to observe become more expressive. Other kids bring their friends along and deepen their preexisting connection.

No matter the circumstances, we strive to create a safe space for kids to have fun, learn how to play D&D, and stretch their reasoning skills. Therefore, any child who participates in three of our adventure sessions at any library will earn an ECLUB T-shirt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate in Ethics & Dragons?

Any person age 12-18 can participate. Our team is prepared to work with adventurers no matter their experience level.

Do I have to register to participate?

No registration is required. Simply arrive at your chosen library at the designated time of the programming.

What do I need to bring with me?

The Ethics & Dragons program provides all basic supplies needed to play (premade character sheets, dice, scrap paper, pencils, and character tokens). If an adventurer wants to bring their own items they are more than welcome too, but it is not a requirement.

Can I bring my own character sheet?

For a balanced player experience we ask that adventurers either pick a premade character sheet provided by the program OR attend the Character Creation Day on the first week of each new adventure cycle.

To learn more about Ethics and Dragons contact:

Erin Barta

Program Coordinator for Educational Programs

bartaen@uc.edu

(513)556-7608