All Aboard
Equipment:
2-foot square Platform or Table
Description: The goal of this challenge
is to get a group of twelve to sixteen people on a two-foot
square platform without anyone touching the ground.
Each person must have both feet off the ground. Everyone
in the group must remain on the platform for at least 10
seconds. Participants can not lay on top of each other,
forming a dog pile, as a solution to this activity. Play
continues for a set time
Variations: Use hula-hoops instead
of platforms
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Blind Square
Equipment:
Large rope tied in a circle
Description: The object of this
game is to have a group of at least eight players form a
perfect square while blindfolded. After the players have
put on blindfolds, place a rope that is tied in a circle,
in each person’s hands. Players must then form the
rope into the shape of a square. When they believe the square
has been formed, they place the rope carefully on the ground
and remove their blindfolds. All players must have at least
one hand on the rope at all times
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Distance Clove
Hitch
Equipment:
Long Rope, Tree or Pole
Description: Using a very long
rope and either a tree or a pole, the object of this game
is to tie a clove hitch around the tree (pole) without getting
near the tree. Draw a circle around the object that the
knot is to be tied to and tell the players that they must
not go inside that circle. The knot can be tied, but only
through the cooperation and teamwork of the players.
Hint: One child is a runner and
the other stands in one spot
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Human Knot
Equipment:
None
Description: Ask a group of ten
or thirteen people to form a tight circle. Have each person
extend both hands into the center, and grasp the hand of
two different people. When this is completed, the group
must then untangle the knot they have created. Physical
hand-to-hand contact may not be broken to untangle the knot.
Grips may change and palms may pivot on one another, but
contact must be maintained. If time is running out, the
problem can be simplified by breaking one grip and asking
the group to form a single line instead of a circle
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Minefield
Equipment:
Various Objects, Chairs, Tables etc.
Description: The majority of the
hall (except for two ends) is designated as a minefield.
Anybody stepping in the minefield is blown up and must sit
out the game. The players are divided into teams, and each
team is given the same amount of materials (e.g. a few chairs,
a table, rope, stave, some objects to transfer). The idea
of the game is for the players to cooperate as a team to
get their objects across to the other side of the minefield,
using only what they have been given, in the shortest possible
time (only the chairs and tables may touch the minefield,
any other objects touching it are lost)
Notes: The basic premise is to
use the chairs as stepping stones. If you give them too
many chairs the game is too easy. There should certainly
be less chairs than players in the team. The tables should
ideally be used as a fixed stop-off point. To make the game
harder, give them more awkward objects to carry.
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Obstacle Course
Equipment:
Many and Varied
Description: The premise of this
game is simple. Allow the players 10 minutes to set up an
obstacle course with various challenges using any materials
to hand. Then time each player around the obstacle course.
The best time wins
Variations: Allow teams to set
up obstacles for the other teams
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Trading Post
Equipment:
Lots of varied 'building' materials, 'Currency'
Description: The players are divided
into teams and each team is given the same amount of currency
(e.g. beads, cardboard squares). A trading post is set up
with areas where the teams can buy raw materials (paper,
card, scissors, pens etc.), an area for selling items they
have made and a bank. They then have to decide what they
are going to buy from the trading post in order to make
something to sell back for a profit. Most things that the
trading post buys back should result in a profit, but you
should put in some items that produce no profit or even
a loss. Play continues for a set time. The team with the
most currency are the winners
Notes: This can be adapted to fit
any theme by building related items. The game works best
if pre-made examples are available for inspection by the
players. Periodically introduce ‘special offers’,
‘contracts'. Vary the price according to demand.
See the Mini-Market rules & notes that accompany the
1999 Pack Holiday Program
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