• Finger Grab: Everyone stands in a circle with their right hand out like they are serving a pizza. The left hand index finger is in the palm of the person to the left. When the leader says, try to grab the finger in your palm without getting your own finger caught.
• I like people who…/I share common ground with people who…: Each participant stands in a circle on a carpet square or poly spot. One participant is in the middle and calls out “I like people who…ate breakfast this morning” (for example). Everyone who ate breakfast that morning must move to a new spot that is at least 2 spots away including the person in the center. The participant without a spot is in the middle and gives the next I like people who…
• Group Juggle: Everyone stands in a circle and the facilitator creates an order by tossing an object (no person gets it more than once; it should start and end with the facilitator). After the order is established the object is to not drop anything that is tossed to you and the facilitator tosses items at a good pace. The group must communicate ideas to ensure the catching of each object that is thrown.
• Jump Rope: You’ll need a partner to help swing the rope or require the group to swing the rope. Once it starts swinging tell he group they must get all of their members to the other side without touching the rope. Also if it rotates without someone going thru, everyone has to start over.
• Acid Pour/Bull Ring: Using a tin can filled with water, a rubber tire with strings attached, and a rope as a boundary, the team must pick up the can which is filled with toxic waste and move it to a safe spot/pour it into a safe can. The team members holding the strings can be blindfolded while the others tell them what to do.
Low Ropes Element Activities:
Whale Watch
The team must stand on a platform using everyone to balance on a fulcrum for a predetermined amount of time.
In order to be successful, group members must
• Demonstrate an ability to listen
• Cooperate
• Compromise|
During reflection instructors facilitate conversations on topics such as communication, planning, trust, and leadership.
Safety considerations
• Participants may not jump on the whale watch
• Participants may not put their hands or feet under the whale watch.
Creative alternatives
The team must form a capital letter or a shape with no extra people outside the letter and hold it for a predetermined amount of time.
Half the team stands on one side, half on the other and they must balance the whale watch and then switch places while maintaining balance. Instructor can also allow a predetermined number of touches. Not allowing any participants to stand a certain boards.
Spider Web or Porthole
Each member of the group must make it through the spider web without touching the web or using a hole that another participant has used.
Requires group members to:
• Effectively communicate
• Cooperate
• Compromise
• Problem solve
A participant can be lifted through some parts of the web involving some risk taking and trust. During reflection instructors facilitate conversations on topics such as communication, planning, trust, and helping each other.
Safety considerations
• Participants must be spotted when moving through the web, even if they are going through the lowest part.
• Participants may not go over the top of the web
• Bungee cord is used, not static line. If a participant is caught in the web, it will move with them.
• Do not allow participants to dive through the web.
Nitro Crossing
The entire team must cross over a “pit” using a rope swing, pick up an object, and return to the other side of the “pit” using the rope. This event is one of the most physical low ropes events.
This event requires:
• Problem solving
• Use of resources
During reflection instructors facilitate conversations on topics such as helping each other, thinking outside the box, patience, and trust.
Safety considerations
• Instructor must spot participants when they are swinging on the rope.
• Participants must be prepared to help the swinger.
• Participants may not jump or dive to retrieve the rope.
• Participants must not use excessive force to swing members across.
Creative alternatives
• The object they must transport is a bucket of water.
• Limit the amount of time the team has.
After each activity the facilitator leads a discussion on what happened and assists the group with applying information that comes out in the discussion to the next activity, their work environment, or their personal life. At the end of the entire day, the facilitator will lead a discussion that looks at the big picture of the day's experience and discoveries the group has made about themselves and their team.
