Included Initiatives:
Helium Stick
Marble Madness/Hyper Herbie
Trolley Walk
Traffic Jam
Group Jump Rope
Minefield
Blind Polygon
Detonator
Flip The Sheet
Human Knot
Moonwalk
Hoop The Group
Sherpa Walk
Warp Speed
Pot O’ Gold
Foot Pass
Izzy Dizzy/ Paired Trust Fall
Trust Fall
Helium Stick
Goal of Activity: To work on communication in the group. Build trust and allow for group members to have responsibility. This activity usually causes some confrontation within the group, so you will be able to see how they work through it.
Ideal numbers: min. 4 max. 25 (depends on length of pole)
Materials/Prep: Tent poles and an empty space
Activity Expectations: Participants need to lower the pole to the ground with only the use of both of their first fingers. Once their fingers have come in contact with the pole, they are not allowed to lose contact with the pole at anytime.
Briefing for participants: “Your mission has just come in!! There is a dangerous helium stick that is contaminated and needs to be destroyed. The problem is if too many people touch the pole it could explode. When you find it make sure that nobody uses more than both of their pointer fingers, more pressure than that will surely be awful! Another problem is once you touch it you are unable to remove your fingers until the mission is complete. Removal of fingers will set of a timer that will eventually lead to a massive explosion! So once you start the mission make sure that you bring the pole straight down to the ground and destroy it safely! Good luck and god speed!”
Let the group know that if at any time someone lets go or touches the pole with more than two fingers then a FAULT will be called and they will receive a repercussion as a result of this. You can vary the repercussions from not allowing someone to speak, to blindfolding them, to requiring them to take a 2 minute planning break or sing a song. The most important thing is to reiterate how crucial it is that both their fingers stay in contact with the pole at all times. If they cheat even a little bit by taking a finger off then this becomes very easy.
What to Look for: How is the group communicating? Are they getting frustrated with one another or are they figuring it out? Is everyone trying to help? Are strategies being used and adapted as they go along?
Tweaks: Have participants blindfolded. You can also leave them responsible to calling out their own FAULTS and then talk about integrity as part of the reflection.
Suggestions for reflection:
How did the group work as a whole?
Was the mission successfully completed? How?
How did everyone stay engaged and helpful during said mission?
On a scale of 1(easy) to 10(hard) where did this mission fall?
In one word, describe how you are feeling right now.
How did it feel when you faulted?
Marble Madness/Hyper Herbie
Goal of Activity: To have participants communicate more and work on problem solving; Also to increase group cohesion. By the end of this activity, participants will demonstrate use of effective problem solving by thinking independently and creatively on how to accomplish the initiative; As well as talking to their team throughout the process. The group will also support and rely on all members of the team for success. This will unify the team by breaking up pre-existing social groups and forming one team as well as setting a goal together.
Ideal Numbers: 10+
Materials/Prep: PVC pipes, a golf ball/marble/racquetball, a container or area for the end.
Activity Expectations: Group should plan before they begin and get the ball from the beginning to the end without dropping him or touching him.
Briefing for participants: Pull out ball and tell a story: “This is Herbie, Herbie does not like to be touched by many humans. Herbie is lost on this huge campus and needs to get home. He must travel through these tubes because he has no arms or legs. He wants you to help him by getting the tubes to reach his home. If Herbie falls out of the tubes he has to start over because he will not know where he is. Herbie also gets vertigo quite easily so any time that you have Herbie in your tube then you can not move your feet. You can take a few minutes to plan before you begin.”
What to Look for: Are they coming up with a plan? Are they generating numerous ways to accomplish this task? Are they adapting their strategy as they go along? Are all safety concerns met? What is the general attitude of the group toward this activity? Are they talking to each other? Is everyone involved with the activity?
Tweaks: Mute or blindfolded people. Have them set the goal of how far they want to get herbie to travel instead of doing it yourself and then talk about goal setting in reflection. Tell them that any time they have Herbie in their tube then they must have a 2nd tube connected to it. Tell them they can only have one hand on their tube and one hand on someone else’s tube at all times.
Suggestions for reflection:
Did you come up with a plan before hand? Why/why not?
Did everyone that shared an idea feel that they were heard? Why/why not?
Did you work as a team? Why/why not?
Did anyone get frustrated during this activity? When and why?
How could you have done this activity more successfully?
Was the goal that you set (time or distance) realistic?
What are some times that you have had to re-evaluate your goals in the workplace?
Trolley Walk
Goal of Activity: Increase group cohesion. By the end of this activity, participants will support and rely on all members of the team for success. This will unify the team by breaking up pre-existing social groups and forming one team.
Ideal Numbers: 8-24 depending on how many trolleys you have
Materials/Prep: Cones or something to mark the start and end point for the trolley walk area. Place objects such as rubber chickens, foam balls and noodles that can be used as “recyclable trash” throughout the playing area. Enough trolleys to accommodate the entire group. Check the trolleys ahead of time to make sure the boards and the rope is intact.
Activity Expectations: The entire group must get from one marked side to the other while picking up objects along the way and keeping right feet on one trolley and left feet on the other trolley at all times.
Safety Concerns: Participants must keep two feet on the trolley at all times. If participants feel they are going to fall over, they should simply step off. No putting hands under the trolley or under feet.
Briefing for participants: “You are in the middle of a polluted landfill. As you look around you, you see miles of things that could have been recycled like soda cans, newspapers, food, plastic bottles, clothes, etc… This landfill has been overfilled and is about to spill over into the lake, which would make it no longer safe to swim in. You’re in luck though. I have brought with me a couple pairs of magic shoes that will allow you to walk on top of the trash, without sinking into it. Your mission is to save the lake by getting your entire team from one side of the landfill to the other without stepping off of the magic shoes, and picking up the recycled trash along the way. If the trash is not picked up, or if a team member steps out of the magic shoes there will be consequences; for example: muting, taking away body parts and singing songs.
What to Look for: Is the group supporting one another? Is everyone involved and doing the activity? Are all safety concerns being met? What is the group’s attitude toward this activity?
Tweaks: Have group walk backwards. Have group go through an obstacle course. Make starting point/ ending point closer or farther away. Add more or less “recycled trash” items. Make group mute. Make certain members blind. Have some members stand facing the opposite direction. Have them set a goal for how many objects they want to pick up in a certain amount of time. Have them race another group. Give them only 3 trolleys so everyone will have one foot on the middle trolley.
Suggestions for reflection:
What worked well for this group in the activity?
What didn’t work so well?
Bring up anything noteworthy you observed during the activity.
Would you do anything differently if you were starting the activity again with the group? What?
Was your behavior in this activity typical of the way you usually act in groups? Explain
Traffic Jam
Goal of Activity: Increase problem solving, build team trust/support, work on communication. By the end of this activity the group will begin to show more support and trust between each other. They will learn how to listen to each others ideas and learn how to work through what works and does not work.
Ideal Numbers: 6-10 people per lineup
Materials/Prep: The area that this activity is performed should be relatively flat. On the flat surface place objects that will mark designated areas. Objects that would work would be plastic mats, ropes, poly spots, chalked lines, taped lines, carpet squares, etc.
Activity Expectations: Each participant will start on a designated area. Half of the group should start at one end and the other half opposite. There should be one empty space in the middle. The participants will be directed to move across the line and end up at the other end in the same order. It’s ok to do this with an odd number of participants, it’s still possible.
Safety Concerns: While moving from one end the other participants will need to support each other and there is a possibility of pulling each other off the spots. The facilitator should be carefully spotting each participant that is in motion.
Briefing for participants: Have the participants step onto a spot and leave one empty in the middle, tell them this is their home base. Have the two groups face one another and ask that they stay facing this direction at all times (at least with their feet). Inform the participants that they will need to get from one end of the line to the other while staying in the same order of their group. The rules are: only one person can move at a time; people can NEVER step backwards, only one person can be on a spot at a time; to move forward you can either take one step ahead into the empty spot or jump ONE person from the other team who is facing you; you can NOT jump someone from your own team; any time they get stuck and run out of moves then they need to start over at their home base.
Solution: If you have 8 people line up as 1, 2, 3, 4, blank spot, A, B, C, D then the following sequence works. You can try it out with coins to be sure you know the sequence. The second and third move are the crucial point where many people make mistakes.
- 4 step
- A jump, B step
- 4 jump, 3 jump, 2 step
- A jump, B jump, C jump, D step
- 4 jump, 3 jump, 2 jump, 1 jump
- A step, B jump, C jump, D jump
- 3 step, 2 jump, 1 jump
- C step, A jump
- 1 step
What to Look for: How well do the participants communicate? How well are they working together? Are they supporting one another as they move? Are they giving suggestions for moving from one end to the other or are they not participating?
Tweaks: You can also do this activity on a fallen log or some confined space. Have everyone get on and then ask them to rearrange themselves in order of birthday, age, etc without falling off. Try this without allowing them to speak or blindfolding everyone.
Suggestions for reflection:
Was the initiative difficult? Why or Why not?
What was one way each of you had to support your teammates? Give a specific example.
Tell me one thing you would do differently if we were to do this activity again.
How well did the group work with listening and trying one another’s ideas?
What type of role did you take in this activity? Examples: leader, went along with others ideas to save confrontation, a person who caused confrontation, an idea giver, etc.
If you didn’t complete the activity is there something you still learned here?
Group Jump Rope
Goal of Activity: Increase group cohesion and planning. By the end of this activity, participants will support and rely on all members of the team for success. This will unify the team by breaking up pre-existing social groups and forming one team.
Ideal Numbers: Any
Materials/Prep: One long rope that can be spun for participants to run under in small groups. A clear and flat space.
Activity Expectations: The entire group must get from one side to the other by going through the spinning rope without touching it along the way.
Briefing for participants: “You need to get your entire group from one side of the jump rope to the other. All members must go through the spinning rope without touching it. If the rope comes in contact with someone then the entire group will have to start over
What to Look for: Is the group supporting one another? Is everyone involved and doing the activity? What is the group’s attitude toward this activity? Are they making a plan or just trying to all go through? How are people treated if they are the one to make a mistake?
Tweaks: Increase the challenge by having them set a goal for how many spins are allowed of the rope or by telling them that the rope can never make a rotation without someone jumping in (rather than just running underneath it). Put a max or min on how many people can go through at a time. Have ½ of the group start on either side and tell them that they need to switch places. Start with two members of the group spinning the rope instead of instructors, then tell them “All members of your group need to make it through the spinning ropes without it stopping” and then make them problem solve that they need to somehow switch places with the spinners to give them a chance to run through. Have them go through in a progression or a specific order. If they have someone who is unable to jump then have them spin or give them another role helping with strategy to keep them engaged.
Suggestions for reflection:
What worked well for this group in the activity?
What didn’t work so well?
Bring up anything noteworthy you observed during the activity.
Would you do anything differently if you were starting the activity again with the group? What?
Did your group make a plan before starting? Did you have to alter your plan? How can that relate to other things that you do in your daily life?
Was your behavior in this activity typical of the way you usually act in groups? Explain
Mine Field
Goal of Activity: Build team trust/support, work on communication. By the end of this activity the group will begin to show more support and trust between each other. They will learn how to communicate more effectively and give specific directions.
Ideal Numbers: 6-14
Materials/Prep: The area that this activity is performed should be relatively flat and marked off by cones. Inside the mine field area there should be a large amount of objects and obstacles (balls, ropes, cones, etc) Blindfolds for half the group.
Activity Expectations: Each participant pair off and one person in each pair will receive a blindfold. Half of the group should start at one end and the other half opposite. The participants will be directed to move across the mine field and end up at the other end or to go in and retrieve a specific object.
Safety Concerns: While moving from one end the other participants will need to support their partner to make sure they don’t trip or run into other participants.
Briefing for participants: Inform the sighted participants that they will need to lead their blind partner through he mine field safely without stepping on any objects. If someone steps on something or runs into another person then they must start over at the outside of the minefield. Sighted partners must stay on the outside of the minefield at all times.