We’re a Pioneer Group – get us out of here!
Aim of the
activity:
To
get the group working well together – co-operatively and creatively. Oh, and
to have fun too!
What
you will need:
See each individual
activity.
Suggested
warm-up:
Any co-operative
games will be good warm-ups. Here are a few other co-operative activities you
could use:
Ball
Toss
Equipment:
Balls of various sizes
Instructions: Get the group into a circle, an ar’s length apart. Begin by tossing a ball to a Pioneer. Say the name of the Pioneer as you throw the ball. When they catch the ball, the second person then throws the ball to a third person and also states their name. Each Pioneer must catch and pass the ball only once, until everyone has touched the ball. The ball must be returned to the leader to complete the circle.
Practice this order a few times to ensure everyone knows where he/she is throwing. Once the ball has traveled the complete circle, start it around again, with the option of adding another ball. As the group improves, challenge them to pass the ball around the circle as quickly as possible.
Variations: There are many options for this activity. It can range from trying to throw the ball once around the circle without dropping it to a goal of several balls in a certain number of seconds.
Leader’s Tips: After each attempt at the ball toss, give the group time to discuss ways to be more successful and reduce their time. Many times, groups will devise the solution of changing their order so they can simply pass the balls from one person to the next.
"No One Of Us Is As Smart As All Of Us"Instructions: Hand out the cards. If there are more Pioneers than cards, pair the Pioneers up and blindfold one of the pair. Give the blindfolded Pioneer the card. Once the Pioneers have the card in their possession, they can not talk.
The challenge is to arrange the cards into a sentence that makes sense. The sighted partners will need to maneuver their blindfolded partners safely into the correct position in the sentence. The group should signal the leader when they feel they have put the sentence together correctly. It should read "No One Of Us Is As Smart As All Of Us."
Hoop PassInstructions: Get the Pioneers into a large circle and join hands. Break the circle and place a hula hoop between two people in the circle. Without releasing hands, the group must pass the hoop around the circle and end at the starting point.
Skin the SnakeThey must untangle themselves without breaking hands or lifting their legs over their clasped hands. If they break hands, have them start over again. When they complete the challenge, they should be standing in a line, holding hands.
Leader’s Tips: One solution involves the Pioneer in the back of the line beginning a slow crawl through the "tunnel" of legs. The entire group will slowly crawl from the back to the front of the line without releasing hands.
Another solution involves the participant in the front of the line straddling and walking backwards over the other participants heads without releasing hands.
In some cases, one individual will devise the solution independently. Other times, the solution will arise as a result of shared ideas. In either case, the problems force a group not only to develop a solution, but to implement it as well.
These tasks provide the opportunity for the group to work together closely with their peers towards common goals in a controlled environment. The challenges faced by Pioneers will force them to examine what makes a team effective and how each person must have a role within a group. Most importantly, Pioneers become aware of their own strengths and weaknesses, fears, and abilities.
The real challenge is – of course - to apply the lessons learned by participating in these activities to the situations that we encounter in our daily lives. Having the skills to work well with others provides a lifetime of benefits and the tools to achieve personal goals.
Many of them are suitable for a group night – some would be good to try at camp or on a weekend residential. If you, and your group, like these activities you will find similar ones in the Co-operation resource pack.
PyramidInstructions: Give the Pioneers fifteen seconds to make a pyramid. If Pioneers decide to make a "vertical" pyramid, there must be spotters and they may not attempt to build the pyramid more than four levels high.
Leader’s Tips: After fifteen seconds, ask the group if their solution was the only possible solution to the problem. Was it the easiest? Was it the safest? Can the group brainstorm other ideas to build a pyramid?
Traffic JamInstructions: Place the traffic jam squares on the ground in a line so that there are as many squares as Pioneers in the group. Place the "free space" card in the exact middle of all the squares. The arrows on the squares of both halves should point toward the middle of the line. All the Pioneers should then stand on the squares facing toward the middle and must face the same direction for the entire challenge. The object is to have two groups exchange places on a line of squares, while remaining faced in the same direction.
Movement is only allowed into an empty square ahead of you or around one person heading the opposite direction, and then into an open square.
Leader’s Tips:·
A "U-shaped" line allows everyone to see what is going on.
This is a difficult challenge and can be confusing for Pioneers. To help avoid
confusion, have the Pioneers beginning on one side of the free space square
(all the Pioneers facing one of the two directions) wear a bandanna to separate
them from the other Pioneers.
Solution: For the purpose of explanation the two teams will be called red and blue. First the blue side will have a Pioneer step forward onto the free space. Next, a red Pioneer will step around the blue Pioneer on the free space and stand on the open square. The next red Pioneer (behind the one that just moved) will step forward one space.
The next step is for three blue Pioneers to move forward, one at a time, into the open square ahead of them. Then, four red Pioneers will move forward, one at a time, to the open squares ahead of them. Continue to follow this pattern, with each side taking turns, until the two groups have changed places.
Line Up By...Instructions: There are many variations on the "Line Up By...." challenges. The basic idea is to have the group line up in a straight line according to some specific criteria and with some type of restriction on their actions. Here are some ideas that can be altered to meet your group's needs. Give specific guidelines before beginning.
Favorite
Colors
Equipment:
None
Instructions: Use this short exercise with a group that is having a hard time communicating. Group the Pioneers together and tell them that you would like to get to know them better. On the count of three have them all yell their favorite color, as loud as they can. After you have done this, ask a few Pioneers if they could tell you the favorite color of another Pioneer in the group. Most likely they will not be able to. Address the issue of WHY they do not know that Pioneer's favorite color. This is a quick way to get the point across that we need to listen and talk in turn if we want to communicate effectively.
Silent GeometryInstructions: Have everyone in the group hold on to the rope. The group should be evenly spaced out along the length of the rope. The objective of Silent Geometry is for the group to form a shape with the rope without using any verbal communication. The leader will call out the name of each shape.
Variations: This activity can be changed to focus on specific areas of teamwork. For example, allow one Pioneer to act as a leader and talk to direct the rest of the group. Or, allow the entire group to talk to illustrate the need for leadership and planning.
Try it with everyone putting on a blindfold before picking up the rope.
Leader’s Tips: Make the shapes more and more complex each time. Possible options include: circle, rectangle, square, parallelogram, pentagon, etc.
Pass the CanInstructions: The group must form a circle, with each person spread about a foot apart. The challenge is for the group to pass the can around the circle without using their hands or dropping the can.
Variations: For an extra challenge, bind each participant's hands together with a bandanna.
Leader’s Tips: The group will be more excited and engaged if there is an imaginary content of the can that will spill out if it is dropped. Ideas include: toxic waste, flesh-eating insects, an angry badger, etc.
Duo-Sit/Group SitInstructions: For this challenge, the Pioneers will work in pairs. Each group must stand back to back and link arms. From this position, the pair will attempt to sit down and stand back up without unlocking arms. When a pair succeeds, they should join with another pair and attempt the challenge with four people. Eventually, the class should work towards being able to complete the challenge with the entire group.
Instructions: Place the toxic waste storage can at one end of the room. The smaller, toxic waste container should be placed at least 20 feet away from the larger storage can. Pioneers must use the removal equipment (inner tube with ropes) to properly dispose of the toxic waste. Any spilled waste will mean disaster for the group. The object is to move the smaller can from its original spot and place it in the larger can without touching either can, or the inner tube, with their hands. All Pioneers must be involved with the transport of the can.
Variations: The difficulty of this challenge can be modified by changing the distance over which the group must transport the can. Also, obstacles such as chairs or tables can be set up to challenge the group further. Fill the can with water if the group attempts this challenge outside. If the challenge is attempted inside, place small objects in the can that will spill out if it is tipped. This will increase the group's motivation and excitement.
Leader’s Tips: The inner tube's circumference is larger than the circumference of the smaller can. Because of this, when the inner tube is placed around the can, it cannot be picked up easily. Pioneers must all move their ropes to two opposing points across the can and pull. This stretches the inner tube into an oval, which will pick up the can.
Rope KnotsEquipment: 50ft. rope
Instructions:
As the Pioneers are working on another challenge, tie 4-6 loose overhand
knots, well spaced along the section of rope. Have the Pioneers space themselves
out evenly and grasp the rope with their left hands, avoiding the knots. Once
they have grabbed the rope, their hand is fixed in place and Pioneers can not
even slide their hand along rope. The group must now untie all the knots that
are in the rope.
Trust During some of these activities, Pioneers will need to depend upon one another in order to be safe. Some activities require Pioneers to act as spotters for their classmates. Spotting means being in a position to stop or break the fall of another person. To be successful, the group will need to place trust in each other. This can be difficult for many Pioneers. When we trust another person, we expose ourselves to be hurt physically and emotionally. When our trust is broken, it becomes difficult to trust others again. However, there are times when we must trust others and when putting our trust in others is extremely important. By participating in trust activities, Pioneers can begin to build relationships of trust with other members. |
Instructions: Introduce the group to the concept of spotting. Demonstrate a proper spotting stance for the group. Get the group to imitate your actions as you display each step. First, stand with your feet shoulder width apart to provide stability. Then stagger your feet one in front of the other to give you even greater stability. Place your hands up in front of you, about shoulder height, palms facing away from your body. Your elbows and knees should be bent. This is the correct spotting stance.
After the spotting stance has been practiced, have the Pioneers test out their new skill. Divide them into groups of three people that are similar in height and size. Two people should stand facing each other (about three feet apart) while the third person stands in between them. The middle person should fold their arms across their chest and stand as stiff as a board. Their feet should also be planted firmly on the ground. The two partners in the spotting stance will gently catch the middle person as he/she leans slightly forward and backward. If the fall and spotting went well, the pair can move apart a half step and try again. Switch roles.
Stress safety during the spotting drill, as it can be a dangerous activity if improperly done. Emphasize the importance of listening to, and following directions. Any Pioneers not adhering to the rules or not paying attention should not be allowed to participate. Get groups use the following sequence of commands to make sure everyone is ready to fulfill their responsibilities during the activity:
Instructions: Get the entire group into a circle, or split into two smaller groups. The circle must be very tight, shoulder to shoulder and must not be larger than five feet in diameter. One volunteer steps in the center of the circle, stands stiff as a board, plants their feet, and goes through the safety commands. Once everybody is ready and attentive, the volunteer falls slowly backwards into someone's arms and is gently passed around the circle from spotter to spotter. The volunteer MUST stay stiff and keep their feet planted or the activity will not work. Allow each Pioneer that wishes to participate a turn.
Cookie MachineInstructions: Form two lines of at least six Pioneers facing each other. The Pioneers in line should:
Once the line is positioned and all Pioneers understand their responsibilities, choose one volunteer to be the "cookie." The cookie will announce what type of cookie he/she would like to be, and go through the falling commands. The cookie will stand at one end of the "cookie machine" (the line of Pioneers) and dive head first onto the groups' outstretched arms. The Pioneers then pass the cookie down the line by gently moving their arms up and down. At this time, the Pioneers chant the cookie type the cookie would like to be (i.e. they might chant "chocolate chip, chocolate chip"). When the cookie reaches the end, an adult should help the cookie to his/her feet.
It is critical that the Pioneers are very close to each other to prevent the Cookie from falling through their arms. The front two pairs of Pioneers should lean back a little to prevent being hit by the cookie as they jump into their arms. Cookies should remove all large belt buckles, jewelry, and watches that might harm the spotters and be sure to dive with their arms stretched straight above their heads. Bouncing the cookie too high can also be dangerous. Keep the height to a minimum. Be very clear and concise with directions. No one should jump into the cookie machine until the leader gives the final "OK."
Variations: A group that has displayed responsible spotting may be allowed to have the cookies take a running start from fifteen feet away and then jump into the cookie machine.
Leader’s Tips: This activity should be done outside if possible.
Regroup the "cookie machine" before each dive and make sure they are focused on their responsibilities.
Yurt CircleInstructions: Pioneers should stand in a circle, facing inward and holding hands. Then, step backwards until everyone is stretched out but still able to have a firm grip on the two people whose hands they are holding. Everyone needs to keep their feet planted and lean back as far as they can. They must use the group to maintain their balance. Once they have done this, number off the group into 1s and 2s, alternating around the circle. Then, have the 1s lean in and the 2s lean out at the same time. Each person should be able to lean in or out while being held up by their neighbors.
Variations: Once a group has perfected the Yurt Circle, have each participant switch positions upon command.
Leader’s Tips: Choose a clear, open area for this activity. Pioneers are likely to fall forward and backwards.
Blind Trust WalkInstructions: Divide the group into pairs. Give each pair a blindfold. The objective of the Blind Trust Walk is for one blindfolded Pioneer to be led on a short hike by their partner. The Pioneer that can see is responsible for the safety of their blindfolded partner. Partners will change places.
Variations: This activity can be done inside or outside. Design an obstacle course outside or around the room that the Pioneers must follow.
Up ChuckInstructions: The objective is for everyone to throw their ball up in the air and catch a different ball without a single one touching the ground.
Every person in the group has a ball.
Standing in a circle or cluster or however the group wants to arrange themselves, they must toss their ball up to a height of at least 10 feet and then attempt to catch a ball that they did not throw. The number of balls that hit the ground is that group’s negative score. The goal is to get that score to zero. Allow the group to work together to make this work. It will be pretty difficult and the group might need lots of time or multiple sessions to accomplish it.
Variations: Have the group start with only one ball thrown and caught. Each time they successfully catch a ball, another is added for the next round until finally they drop one and then the whole thing starts over.
Leader’s Tips: The look on the group’s face when they finally throw up the balls and catch each and everyone and there is the dead silence of no objects hitting the ground is priceless. The sound gives it away everytime.
Raft CrossingScenario: The entire group is being held captive by aliens on an alien planet that is covered with lava or toxic waste. They have an opportunity to escape the evil aliens and make it back home. The objective is to get everyone from the starting area to the launch area alive and well.
Instructions: The entire group starts in the corner of a large hall or gym. Alternatively, find an outdoor playing area.
They are in a safe place for the time being, but their job is to get to the opposite side where there is another safe place and a "transport beam" or "escape rocket" that will take them out of this volatile area.
The rest of the room is covered with a deadly substance that will kill them immediately upon contact. (i.e. lava, acid or toxic waste)
This means that if they place a hand or foot or anything on the actual floor of the room, they are dead. People who die either reappear back at the starting area or are out of the game completely. This is a decision that the leader needs to make before explaining the rules.
They are given transport pads that they can use to stand on to cross the evil surface and make it safely to the other side.
Gymnastic mats make good transport pads but almost anything that people can stand on can be used including upside down milk crates, pieces of fire wood, chairs, etc.
Variations: To emphasize teamwork, it is a good idea to make the overall objective to ensure that EVERYONE makes it to the launch area. This means that if someone has died and reappeared back at the starting point, they have to send someone back for them.
Give a time limit. At the end of that time limit, anyone who is not in the transport beam, dies.
Give as few transport pads as possible. If they have to crowd onto 2 mats, so be it. The whole idea is working together anyway.
Put a number of "keys" around the area that they have to collect in order to turn on the transport beam. A good "thinker" is to tell them that upon all of the keys being in the transport area, the beam automatically operates and takes those keys and people in the beam away.
They have to activate the keys before they will work. A good way of activating the keys is for them to have to pass through something like a basketball hoop.
Be a "bog monster" and steal transport pads away from the group if they are not on them. The bog monster could react to a specific stimuli for that round and it is up to the group to figure out what made the bog monster become more active and interfere with their attempts.
Leader’s Tips: This is a really enjoyable initiative task that groups will often request again and again. It can easily be changed and made new by just holding it in a different location or using different materials.
Count OffInstructions: The entire group needs to be sitting down and facing a specific direction.
They may not look around, make gestures or say anything except a number.
The goal is for the group to count from 1 to the number of people in the group in order with no one saying the same number as another person.
If more than one person says a number, the group must start over.
If a number is said out of order, the group must start over.
It is very important that you make sure they realize that they can’t talk or look around in between rounds. If at anytime, anyone says anything other than a number, looks around or makes any gestures, the group as a whole needs to be warned that any continuation of that will result in them not being successful at the challenge.
The instant someone makes a mistake, you say "Start Over".
This activity only works once with any given group.
Make sure they are not sitting in a pattern that would make this easy, like a circle.
Leader’s Tips: This activity is a one time deal with any group for obvious reasons. It is very important that you set it up right and have the entire group bought into the idea that they cannot look around or speak at all otherwise it will not work. You also need to make sure that you have lots of time so that the group can attempt this task again and again without having a chance to talk before they are successful.
Reach for the SkyScenario: The group are lost in the woods and need to set up an antenna or signal flag as high as possible. The objective is to place a piece of paper as high as possible.
Instructions: The group must try and place a piece of paper with tape on the wall as high as possible without climbing the wall or using a ladder, etc.
They may only use themselves to get the paper up.
It is okay to make contact with the wall for support but not okay to use any holes in the wall in order to climb it.
Leader’s Tips: USE EXTREME CAUTION. This is a very dangerous activity if not done properly. It needs major spotting all around the participants along with thick high jump mats placed all around them. Don’t underestimated the ability and ingenuity of your Pioneers!
Group RunScenario: The entire group has been taken prisoner by cruel aliens who have tied them up and once again they have an opportunity to escape. To escape, the group must move from the starting point to the end point.
Instructions: The entire group has been tied together by one long rope and can only walk or run as one group.
In order to escape, they must walk / run a specific distance.
The rope should be snug enough so that the entire group is squished together without a lot of room to maneuver but not so tight as to cause potential injury.
Variations: Cross the distance within a specific time limit.
Blindfold the entire group except for a couple of people spread throughout the group.
The group can only walk backwards.
Get everyone to face outwards from the circle and then tie them up. They have to remain facing the way that they started and move as an entire group in a specific direction.
Leader’s Tips: This is a really good activity to get a group really working together. It involves everyone from start to finish. You have to be careful with this activity to make sure that the outside people are not getting rope burn and if and when the group trips and falls that no one is squished underneath.
Group JugglingScenario
Instructions: The entire group stands in a circle.
One object is introduced and each group member catches and throws it to a different group member.
The group needs to remember the order that they threw the object in and continue throwing the object to each other in that order.
Discourage simple clockwise and counterclockwise orders as anyone can do that.
Encourage a criss-crossing order that includes each group member, one after another until the object reaches the person it started with.
As they get good with one object, introduce another to be thrown in the same order as the other.
Continue introducing objects each time a successful round is made until an object is dropped or mis-thrown.
Start over again at one object.
The objective is to see how many objects can be kept aloft simultaneously.
Remember, the larger the group, the harder and more challenging it is. Anything smaller than 10 people is way too easy
Leader’s Tips: This is another activity that you might want to initially break a larger group up into smaller groups so that they can get some practice in before trying it as a large group. Watch for competition between the two groups.
Electric FenceScenario: Your group is being chased by a band of ferocious invaders from outer space. They have set up this electric fence trap to catch you. The entire group must get over the electric fence without anyone touching it.
Instructions: You will need a rope tied between two trees or other objects at approximately belly button height of the average height of the group members. If you make the rope too high, it can become dangerous but if you make it too low, it will be too easy.
Your group is on one side of the electric fence.
You must get your whole group over to the other side of the electric fence using only the resources you have on you.
You cannot use any other equipment.
No part of your body, clothing or equipment may touch the rope.
If it does, that person is returned back to the original side and must attempt the crossing again.
Although you may step or stand underneath the electric fence, no person or equipment may totally penetrate it, so you cannot send anyone or anything under the electric fence.
It is important to note that the trees the rope is tied to are also electrified and so touching them will also cause you to be blindfolded.
The area is pressure sensitive on both sides of the electric fence. Any jumps or hard landings will also trigger the alarm so you must carefully take off from this side and carefully set people down on the other side. This means no jumping or diving.
Variations: Everyone must be in contact with the entire group through at least one other person. In other words, everyone must be touching someone else and everyone must be connected at all times.
Any part of the body that touches the rope becomes useless and is welded to the body with a blindfold.
Any person that comes into contact with the electric fence is blindfolded and returned to the original side.
If you have a large number of people, a good variation would be to build more than one fence. You could even box the entire group in with four fences and their objective becomes getting out of the box.
Leader’s Tips: As with some of the other tasks, there are some safety concerns with this one that you have to watch for. One of the most common approaches people will use to solve this task is to have some people go on their hands and knees and be used as a stairway so that others with some support can climb over top. You have to make sure that the kneeling person is on their hands and knees in a 90 degree formation so that their arms and legs form a locked and sturdy support. It is also important that the person stepping does not step on the middle of this person’s back that is not directly supported below by legs or arms. It is probably best to step on the kneeling person’s tailbone that will be supported by the legs and is the strongest point. You will also want to make sure that the person stepping is not too much larger than the person they are stepping on. You cannot allow anyone to be carelessly just thrown over for obvious reasons. Don’t be surprise if they want to try this approach with some of their smaller members.
All AboardScenario: The group’s ship has sunk and they are now swimming in shark infested waters. Every once in a while a shark comes along to see if there is anyone in the water that can be eaten. The group must get everyone onto a small support with no one being eaten by the shark.
Instructions: The group is standing around the support object.
When the facilitator yells "shark", the group has 60 seconds to get everyone onto that object of support and hold it for 10 seconds before the shark (you) gets there and swims around looking for someone to eat.
If the shark finds someone not fully supported by the object, the shark will take that person out of the game and have them sit on the side and observe and be prepared to share their observations of the group during the debrief.
Each time the shark leaves, everyone has to get off of the object and "tread water" around the object or it will sink.
The challenge can be over when the first person is eaten by the shark with the objective being to have no one die or when the shark is unable to eat anyone after three times in a row of swimming around.
Leader’s Tips: Normally elimination setups are not encouraged. However, with this activity, it can be interesting to see what happens when the objective has an "everyone for themselves" attitude. This activity can have some powerful lessons for any group, beginning or experienced. Use it carefully and make sure you debrief the group adequately to pull the lessons out. You can do this activity a few times, increasing the objective to the point where no one is allowed to die and if they do, they have failed at the challenge. Make sure that whatever you use to support the group can actually support the group. (NB. a picnic table is unlikely to support twenty-five Pioneers!)
Musical CirclesInstructions: The task is very similar to the musical chairs game that we’ve all played and to the All Aboard challenge with a few differences.
To start the task, give each Pioneer a rope and ask them to tie it into a circle.
Do not identify anything about the size of circle.
Ask them to place the circle on the floor and ask them to stand in it with no part of their body touching anything outside of the circle.
When you give the command "Walk", they must walk around the circles and when you say "Circle", they must find a circle to stand in.
After a couple times, you start taking circles away and explain that for the group to be successful, they have to have everyone safe when you say circle.
This will require that they share circle space with each other.
The challenge is to see how far you can go.
You keep taking circles away from the group until they cannot share any longer. You can keep coming back to this one and having them try and best their record.
Variations: Allow the group to move or retie the circles. Don’t let them know that they can do this but don’t stop it if someone figures it out.
Leader’s Tips: This one is similar to All Aboard except without the possibility of elimination. The group can have as much time as they need to get everyone safely into the available circles. If you explain this one properly and in the right sequence, you can end up with some people making small circles at the beginning, which is just fine and adds to the challenge.
Switching PlacesScenario: Something about balancing on a small limb or beam above the Grand Canyon and the people on one side had to reach the other and vice versa for everyone to survive. The objective is for one group to switch places with the other group and end up with each group on the other bench in the same order they were at the start and facing each other.
Instructions: Divide the group in half.
With two benches lined up, end to end, with a gap in between the benches, ½ of the group stands on one bench and the other ½ stands on the other bench.
Each group is standing, lined up and facing the other group.
You are not allowed to come into contact with the ground or any other object other than the benches and other people on the benches.
If anyone does contact something, both groups return to their original positions and start over.
Variations:Have the group start all mixed up as one group and have them line up according to their birth dates, height or any other sequencing idea.
Leader’s Tips: This is a deceptively simply initiative task that if set up properly can have amazing results. The first time that you do it, you might want to make sure that the groups aren’t too crowded on the benches. If the group is experienced at these challenges or were successful at this one already, try to squeeze them onto an area that they barely fit.
Everybody UpStart with just groups of two.
The two people in each group must sit down facing each other while holding hands and with the bottoms of their feet are on the ground and knees are bent.
The two must use each other to stand up at the same time.
Once successful, have these groups of two join up with other successful groups of two and so on until you have the entire group together and trying it.
Hands must always be grasped so that if an electrical current was to pass through the group, it would pass through everyone.
Feet must be touching each other in the same fashion.
All bottoms must be off the ground at relatively the same time and the entire group standing for the attempt to be considered successful.
Group Push UpEveryone in the group must be supported off of the ground on their hands only.
No one may be supported by any other body part. No legs, knees, feet, butt, etc.
No one may be held up by an object or be holding onto anything.
Leader’s Tips: It is very interesting to see what the group comes up with to solve this problem. You could just give them the solution listed below and present it as the challenge - it’s challenging to achieve this even knowing how to do it!
It’s easier to have them in a group of four to begin with. They all get into push-up position beside each other in a square with each person forming one side of the square and looking at the next side’s legs. They put their legs on top of the person’s shoulders behind them and as one entire group, all four of them do a push-up. It will only work if they are all able to do a push-up and if they all do it at the same time.
With more people, they just form a circle with each person looking at the legs of the person in front of them. As a group, they all put their legs on the shoulders of the person behind them and as a group, they all do a push-up.
It is very important that they have the physical ability to do a push-up and it’s important that you try not to have really big people with their legs on really small people.
Reversing PyramidHave the ten people stand in a triangle formation with one row of 4, one row of 3, one row of 2 and one row of 1.
By only moving 3 people, flip the triangle so that the top is now at the other end.
Variations: Reverse a larger number of people in a triangle by moving 4 people? Try different combinations to make it difficult.
Leader’s Tips: Here’s one solution just in case you need it:
0 moves up to the third row
4 moves down to the third row
1 moves up to the top row
| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 | 1 |
| 5 6 7 | 5 6 7 | 5 6 7 | 2 3 |
| 8 9 | 0 8 9 | 0 8 9 4 | 5 6 7 |
| 0 | 0 8 9 4 |
Save
The Reactor
Equipment:
A ball or number of balls.
One scoop
or container per person. Cut off plastic milk containers work well.
A bunch of
obstacles.
Container
to serve as the reactor.
Scenario: A nuclear reactor requires fuel (the balls) and it’s up to the group to safely transport the fuel as quickly as possible to the reactor. The fuel is unstable which means that any contact with anything other than the inside of the scoops will result in annihilation. The ball(s) must be moved across an obstacle course as quickly as possible to the point of safety.
Instructions: The ball(s) can only come into contact with the inside of the scoops or containers.
Any contact with anything else results in annihilation which means that the group has failed at the task.
The ball(s) must contact each and every scoop before being placed in the reactor for it to work.
There is a specific path through as many obstacles as possible that must be followed for the fuel to reach the reactor.
All of the fuel must reach the reactor within a specified time or the reactor will erupt.
No scoop may have more than one fuel ball in it at one time. If individual fuel balls contact each other outside of the reactor….KABOOM.
Variations: Change the number of fuel balls and the amount of time that they have to accomplish the task.
The group spreads out throughout the obstacle course and plants one pivot foot that cannot be moved from that spot from that point on.
Leader’s Tips: The real challenge in this task will lie in the obstacle course that you develop. You will want to make sure that you have enough things that they have to go over and under in order to make it difficult.
If possible, try to place a few obstacles so that a person can’t go through them which will force the group to think and hopefully realize that they can fit their arms through to pass the balls through.
Try to create an obstacle that takes advantage of the varying strengths of your group.
A wall that can’t be climbed but that your two tallest people can reach over and meet.
A long tunnel that only the smallest members of your group can fit through.
A-FrameEquipment: Two pieces of timber 2” x 4” x ten feet long and one piece of 2” x 4” x four feet long fixed together in an ‘A’-shape with large bolts. Five ropes around 18 to 20 feet long each.
Scenario: A radiation accident has occurred and the person on the A-Frame must be safely transported to the decontamination area without touching the ground. Because of the radiation, no one can approach the person on the A-Frame. The objective is to move the A-frame with one person aboard a specific distance without the person on the frame touching the ground.
Instructions: The A-Frame must always maintain one point of contact with the ground.
It can only have a maximum of two points of contact with the ground.
It cannot be laid down and dragged.
Only the one person can be in contact with the A-Frame and they must be in contact with the A-Frame only and not the ground.
The other people may not come within 10ft of the A-Frame once it is in use.
The ropes may not touch the ground either.
Leader’s Tips: You could have the ropes already attached to the various points around the A-Frame and present the challenge as above or you could leave it up to them to figure out what they are going to do with the ropes and frame.
Balloon TrolleysScenario: The group has been taken hostage and connected to each other with "magnetic" balloons that prevent the people from separating from each other. An opportunity to escape has presented itself as long as the group can move as a unit from one point to another. The group has a whole has to move from one point to another with blown up balloons between each person without allowing the balloons to drop.
Instructions: Blow up the balloons and have the entire group line up with a blown up balloon between each person in the line being held up by the pressure of the bodies pressing together.
No one is allowed to touch the balloons with their hands or arms.
To increase the challenge, don’t allow the group members to use their hands for anything including hugging each other to lock their bodies together.
If a balloon touches the ground, you can either have the group start over again or try to figure out a way of picking up the balloon and re-inserting it without losing anymore. Even with their hands, this is hard.
Variations: Add obstacles that the group has to go over, under or around to make it more challenging. Remember that the group will only have limited movement up or down though. Steps to walk up would be good.
Leader’s Tips: This is a good activity to do with a group that does already work together to reinforce those attitudes.
It’s also good to do with a group that is having some problems so as to highlight those problems and help the group get past them and begin to work together effectively.
Radioactive Field IInstructions: The goal is to transfer the entire group across an open, flat area using three protective shields without touching the ground with any body part. Boards must not be thrown across the open area.
Radioactive
Field II
Instructions:
The goal is to transfer the entire group across an open area using
one pair of magic boots. No body part can touch the ground except for
feet wearing the magic boots. The boots cannot be thrown across the field.
They can be carried. Each foot on each person can only wear a boot
safely for one trip across. After that foot is used, it cannot be used
for any more trips.
Human
Ladder
Equipment:
one smooth dowel rod, at least three feet long and 1/4 to 1/2 inches
in diameter for each two participants
Instructions: The group lines up in two rows with each row facing the other. Each pair (one from each row facing each) other will hold a dowel. The object is to have one person standing at the end who will crawl across the horizontal ladder formed by the dowels. The group can hold the dowels in any manner desired—high, low, or forming a turn. The only restriction is to not hold the dowels above shoulder height.
Caution: Make sure the dowels you have will support your group member’s weight!
Blind Tent PitchInstructions: The goal is to set up the tent with everybody in the group blindfolded. Excellent Pioneer training!!!
QuicksandInstructions: Place the platform or towel about six giant steps away from a boundary line. The goal is to get everyone from behind the line across the open area onto the platform without touching the ground. The disks can be used to cross the area, but once they are put on the ground they cannot be moved. Also, someone’s foot must be on the disk at all times until the last person crosses.
Gimme
A Leg To Stand On
Instructions:
The goal of this activity is to get your group to have a minimum
of contact points with the ground. In other words, you want to find out
how few legs and arms you must use to maintain a balance point for, say,
five seconds.
Instructions: Half of the group stands in a row back to front facing the other half of the group, which also is back to front but, of course, facing the first group. It does not matter if you have an odd number of people in your group and one side has one more people than the other. Everyone should be standing on a marked spot. An empty spot should be marked in the middle between the two facing groups. The goal is for each group to exchange places. As you might expect, there are some restrictions on movement:
Diminishing
Load
Instructions:
The object is to move the group across an open area. To cross the
area, a person must be carried. The carrier must return and be carried.
If a carried person touches the ground, the carrier(s) and the carried
person must return.
Prouty’s
Landing
This is a good excuse
for making a rope swing at camp!
Equipment: one rope large enough and long enough to accomplish the swing and something to serve as a platform.
Instructions: The object is to get everyone in the group onto a 3-by- 3-foot platform from a point about 20 feet away by swinging on a rope. The platform should be set about 10 feet away from the point from which the plumb line of the rope swings.