Rope polygon

Brief description

One person makes a path with a rope tied between the trees. The objective is to get from one end to another, holding nothing but a rope and/or another participant by his shoulder. The participants stand in a cue and are not allowed to speak. They are all blindfolded (including the leader) and have to get from A to B. The first member is guiding the cue of blindfolded colleagues behind, he/she is holding the rope and the rest of them are holding the one in front by the shoulder.

You can have variations to either make it a bit harder or a bit easier, for example, they can all hold the rope, the guide may see or other variations. You can also add obstacles in the polygon, but perhaps then consider the first member having their eyes open.

Having said that the purpose of this exercise is to get people a little bit out of their comfort zone so consider that when deciding on the variation

Target group

8 – 16 (although possible to do it with larger groups, however with more facilitators for safety).

Objectives

Connectivity, communication, peer support, resourcefulness, building positive self-image.

Gestalt principles addressed

Here and now.

Self-awareness.

Personal responsibility.

Direct experience.

Conflict resolution.

Creativity and experimentation.

Compassion

Materials needed

Rope, obstacles if polygon is done indoors.

Time required

30 - 40 minutes.

Instructions

Participants form a circle holding onto a rope with their eyes closed. The challenge is to work together—without speaking—to shape the rope into a specific polygon. Once they believe they’ve succeeded, they can open their eyes and evaluate the result.

Adaptations

For younger children, allow open eyes or simplified shapes. For participants with visual or physical impairments, assign supportive roles (e.g., timekeeper, coordinator) or use thicker ropes and tactile cues. In limited spaces, use string on a table to simulate the activity with hands only. For virtual versions, simulate the idea using drawing tools in breakout groups.

Reflection phase

After the activity, bring the group together to discuss their experience working without sight and sound. Invite them to reflect on non-verbal communication, patience, and collaboration, and how these skills translate to real-life group dynamics.

Expected outcomes

In this experiential group activity, participants are challenged to navigate a rope path blindfolded, relying solely on physical connection and silent cooperation. The first person in the line holds the rope and leads the rest, who each place a hand on the shoulder of the person in front. No one is allowed to speak. Variations can include visual impairment for all or just the followers, the introduction of physical obstacles, or different rope setups, depending on the group’s readiness and the desired difficulty level.

Facilitator’s notes

Reflexion/debrifeing:

What happened?
How did that feel?
What was the hardest thing?
What made you continue?
What did you learn??
What did you like about the activity?
How can you apply the learning to your everyday life/work?
Would you do anything different?

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