This engaging classroom activity is culled from the Teaching Entry Level Geoscience site created by the staff of the Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College. This particular role-playing exercise has students representing townspeople whose lives and livelihoods are endangered by an active volcano that may or may not erupt in the near future. Along the way, students must debate whether to invest in or to abandon their town. The materials here include learning goals, a section on context, teaching notes and tips, and a brief writing assignment. Also, the site includes additional references and resources, such as links to other role-playing exercises and external websites.