Group Initiative Course Map

Transcription

1 Group Initiative Course Map 1. Island Hoppers 2. Croc Pit 3. Trolleys 4. All Aboard 5. Nitro Crossing 6. Spider Web 7. Ants on a Log 8. Whale Watch 9. Group Wall 10. Trust Fall 11. Kings Finger Green = Level 1 Yellow = Level 2 Red = Level 3

2 Guidelines for Group Initiatives Here at Edwards YMCA Camp we have 3 different courses that are part of our Group Initiatives. We will let you know which course will be set aside ahead of time for your group. Course 1 and 2 are almost identical in initiative set up to allow for ease of use. If you are interested in using course 3 which consists of the low wall and trust fall please contact the OE director to make arrangements to train one of your staff to use them safely. The group initiative course is divided into 3 levels of activities. They are in order of safety concerns not necessarily in difficulty level for the group. Level 1 Participants are less than a foot off of the ground. These activities have the least amount of inherent danger and require less spotting by the instructor. Level 2 Participants are off of the ground under their own control. These activities require more spotting by the instructor. Level 3 Participants are lifting each other off of the ground. These activities require lots of spotting by the instructor making as well as teaching the participants how to spot each other. The rules for each activity should be set before hand and once the activity begins do not change the activity. This will lead to an easier time in the beginning. If it is too easy for the group and they complete it super fast feel free to have them try again with an additional challenge. If it ends up being too difficult you can offer hints to assist but if you change the rules to make it easier the participants can end up feeling cheated. Each activity can be adjusted to the difficulty level of the group by adding additional challenges such as not being allowed to speak, blindfolding specific participants, or you can make up your own. Feel free to set a time limit on an activity, if they don t complete it then that is fine as long as you still debrief the activity. Failure is a part of life and it can be a learning activity in itself.

3 All Aboard Level I Equipment/Props: 2 platforms Story: You have been stranded in the ocean after our ship went down. Even worse, there are sharks circling around you in the water. You have spotted this deserted island, and must get everyone on the island in order to be safe. Once everyone s feet are fully out of the water, I will count to ten to make sure we have given enough time for the sharks to swim away. Specific Rules and Guidelines: All feet must be off of the ground. After the group has successfully completed the task you can move to the smaller platform if they need an additional challenge. Explain that the tide has washed away some of the sands, but we must still get the entire team to safety. Again, all feet must be out of the water. Safety Concerns: Participants shouldn t do anything to jeopardize safety, such as standing on peoples backs or lying on top of each other. Layering participants on each other is not necessarily safe for the bottom people. Other: For first platform, the team will find a way to get everyone on, such as helping and supporting other individuals, and sacrificing personal space. The end result will usually be everyone laying on the ground and putting their feet up on the island. What actions did we take to be successful? How did people step out of their comfort zones? What is thinking outside of the box? What should we have done differently? How did our planning process evolve and change? What do you want to take with you to other challenges and to real life?

4 Ants on a Log Level I Equipment/Props: Telephone Pole The Story: While walking through the jungle you come across a huge ravine. You are tired after already having walked for miles and cannot turn back now. Fortunately, a giant tree has fallen across the ravine making a bridge. However, in the middle of the trip across, you run into another group going the opposite way. Going backwards is not an option, you must go forward. To survive, both teams must pass each other without any players falling into the ravine. If any group member touches the ground then the entire group must start again. Specific Rules and Guidelines: Participants must remain on the log at all times. If any participant falls off or has their feet touch the ground the entire group must restart at their beginning positions. Safety Concerns: Participants shouldn t do anything to jeopardize safety, such as standing on peoples backs. Participants should not jump over each other. Other: There are many variations for this activity. Rather than splitting the group in two, they could all stand on the log and rearrange themselves alphabetically, by height, birth date, etc. Extra challenges could involve no talking. If a group is struggling with falling off the log you could give them a set number of touches until they have to restart. Does it make any difference in what order we line up? Is everyone getting a chance to offer suggestions, and are we all listening to those suggestions? How was it hard to communicate while standing on the log?

5 Croc Pit Level II Equipment/Props: one built croc pit, three boards, two milk crates, one broomstick Story: After a long hike through the jungle, the team has come to a long river. The river is too long to walk around, and it is infested with hungry alligators. You must cross over the river, without going in, by building a bridge. When crossing over the river, the team must avoid the poisonous jungle growth (point to boundary line) as well as the poisonous growth at the end (point to both ending boundary lines). Since the alligators are attracted to sudden movements, anyone crossing over the river must go slow (demonstrate with hand). The tools you will have to use are the three boards, two crates, and the broomstick. In the end, get everyone across, along with all of your tools. Specific Rules and Guidelines: No one may walk around the activity. No one may use the trees at all. The boundary lines should not be touched. The tools must follow the same rules as the group, such as no throwing them, touching in the center, etc. The tools must make it across as well. Participants may not jump, dive, etc., across the river. Safety Concerns: Participants must be careful with the boards and broomstick so as not to hit anyone with them. When using the bridge, participants should be encouraged to sit on any materials to balance the person walking across, instead of standing on them, since the materials are generally unstable. If they insist on standing, that is okay as long as other participants are spotting and supporting those off the ground. The constructed bridge s length will tend to pop up due to the force applied on the lever end by the group. This should be spotted by the facilitator with their foot, since the pop up could cause people to fall over each other. What strategies did the group come up with? How did the group entertain different ideas in the planning phase? How did the plans evolve? What is important to consider when changing plans? What is important to learn after mistakes are made? What roles did people play? How did team members help others?

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7 Group Wall Level III Equipment/Props: 1 pre-built wall Story: While traveling through the jungle your team has come to a solid rock wall that spreads for miles on either side. Your team must climb the wall in order to continue on their journey as it would take too long to walk around and going back is not an option. Your entire team must safely make it to the top of the rock wall in order for your team to continue their journey. Participants may not jump the rock wall. Specific Rules/Guidelines: Start with 2 or 3 participants at the top of the wall. There may be no more than 3 people off the ground at one time. Each person should have a number of lifts they can be a part of (anywhere from 1-5 depending on the group; just spotting does not count as a lift. Clothes or props should not be used to make a rope. Sides of wall cannot be used, nor can the cracks between the boards. Anyone stationed on the platform to help should have at least one foot on the platform. More important is for no one to ever have their head lower than their knees. Safety Concerns: The smallest number of people required of an extremely strong group is twelve. The average group requires more; about sixteen people. Review safe lifting techniques with the participants. Spotting is required whenever someone is not standing on the ground or the wall platform. Climbers are not to use the gaps between boards Remind spotters to positions themselves both in back and on sides of climber Other: This activity is not recommended for young children. Participants should be at least middle school age to do this element. It is very easy for people to think they are stronger than they actually are pay close attention whenever any lifts are occurring. Be aware of what participants are saying to each other; weight issues can come up in this process. Was being lifted up out of your comfort zone? How did your team help you overcome this obstacle? In real life, how do others lift you up?

8 Island Hoppers Level II Equipment/Props: 3 Island platforms of different sizes. Two wooden planks of different sizes. The Story: After wandering through the jungle facing many different challenges your group finally sees a way out of the jungle. You realize your group has been crossing a large island and to escape you must cross to a smaller island where a helicopter is waiting. You cannot swim to the island because fast hungry sharks are circling in the water between the islands. Luckily, you find 2 wooden planks to help you cross. You ve made it this far and now you must safely get your entire team to the helicopter. If any participant falls into the water the whole team must restart. If a plank falls into the water the current carries it away. Specific Rules and Guidelines: Participants and boards may not touch the ground. If a participant touches the ground the entire team must restart. If a board touches the ground then it goes back to the starting point. The entire team must reach the smallest island. Safety Concerns: Only 1 person should move from platform to platform at a time. The boards should form a straight line across; if they are not evenly stacked they are more likely to swing out. No jumping, especially from platform to platform, or from board to platform. No throwing the boards to other participants, they should always be handed off. Other: If a student has a physical limitation you can give the team a certain amount of magical water skis that allows them to walk on the water without getting attacked by sharks. These students can be used to help spot or pass boards back and forth. What is the most effective way to get from one platform to the next? What is the most efficient way to use the two boards? How important is the order of persons crossing the water? How important is it to be willing to listen to new ideas, even if they sound farfetched? How well did you work as a team during this activity? Is there anything you would do differently if you had to do this activity again?

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10 King s Finger Level III Equipment/Props: Tall pole and a Tire Story: While wandering through the jungle, your group has become very hungry. You have spotted a bunch of bananas in a tree, but the tree itself has no low branches and cannot be climbed. Nearby, you spot a hoop that surrounds another tree. If you could get a hold of that hoop, you would be able to fashion a lasso that you could use to grab the bananas. However, the tree that you need to lift the hoop over is 10 feet tall and it has very sticky bark. If the hoop or a member of your team touches the bark then they are immediately stuck, meaning that the group must start over. Specific Rules and Guidelines: Group must try to lift the tire over the pole without allowing it to touch the pole. Safety Concerns: Members need to be very careful when lifting each other up. Preferred methods of lifting would be creating hand baskets to lift each other up or to have team members lift each other on their shoulders. 3 spotters are always necessary when a person s feet are off of the ground. This group initiative involves a minimum number of participants due to the spotters needed. Other: Variations could include having the group both put the loop on the pole and take it off, or have them do it all without talking. Please talk to Edwards Staff in order to ensure proper spotting/lifting techniques. How did your group decide which members would be the ones in the air? How did the spotters, bases, and people in the air work together and communicate? Was the group able to communicate their ideas in an effective way?

11 The Meuse Level II Equipment/Props: Pre-dug cinder blocks, 2 boards Story: As your group leaves the forest you see that you are on top of a series of ocean cliff tops that are not connected at all. Beyond those cliffs is another section of forest. You hear loud noises coming up from behind you that sound like hungry animals. Looking around you see two logs that seem strong enough to hold people. Using the logs, you must get everyone from one side to the other side safely. Specific Rules/Guidelines: You must get your entire team from one side to the other. If any member of your team touches the ground between the two sides then the entire team must restart. The only two things allowed to stand on are the cinderblocks and the boards. You may not jump or step between the cinderblocks. In order to use a board to step on, both ends of the board need to be on a cinderblock or a board that is resting on a cinderblock. Safety Concerns: Prior to doing the course, inspect the boards to make sure they are structurally sound. When participants are crossing the boards, the facilitator should be to their side (and if there are 2 facilitators one should be on each side). Other: The boards, without cracks, will hold adults. It is also easy for large groups, either at the start or finish lines, to get distracted from the task at hand. How did you work together to accomplish the goal? What were some difficulties that you had as a team? How did you support each other for the event?

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13 Nitro Crossing / Wolf Pack Level II Equipment/Props: One Rope Swing, Starting Line, and Platform Story: After a long hike through the woods, your team has come to the edge of a massive lake. The lake is so big, that walking around it would take weeks, and further, no one may even go in the lake since there are piranhas. The team may not lose anyone to the piranhas. Fortunately, the team has located a speedboat floating on the water not too far away. The entire team must make it to the speedboat before the boat will take everyone to the far side of the lake. There is a vine conveniently hanging down over the water, which must be obtained before the group may use it. The only resource the group may use is the group itself. Once the team gets the vine, they must get everyone onto the boat. The team may talk in the trees over here (show them), which is a good enough distance away. Specific Rules and Guidelines: No one may use any sticks, etc., only their own resources. If any member of the team touches the ground between the boundary and the platform the whole group must restart. No one may jump or dive for the rope, or throw people. Allow them to go and re-plan if needed, without consequence to the group. Safety Concerns: Inspect the swing to make sure it is in good shape, and that there are no questionable branches overhead, and that ground conditions are clear. Never allow participants to jump, dive, or throw people at the rope. Swinging items at the rope is acceptable, but encourage the other team members to stand back, so as not to get hit by the swinging objects. Participants may not go on others backs. The facilitator should spot the upper body when participants swing across; keeping in mind that the beginning and end part of the swing may be the most challenging. Also be aware of the landing platform s surface, and sweep off any dirt, sand, or snow that could make it slippery. Other: There are many ways to change this challenge to suit the needs of the group. They may be required to stick however they land on the boat, or they may have to bring a large canister of water across without spilling it. If someone touches the ground while swinging, you may choose to either start that person over, or reset the entire group. If you have a person with physical limitations you may introduce the concept of 1 free pass that the group can give to anyone that allows them to walk across the boundary once without consequences. To add an additional challenge, every time someone swings across the rope resets in the middle of the lake. What went into planning out this challenge? How did people handle getting everyone onto the boat? What other ways did people support fellow teammates? How did team members help others?

14 Spider Web Level III Equipment/Props: One built permanent web Story: A gigantic spider has spun an enormous web blocking the only available path through the jungle. The jungle is so thick that you may not walk around the sides, or even go over the web, or under. The team must travel through the web, avoiding touching it in any way, since the vibrations may wake the spider. In the end, your entire team should make it to the other side. Specific Rules and Guidelines: The entire team must go from one side to the other, going between the two trees and not touching the web. Each hole may only be used once (or twice depending on the size of the group). If anyone is going to be lifted off of the ground there must be at least 2 people on either side. Restarting the entire group, or just one person, is a choice of the facilitator. You may even choose to allow the group several touches, so that they do not have to restart. No matter what rules that you set they should be consistent for the entire activity. Please check with Edwards Staff to ensure proper and safe lifting and spotting for this activity. Discuss with the group proper lifting techniques. Also discuss concerns regarding support for the head, neck, and back. All team members should help when someone is being lifted, even if they are just spotting. The group should make sure to consider variables when passing, such as traveler positioning, strengths of the team, etc. Participants should tuck in T-shirts when passing through. Safety Concerns: Group must lift appropriately. All participants should help in lifting and spotting. Facilitator must ensure support for the head, neck, and back. All participants traveling through must go slowly. Have anyone standing around help spot. The facilitator should spot the head, and transition to the other side when the upper back is over the web. Other: Avoiding touching the web is not only a way to make the activity more challenging, but is also an indicator of how well the group is taking care of people, and how well they are doing to get people safely through. You may choose how strict to be with the group. In colder months people need lots of layers to stay warm and that can present an additional challenge. Which role was more challenging and why, a lifter or a traveler? How was communication between the two sides of the web? What problems needed to be solved during this activity? How did you provide support to those with concerns? What types of support did the group provide? Where is teamwork needed here? How would you describe the planning process your group used and its effectiveness? How did you generate ideas and make decisions about who would go when and where? How did uncertainty, fear, mistrust, concern get expressed and impact the group?

15 Trolleys Level I Equipment/Props: 2 Sets of two boards with rope attached to them. Story: You have successfully reached the edge of the Jungle and find yourself at the edge of a large river of boiling chocolate. On the other side you can see giant piles of all the candy you can ever think of. Luckily while you were looking for a way to cross you found these huge candy canes and licorice. You can reach the use these devices to reach the other side and your candy. Specific Rules and Guidelines: The entire team must travel to the other side of the path without touching the ground. If any member of the group touches the ground then the entire team must restart. The only thing that they are allowed to step on is the boards. Safety Concerns: Participants are prone to falling during this activity. The ground should be mostly level. Also be sure that there is nothing dangerous that the participants could fall on. What strategies did the group come up with? What was the reason the group kept tipping over? How did people support others? How does one team member s action affect others? What does it take to balance the group? What was the most difficult part of this activity, why? What skills were required to solve this problem, when would you use those skills in the real world? How did this activity help you prepare for the problems you will have in the future? What is the easiest way to solve any problem in your lives?

16 Trust Fall Level III Equipment/Props: one built trust fall platform Story: We will be using this platform as an opportunity to step up and face a challenge with the help of the group. Every participant must step onto the platform. Once on the platform, you may choose to either continue or step back down. Either way, the group will applaud the choice taken. If that person chooses to step back down, they will rejoin the group. In order to continue, they will get ready while the group gets ready. The person on the platform will stand facing the tree, with their back to the group. Heels must hang over the edge of the platform, ankles glued together. Then stand stiff and straight, hands grabbing the pants by their side. Eyes should be on the tree. The group will get ready by forming two lines, one on each side of the platform, facing each other. Everyone in the group should be shoulder to shoulder, no gaps. People should bend their knees slightly, and have hands in the middle, palm up, fingers together. Each hand other alternate from participant to participant, all the way down the line, so that collectively, everyone s arms form a zipper. Then the participant on the platform will use these commands. Spotters ready? Ready. Falling? Fall on. Once permission is cleared by the group, fall backwards while stiff and straight. Once the group has caught you, they will stand you upright feet first. Specific Rules and Guidelines: The participant falling must commit to falling stiff and straight, without sitting back or bending. If they feel unsure, have them wait. Participants should always fall facing away from the group; this is due to the fear some people have, which could force them to change position while falling. Arms should always be at their side; some people that cross arms may try to fling their arms out while falling, hitting the spotters. Spotters may stay ready and rigid, waiting to absorb the fall. Safety Concerns: Spotters must correctly form the sipper in order for them to catch the participant falling. Should the group zipper correctly, and the faller fall correctly, then everyone in the group will be catching the weight of the participant. Ensure that the lines are straight, and that the faller is correctly positioned on the platform. Hats should be turned back or taken off. Spotting by the facilitator may be an extra hand at some point in the line, generally where the head or upper back will land, or where there is an identifiable weak spot in the zipper. Another spotting point, for someone who could potentially sit instead of falling stiff, is at the platform. When the person begins to fall, hold their feet in one hand, pressing down. With the other hand, push against their knees, preventing them from being able to sit. Due to the nature of the challenge, the group should have already demonstrated a responsibility level conducive to running this challenge safely. All involved must be focused on the activity at hand. The group should also have enough people to be able to catch all people in the group. At any time, the facilitator must be prepared top correct unsafe behavior or performance.

17 Whale Watch Level II Equipment/Props: One built balance platform Story: Your entire group has just survived a shipwreck on the open seas. Looking around you find a piece of wreckage from the ship that is left floating. The water is very cold and you must get your entire team on top of the platform in order to survive. To make matters worse the waves keep on moving the platform up and down. You must work together as a team in order to get everyone on the platform and keep it balanced off of the ground in order to save yourselves. Specific Rules and Guidelines: Participants need to use their bodies to balance the platform for a certain amount of time (10-30 seconds should be adequate). They are not allowed to touch the ground with anything once they get on the platform. If participants solve it the first time quickly, adding time adds to the challenge. Participants should enter the platform only from the middle in order to avoid any toe injuries from the platform. Safety Concerns: The facilitator should be watching for unstable participants, and should be moving around spotting the entire group. It is highly recommended to have more than one facilitator/adult chaperone to help with spotting the participants. Be cautious of people jumping/falling off the far end, and people should be clear of the sides of the element. Other: Be cautious of what participants say about other s weights. There are many variables to this challenge, and many variations; some depend on the group, and some are stylistic issues in running this challenge. Another would require the group to just get on and then balance the platform. You may choose to have the group get off the platform in the same fashion they got on, which would require a lot of time. Another way to have the group divide up between the sides is by equal number of years in their company on each side, years of experience, age, alphabetically, etc. What strategies did the group come up with? What was the reason the life raft kept tipping over? How did people support others? Is it difficult to get x amount of people doing the same thing at the same time? How does one team member s actions affect others? What does it take to balance the group? How is balance a part of your life?