Team Building/Initiatives/Games
Bucket of Nitro
Group size:
Up to 20 participants split into two equal teams.
Materials:
4 tires
2 planks (2x8x10)
2 planks (2x8x8)
1 Bucket w/ pulley
1 50’ piece of 8mm rope
2 25’ pieces of 10mm rope
2 Rope markers (string or bandanas)
1 Large trashcan
Area needed:
A large flat field or paved parking lot would be ideal.
Objective:
Two teams work toward a common goal of transporting the bucket of colored water toward a predetermined target.
Scenario:
A large lava flow is heading towards a heavily populated area. The flow needs to be diverted through a disruption at its source. For this disruption to occur, nitro must be taken to the lava spout and DUMPED into the volcano crater.
Factors:
The only material that is lava proof is the tires. If any other material touches the playing field then it is pulled from the exercise.
If a participant touches the playing field then the mission must be aborted to provide that person with medical attention and the exercise MUST be started over from the beginning.
The hybrid version of nitro is very unstable and it is emitting a poisonous vapor that cannot be inhaled by humans. The bucket cannot be within six feet of either team or any team member. A rope will be marked with this measured distance.
If the nitro is spilled or dumped anywhere except into the volcano the explosion will engulf both teams and the mission MUST be started again from the beginning.
Debriefing:
Questions could include-
1) What type of leadership styles emerged?
2) Did the two teams become competitive even though they where striving towards a common goal?
3) Did the strategy evolve at any time during the exercise?
4) Was everyone on the same page concerning the objective?
5) If you were faced with this exercise again, what would be the same/different?
6) Did the team self-impose any rules or restrictions other than what was stated by the facilitators?
7) How does this exercise translate to our own lives professionally?
The Gotcha Card
The “Gotcha Card” may be the most essential piece of gear we’ve ever used at camp! For the effort required to collect 2 feet of duct tape and an expired credit card, this little baby fosters more community than you thought possible. Here’s how the “Gotcha Card” game works…
1. You do not want to be in possession of the “Gotcha Card.”
2. If you have the “Gotcha Card,” the only way you can get rid of it is to pass it to another person.
3. In order for it to be a successful hand-off, the person you are handing the “Gotcha Card” to must physically take it from you.
4. Once the person takes the Gotcha Card from you, you say, “Gotcha.”
5. Obviously, the person will not just nicely take the Gotcha Card from you, so you have to get very creative (especially as the week goes on) to pass it off in a sly way.
6. Example: Juan says to Jimmy, “Hey Jimmy, would you hold my bag lunch for me?” Jimmy takes the bag lunch from Juan, not knowing that the Gotcha Card is in the bottom of it, and Jimmy is now the new owner of the Gotcha Card. For flare, Juan may say, “Gotcha!” after the transaction. It is now Jimmy’s turn to slyly pass it off to another person.
7. The last three people to be in possession of the Gotcha Card before the group gathers for the nightly campfire have to (get to?) stand up in front of everyone and do a silly dance, song, skit etc.
8. The Gotcha Card Game continues on throughout the entire week.
Garbage Ball-
*Divide the kids into four teams—each team has a goal and should have one or two goalies and a scorekeeper.
*Place all types of balls in the center of the field to begin with (basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, Frisbees, and a SUPER BALL
*The game is basically free for all—the only rule is that you can only dribble the basketball, throw the football, kick the soccer ball etc.
*Point values:
Footballs=1 pt
Soccer balls=2 pt
Basketballs=3 pt
Frisbees=4 pt
Super Ball=10 pt
Supplies needed:
*All types of balls
*Four goals/tables
*Paper to record score
Afong-
*Divide the kids into four teams
*Each team has a bucket in the center of the field
*Place adults on the outskirts of the field to be money hander outers
*Assign certain kids to be medics (tie bandanas around their arm to identify them)—they will be able to rescue people who get tagged by the affongers
*Assign certain kids to be affongers—these kids run around with flour filled socks and can tag people.
*Everyone else’s goal is to get money from the adults (on the outskirts) and get it back to the middle and into their bucket without getting affonged.
*When an affonger tags somebody, that person must hand over their money to the affonger (The money is now “dead money”). They are now down until a medic comes and rescues them.
*Here’s the glitch-medics can be tagged by affongers, so everyone wants to keep the medics alive for as long as possible.
*Every once in a while, (to keep the game alive) you can send in a Crazy Medic. The crazy medic cannot be tagged by an affonger and can rescue as many people as he/she wants.
*At the end of the game, count the money in each bucket, and see who wins!
Supplies needed:
*Four buckets
*Lots of paper money
*Bandanas
*Socks with flour in them
Wells Fargo
*We usually start this game by doing some type of skit.
*The playing area needs to be divided into two halves. Each team needs to set up a bank (cones set up around it) on their side.
*The object of the game: Each team wants to get money from their side to their bank (which is on the opposing team’s side).
*Each person has a sock which is used to carry money to the bank.
*Once you cross “no man’s land” and onto the other side, your money is no longer safe. Once your sock is pulled by someone, you must turn your money over and return to your side to get more money.
Blind Geometry:
This is a quick, but effective teambuilding activity.
Supplies:
1.)As many blindfolds as you have team members
2.)1 large rope, at least 40 feet in length
Simply blindfold all your team members and throw a rope on the ground next to them.Tell them to make a square (more challenging: equilateral triangle), using the full length of the rope lying on the ground next to them.Give them no further instructions.
There is no trick.It’s just great to see who takes charge, how they organize the corners, if one person facilitates from the middle, etc.
Toxic Waste:
This is a popular, engaging small group initiative activity which always provides a rich teamwork challenge for about 30-45 minutes. This game involves thinking, imagination, action, fantasy, risk and an attractive solution.
· The challenge is to move the toxic waste contents to the "neutralization" container using minimal equipment and maintaining a safe distancewithin a time limit.
· Can be done indoors or outdoors; outdoors is more dramatic because water can be used as the "toxic waste" instead of balls.
Supplies:
· 2 x toxic waste receptacles (1 small, 1 large bucket)
· 1 x rope to create a circle for the radiation zone
· 1 x bungee cord loop
· 8 x cords
· 8 x pit balls or use water (to represent toxic waste)
· Blindfolds (optional)
· Red herring objects (optional)
· Use the rope to create a circle at least 8 ft in diameter on the ground to represent the toxic waste radiation zone. The larger the radiation zone, the more difficult the activity.
· Place the small bucket in the center of the radiation zone and fill it with water or balls to represent the toxic waste.
· Place the large neutralization bucket approximately 30 to 50 feet away. The greater the distance, the more difficult the activity.
· Put all other equipment (i.e., bungee, cords, and red herring objects (optional)) in a pile near the rope circle.
· The challenge is for the group to work out how to transfer the toxic waste from the small bucket into the large bucket where it will be "neutralized", using only the equipment provided and within a time frame. The waste will blow up and destroy the world after 20 minutes if it is not neutralized.
· Anyone who ventures into the radiation zone will suffer injury and possibly even death, and spillage will create partial death and destruction. Therefore, the group should aim to save the world and do so without injury to any group members.
· The rope circle represents the radiation zone emanating from the toxic waste in the bucket. Emphasize that everyone must maintain a distance (circle radius) from the toxic waste wherever it goes, otherwise they will suffer severe injury, such as loss of a limb or even death.
· Give the group some planning time with no action e.g. 5 mins. Then start the clock and indicate it is time for action, e.g., 15 or 20 mins.
· Toxic Waste is not an easy exercise and most groups will benefit from some coaching along the way.
· The solution involves attaching the cords to the bungee loop, then guiding the bungee with the strings to sit around and grab the toxic waste bucket. Then with everyone pulling on their cord and with good coordination and care, the toxic waste bucket can be lifted, moved and tipped into the empty neutralizing bucket.
· If someone breaches the toxic waste zone, indicated by the circle, enforce an appropriate penalty e.g., loss of limbs (hand behind back) or function (e.g., blindfolds if a head enters the zone) that lasts for the rest of the game. If a whole person enters the zone, they die and must then sit out for the rest of the activity.
· If the group struggles to work out what to do, freeze the action and help them discuss.
· If the group spills the waste entirely, make a big deal about catastrophic failure (everyone dies), invite them to discuss what went wrong and how they can do better, then refill the container and let them have another go.
· Ideas for varying the level difficulty of the activity:
o Adjust timeframe
o Adjust distance between the buckets
o Include obstacles between the buckets
o Include red herring objects in available equipment
Source: http://wilderdom.com/games/descriptions/ToxicWaste.html
Mine Field
· A popular and engaging game involving communication and trust. The task is very flexible, works for groups of various types and sizes, and can be adapted to youth, adults, corporate, etc.
· Select an appropriate area. Go outside, if possible. Can be done inside, even in rooms with fixed furniture (which can become objects to be avoided).
· Distribute "mines" e.g., balls or other objects such as bowling pins, cones, foam noodles, etc.
· Establish a concentrating and caring tone for this activity. Trust exercises require a serious atmosphere to help develop a genuine sense of trust and safety.
· Participants operate in pairs. Consider how the pairs are formed - it's a chance to work on relationships. One person is blind-folded (or keeps eyes closed) and cannot talk (optional). The other person can see and talk, but cannot enter the field or touch the person.
· The challenge is for each blind-folded person to walk from one side of the field to the other, avoiding the "mines", by listening to the verbal instructions of their partners.
· Allow participants a short period (e.g., 3 minutes) of planning time to decide on their communication commands, then begin the activity.
· Be wary of blindfolded people bumping into each other. The instructor(s) can float around the playing area to help prevent collisions.
· Decide on the penalty for hitting a "mine". It could be a restart (serious consequence) or time penalty or simply a count of hits, but without penalty.
· It can help participants if you suggest that they each develop a unique communication system. When participants swap roles, give participants some review and planning time to refine their communication method.
· Allow participants to swap over and even have several attempts, until a real, satisfied sense of skill and competence in being able to guide a partner through the "minefield" develops.
· The activity can be conducted one pair at a time (e.g., in a therapeutic situation), or with all pairs at once (creates a more demanding exercise due to the extra noise/confusion).
· Can be conducted as a competitive task - e.g., which pair is the quickest or has the fewest hits?
· The facilitator plays an important role in creating an optimallevel of challenge, e.g., consider introducing more items or removing items if it seems too easy or too hard. Also consider coaching participants with communication methods (e.g., for younger students, hint that they could benefit from coming up with clear commands for stop, forward, left, right, etc.).
· Be cautious about blind-folding people - it can provoke trust and care issues and trigger post-traumatic reactions. Minimize this risk by sequencing Mine Field within a longer program involving other get-to-know-you and trust building activities before Mine Field.
Supplies:
· Markers or lengths of rope to indicate the boundaries (e.g., 50 yard rectangular field)
· Bowling pins or many soft objects, such as larger balls and stuff - the more the better