Adventure
Activities
Over 100 Initiative Problems
& Trust Activities
Initiative Problems
Trust Activities
Name of Game: Tin Shoe
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: The Bottomless Bag Again,
page117 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: try to pass
an empty #10 tin can while in the seated position in a circle formation
from foot to foot with shoes on.
Variation:
1. Change formation from circle
to straight line.
2. Use a smaller can to increased
difficulty.
3. Use to two at the same time.
4. Use two cans of different sizes
at the same time.
5. When using two cans make
them to go in the opposite direction.
6. (For younger students) allow
the can to touch the ground.
7. Time how long it takes them
to get the can around.
8. Combining smaller groups to
make larger ones.
Name of Game: Hog
Call
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Silver Bullets, page
98,99 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Hog call is
a grand exercise to make a lot of unselfconsciousness noise and is a nifty
means of breaking the ice with a just meet group. Ask any size group
to make a line facing you, standing shoulder to shoulder so that the oldest
person to the nearest day is to your left and the youngest person is to
your right. After line is establish take a minute to establish the
median age for the group and establish if there were any birthdays occurring
in the same year? Month? Day? Ask the younger end of the line to
fold around and walked towards the other end of the line so that the youngest
ends up facing the oldest. Each person should have a partner.
Ask everyone to shake hands with the person opposite them to make sure
that each individual is part of a pair. Explain that you would like
each player to share the matching set of words or sounds for example, shoe
foot, buzz ball, peanut butter, and whiskey sours. In addition, each
person should choose one of the words or sounds as theirs. Ask each
player to announce his or her choice in order to determine that there is
note duplications. Indicate that each line represents a group that
will soon go the opposite ends of the gym, field, or parking lot.
Than ask each member of the pairs to walk to opposite ends of the field
with the instructions that they are to put on blindfolds or closed their
eyes when they arrive. The object is to find their word partner,
and since everyone has their eyes are closed or blindfolded the most functional
means would be verbal. For example, if our group words were peanut
butter I would yell I am peanut and my partner would yell and butter.
Variation:
1. Instead of words have partners
use animal’s sounds.
Name of Game:
Everybody Up
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Silver Bullets, page
100 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Ask two people
of approximately the same size to sit on the ground or gym floor facing
one another so that the bottoms of the fee are opposed, knees bent, and
hands are tightly grasped. From this sitting position ask the duo
to try and pull themselves into an upright standing position.
Variation:
1. Have partners sit back to back
(do not allow interlocking arms in this position).
2. Add one person to the group
to make an odd number.
3. Combining two groups together.
4. Combining numerous groups together
to make one large group.
Name of Game: All Aboard
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Silver Bullets, page
106 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, 2’x 2’ platform. The objective is to see how many people
can get on platform at one time. The rules, in order to be counted
as on the platform, each person must have both feet off the ground.
The group must be able to hold the balance posed for at least five seconds.
Variation:
1. Do the same task but did not
permit participants to speak.
Name of Game: TT
Log
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Silver Bullets, page
107 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Equipment,
one (TT) teeter-totter log. The objective is to balance a small group sitting
on top of the teetered totter log for 10 seconds. It the log touches
the ground at either end, and at any time, the group must start all over
again.
Variation:
1. Do the same task but did not
permit participants to speak.
Name of Game: Touch
My Can
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Silver Bullets, page
108 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, one soda can. Objective for a group of about 12 that 15 participants
to make physical contact with the soda can without making physical contact
with one another.
Variation:
1. Do not allow participants to
use their fingers.
2. But participants into teams
and once everyone is touching can give them a distance to travel while
everyone is touching the can.
Name of Game: Telephone
Pole Shuffle
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Silver Bullets, pages
110,111 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, telephone call or low balance beam. Objective one person starts
at one end of beam another person starts at the other end of the beam both
people try to get to the other end of the beam without touching the ground.
Variation:
1. Start with two people on each
end of the beam.
2. Continue adding people on each
end of the beam.
3. Use a stopwatch to time the
participants. See if participants can beat their best time.
Name of Game: Group
Juggling
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Silver Bullets, page
112 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, various soft throwable objects for example, nerf balls, sponge
balls, been bags, tennis balls, ect. Objective, place students into
groups of five to seven people. Have the groups stand in a circle
facing one another, and so that the circles diameter is no more than 12
to 15 ft.. One person in a group keeps the throwable objects nearby
and lobs one of them to person across the circle from them that person
lobs the ball to person opposite from him/her and it continues until a
person to person sequence is set. You are not allowed to throw to
the person next to you.
Variation:
1. Do more than one object at a
time.
2. Continue adding objects until
there is more objects then people.
3. Reverse the sequence that the
object is being passed in.
4. Add objects of various sizes.
5. Time the groups and see if the
groups are able to be their best time.
Name of Game: Shipwreck
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Silver Bullets, page
112 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, large playing area, circles approximately 3 to 4 ft. in diameter
(hula-hoops may be used) for each group to use as a ship. Divide
participants into two groups. Give each group a ship and instruct
all members to hold onto its side as they run the line of the playing field.
Groups are to run with their ship until the instructor yells shark then
members jumped on board the ship the first group with all of the their
feet off the ground or inside the hula hoop receives a point. Repeat
this procedure several times. The first group to reach the finish
line receives three-points. Add up all the points and decide the
winner.
Variation:
1. Have students designated as
sharks if the sharks are able to tag one of the students in the group before
they're able to get back on to the ship the ship must move back five steps
(the sharks will be given 10 seconds once the instructor yells sharks to
tag someone after the 10 seconds the sharks must freeze in place until
the instructor yells shark again).
Name of Game: Human
Ladder
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Silver Bullets, page
113 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, 6-10 smoothed hardwood dowel rods about 3 ft. long and one and
a quarter inches in diameter. Participants are paired and given one
rung of the latter. Several pairs holding a rung and standing close
together form the latter. A climber starts at one end of the latter
and proceeds to move from one rung to another.
Variation:
1. As the climber passes by, the
pair holding that ladder rung may leave their position and proceed to the
end of the latter extending the latter indefinitely.
2. Changed the direction the latter
is going.
3. Vary the height of the rungs
of the latter.
4. Add obstacles.
Name of Game: Spider
Web
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Silver Bullets, pages
114,115 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, to vertical post and lots of nylon cord. Objective, is to
move your entire group through a nylon fabricated Web without touching
the web material. If someone touches the Web he or she must begin
again to keep from being eaten. Do not allow a person to go back
over to the other side of the spider web once they have crossed over.
Do not allow a person to dive through the web.
Variation:
1. Allow only one person to go
through one opening.
2. Place some small bells to the
wedding to indicate when a person has touched it.
3. Time the group and see if the
group can be their best time.
4. Do not allow the group to talk
while performing this task.
5. Have the instructor pick the
place in which the person is to cross over.
Name of Game: The
Clock
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Silver Bullets, page
116 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, four cones or just about anything that can be used to designate
12:00, 6:00, 3:00, and 9:00. Objective, have a group form a large
hand in hand circle. Indicate to the group's that you would like
them to rotate in a clockwise 360 degrees in one direction and then return
360 degrees back to the start. The goal is to see how quickly the
group's can complete this double rotation. If someone breaks the
human chain then that group must start again.
Variation:
1. Have group's start in the sitting
position and end in the sitting position.
2. Having everyone face the outboard
direction.
3. Have every other person facing
the opposite direction (first person facing in board second person facing
out board).
Name of Game: Tangled
Hands
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Silver Bullets, pages
117.118 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Objective,
assembling groups of approximately 10-16 individual to face one another
in a tight circle. Each person holds out their right hand and grasps
the right hand of someone else, as if they were shaking hands. Then
each person extends their left hands and grasps the hand of someone else,
so that each person is holding two different hands. This hand-in-hand
configuration should come out equal. The group is to try and unwind
themselves from their tangled situation so that a hand in hand circle is
formed. Note: the physical hand in hand contact that you have with
your partner cannot be broken in order to facilitate an unwinding movement.
Sweaty palms may pivot on one another, but skin contact may not be lost.
Variation:
1. Time the groups and see it there
able to be their best time.
2. Do not allow groups any verbal
communication during this activity.
Name of Game: Trolley
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Silver Bullets, pages
119,120 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, trolleys consisting of two 4 x 4 boards 12 ft. long with holes
drilled every 12 in. with a five ft. rope extending out of each hole.
Note: the rope should be secured to the board by a knot that does not protrude
the bottom of the board. Objective, is to move your entire group from one
area over a designated space to another area.
Variation:
1. Starting the students facing
the opposite direction in which they must travel.
2. Tie a knot at approximately
the 3 ft. mark on the ropes and tell participants that's where they must
grasp the rope, this bent-over position makes the group more vulnerable
to the domino phenomena.
3. Give students a zigzag obstacle
course to follow.
4. Time the students and see if
students can beat their best time.
5. Have students tried to maneuver
themselves backwards.
Name of Game: Trust
Fall
Area Covered by Game: Trust Activities
Reference: Silver Bullets, pages
80,81 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, a platform 6 ft. in height or less. Objective, ask a student
to stand upon the platform and fall backwards into the arms of a prepared
group of spotters. There should be at least 10-12 individuals standing
on level ground to act as catchers. The person falling should keep
his/her arms held closely to the side of their body and fall with the body
rigid not bending at the waist. The two lines of catchers stand shoulder
to shoulder facing one another. Hands are extended palms up so that
the hands are alternated to form a secured lending area. Do not allow
catchers, to grasp hands or wrist in order to provide a form solid landing;
knock heads will result. Assigned one person in the group to stand
on the platform with the volunteer about to fall. It is that person's
responsibility to make sure the faller is spatially aligned with the catchers,
holding on to his/her paint seems tightly with hands in pockets to prevent
spontaneous flying elbows, and tilting his/her head back as a means of
remaining rigid.
Variation:
1. After the student has fallen
and been caught have the fallen person continued to stay rigid so back
he/she can be passed hand-in-hand down the entire line of catchers.
2. Have the line of catchers lift
the fallen student up over their heads.
Name of Game: Trust
Dive
Area Covered by Game: Trust Activities
Reference: Silver Bullets, page
83 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, a platform 2-4 feet high. Ask a student to dive forward into
the arms of the 10-12 spotters. Insure that the diving platform is
solid enough not to move when the person jumps. Indicate to the diver
that he/she should aim for an invisible trapeze above the heads of the
catches, in order to land in an easily handled position: flat out, arms
extended. Discourage dives, into the pool and pike position landed.
The two lines of catchers stand shoulder to shoulder turn half way toward
the diver with one-foot forward of the center catching line. This
position provides more ability to absorber the momentum of the diver. Hands
are extended palms up so that the hands are alternated to form a secured
lending area. Do not allow catchers, to grasp hands or wrist in order
to provide a form solid landing; knock heads will result.
Variation:
1. To increase the commitment of
the diver, removed the first two spotters this increases the distance from
the diver to the spotters (it the diver comes up short, only the divers
feet will drag on the ground).
2. Have the diver dive backward
onto the catchers.
3. After the student has fallen
and been caught have the fallen person continued to stay rigid so back
he/she can be passed hand-in-hand down the entire line of catchers.
4. Have the line of catchers lift
the fallen student up over their heads.
Name of Game: Yeah,
But
Area Covered by Game: Trust Activities
Reference: Silver Bullets, page
91 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, blindfold. Objective, ask an individual to stand at one end
of a gym with his or her back to the wall. Have that person assume
the hands up/palms out, protect yourself position (bumpers up). The
person should be blindfolded or has committed to keep his/her eyes closed.
Ask the participant to walk toward the far end of the gym at a steady,
unchanging pace. The remainder of the group is spread out in a flanking
line with their back to the wall that the blindfolded participant is approaching.
The job of the spotters is to stop the participant before he/she encounters
wall. Note: do not allow any horseplay by the spotters and have the
spotters be as quiet as possible in order to increase the commitment of
the participant. Place a few spotters about halfway down the gym
on the sideline to prevent wildly disoriented participants from smacking
into the bleachers or sidewalls.
Variation:
1. Have participants this at a
slow jog pace.
Name of Game: Squat
Thrust
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Silver Bullets, page
94 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Objective,
the players assume a precarious balance position by squatting in front
of one another so that the balance point is on the ball of the foot.
The two people facing one another then try to knock each other off balance.
If either player moves a foot they lose.
Variation:
1. Have student stand and try to
knock each other off balance by striking their palms against one another.
2. Have participant stand toe to
toe, palm to palm and only be able to move arms in slow motion.
Name of Game: You
Got Me?
Area Covered by Game: Trust Activities
Reference: Funn Stuff Vol. III,
page 58 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Objective,
two participants of about equal size standing facing one another.
At an agreed upon signal the slowly fall forward toward one another.
As the fall is initiated, each of the two fallers extends their arms up,
palms forward, to make hand contact with the person falling toward them.
Before the fall is begun, the participants agree upon which way they will
continue the fall right or left if they miss each other's hands.
Variation:
1. Move participants once step
back after each successful attempt.
Name of Game: Inch
Worm
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Cowstails and Cobras
II, pages 38-39 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Objective,
sit on the ground facing your partner. Inch towards one another until
you and he or she are close enough to sit on each other's feet. Grasp
your partner's elbows or upper arms with each hand. Now, decide which
direction you to would like to travel. The partner in whose direction
you were headed lifts his/her derriere of the ground and moves a couple
of inches or so toward whatever goal you have in mind. The second
partner now lifts of the ground and in a cooperative one-two, one-two bug
like movement, duplicates the steps above, and moves towards his/her partner.
Variation:
1. Give students a start and finish
point.
2. Time students and see
if they can be their best time.
3. Set students up so they can
race one another.
Name of Game: Bottoms
Up
Area Covered by Game: Trust Activities
Reference: Cowstails and Cobras
II, page 39 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Objective,
sit on the turf facing one another and place the bottom of your feet against
the bottom of your partner's feet. Legs should be bent, feet held
high, and posteriors scooted fairly close to one another. Then attempt
to push against your partner's feet while putting all your weight on your
arms until both of your derrieres come off the ground.
Variation:
1. Once booth of the derrieres
are off the ground time the participants to see how long they can keep
them up.
Name of Game: Python
Pentathlon
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: Cowstails and Cobras
II, pages 43,44 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Objective,
with the group seated on the gymnasium floor demonstrate a coccyx balance
position which is accomplished simply by picking feet off the ground and
leaning back onto your coccygeal area (your butt). The next step
is to try and make forward progress from this L shape balance position.
Tried to break students up into groups of five. Each person sets
with his/her feet in the lap of the person immediately in front.
Only the first person in line is allowed to have foot and hand contact
with the ground; everyone else must only have butt contact-feet on laps
and hands on shoulders. Have students try to move around in this
position.
Variation:
1. Give students a designated starting
area and finish line time the students and see if students can beat their
best time.
2. Give students a designated starting
area and finish line, have the groups race one another.
Name of Game: Two-Person
Trust Fall
Area Covered by Game: Trust Activities
Reference: Cowstails and Cobras
II, page 51 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Objective,
this activity adds verbal communication, which provides the initial one
on one contracting for spotting and belaying. The calls are initiated by
the faller and complete by the catcher. A typical sequence might
look like this: Faller: are you ready the catch? Catcher: ready the catch.
Faller: I'm ready to fall. Catcher: fall away. The faller should
be reminded to secure his arms across his chest to ensure not throwing
out arms and elbows. The falling person should also keep knees and
body straight, falling directly backwards. The catcher's should position
themselves one directly in front and one directly in back of the faller
arms up, palms up, elbows slight the bent, feet staggered to support the
weight of the faller. The catcher should lightly push the faller
back into the upright position.
Variation:
1. Have the catcher's take one
step back to allow the faller to fall closer to the ground.
Name of Game: Willow
in the Wind
Area Covered by Game: Trust Activities
Reference: Cowstails and Cobras
II, page 52 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Objective,
ten to fifteen people stand shoulder to shoulder in a circle with one person
the faller standing rigid and trusting in the center. Remaining rigid,
the center person slowly falls in any direction. Before he/she moves
very far off plum, the circle people redirect the fallers impetus to another
arc of the circle. This fall catch shove sequence continues in a
gentle fashion until it becomes obvious that the center person is relaxing
but remaining rigid and that the circle people have been confident in their
ability to work together toward handling the occasional weight shift of
the faller.
Variation:
1. Have the people making up the
outside circle sit-down placing there feet against the fallers feet placing
their arms up to catch the faller as he falls.
Name of Game: Squirm
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: The Bottomless Bag Again,
page 33 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, slightly deflated the beachballs or other types of soft semi large
balls. Objective, placing student’s in-groups of two place a slightly
deflated beachball between the foreheads of two participants. The
object is to maneuver the ball from forehead to knees and backed up again,
without touching the ball with your hands (arms, elbows, and ect.).
Variation:
1. Have students start standing
back to back.
2. Have students trying to change
partners without letting the ball hit the ground or using their hand.
Name of Game: Stork
Stretch
Area Covered by Game: Trust Activities
Reference: The Bottomless Bag Again,
page 6 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Objective,
split students up into groups of three. Stand facing one another
in a triangular configuration. One person raises his or her right
leg and places their foot on the right thigh of the person to his or her
right, as that person continues the identical action to his or her right.
So everyone's right leg should be as parallel to the ground as possible,
as his or her right leg is supported on his or her right hand partners
thigh. The left legs support the trio.
Variation:
1. Have students tried to accomplish
this task by raising their left legs.
2. Once all three students are
supported by one leg each have the students try to lean over and place
their head on their right knee, or a depending upon the triangular support
on and their partners knee.
Name of Game: Balance
Practice
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: The Bottomless Bag Again,
page 34 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, 1inch X 3ft. wooden dowels. Objective, have the students
attempt to balance the rod vertically on the palm of their hand.
Variation:
1. Have the students attempt to
balance the rod on their chin.
2. Have the students attempt to
balance the rod on their forehead.
3. Have the students attempt to
balance the rod on their nose.
4. Have the students attempt to
balance the rod while walking a designated distance.
5. Ask students to get with a partner
and attempt to toss the dowel from person to person.
6. Ask students to get with a partner
and attempt to toss the dowel from person to person with a half spin (a
180-degree toss).
7. Ask students to get with a partner
and attempt to toss the dowel from person to person with a full spin (a
360-degree toss).
Name of Game: Another
Nonsense Knot
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: The Bottomless Bag Again,
page 35 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, sections of rope approximately 3-4ft. in length. Objective,
ask the students to tied an overhand knot in a short piece of rope if booth
ends of the rope are being held by the person attempting to tie the knot
(once a person picks up the rope there not permitted to let go of the ends.
Name of Game: Mine
Field
Area Covered by Game: Initiative
Problems
Reference: The Bottomless Bag Again,
pages 52, 53 by Karl Rohnke.
Diagram:
Explanation of the Game: Materials
needed, something to mark the 15 X 40ft. rectangle on the floor and all
whole bunch of just about anything to use as mines. Objective, randomly
scatter what ever you are using as mines within your sectioned off mine
field. Have the students get with a partner. One person goes into the mine
field and the other must stay outside of the mine field. The person
inside the mine field must be committed to keeping their eyes closed, it
is the job of the student on the outside of the mine field to direct the
student on the inside of a mine field safely to the other side.
Variation:
1. Have more than one participant
attempt to cross the mine field at one time.
2. Have the other students make
lots of background noise while the participants are trying to concentrate
on getting through the minefield.
3. Have student start on all four
sides of the rectangle at one time.
4. Time the students and see if
there are able to be their best time.
5. Divide the students into teams
and have the team's race across the mine field.
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