COMMUNICATION
Initiatives
"Communication" is a large , expansive category, as most all initiatives involve working with other humans, and communicating in some way, verbal or otherwise. Regardless of the activities you choose, your group will likely be confronted with a task of communication. However, the activities in this list were crafted with communication as one of the primary goals. With these types of activities, keep in mind that the goal goes beyond completing the task, it is more important that the participants work toward effective and creative communication. Beyond initiatives, GTKYs often, if not always, involve talking, listening, learning, and connecting in some manner, which is an important step in improving communication within any group. If communication is your group's goal, it may be beneficial to devote time to GTKY's as well.
COMMUNITY BUILDING
Ground Workshops and Lows are wonderful for community building! Ideally, if a group requested an ALPs workshop, they will be open to community building. These activities are particularly good for this goal as they involve every member, and are less competative than some other options on here. In the spirit of Experiential Ed, merely having an experience together will accomplish this goal. Full Value Contract is another really cool, amazing, awesome place to focus on when thinking about community building. Perhaps opt for a longer FVC such as the Village!
PROBLEM-SOLVING & DECISION MAKING
These activities are generally what we would consider the most stereotypical initiatives. Groups are presented with a problem and they must solve that problem! Fairly straightforward, however, an abundance of care and intention will make these activities all teh more impactful. Problem Solving Activities are typcially where the most tension will arise (as compared to other initiatives). They are designed to bring out various methods of attacking issues, communicating, dividing up tasks, etc. Pay special attention to the loudest voices, and the "leaders" that arise. Debriefing is incredibly important after these activities, and can bring to light a lot of these issues.
TRUST
Initiatives
Chair Flip
Lines of Communication
Lego Perspectives
Minefield
Tank
Trust the Wave/The Zipper
Trust Fall
Trust is a wonderful thing, no doubt about it, and trust is developed most effectively by open and honest communication. For that reason, many of these activities involve communication as well, either with a partner or with a full group. Another cool little thing you may notice is that many of these activities are ones in which a participant may not have all the necessary information to complete the task, and must rely on those around them for help (think of activities like Blindfolded Dodgeball or Lego Perspectives), participants will find themselves in a situation in which they must trust others to have their back. Trust activities are quite fun to debrief for this reason.
VISION AND MISSION & GOAL SETTING
Initiatives
Balloon Up
Chaos
City Perspectives
Electric Fence
Pipe Cleaner Mascot
Lego Perspectives
No-Doze Leadership Quadrants
Marble Luge
I Call a Meeting
Human Knot
Trust Fall
Turnstile
Two Step Crossing Game
Vision? Mission? Goal Setting? Sounds like a blast - and something we are fairly good at here at ALPs. This category is another broad one as it can be interpreted in many ways! Some groups may desire a more mellow workshop where they are able to sit down at discuss explicitly what their goals and vision are for their organization. For these types of workshops, extended/longer Full Value Contracts such as "The Village" would work gloriously, as well as thoughtful and through debriefs. Some groups may also accomplish this goal by having an experience (cuz, y'know, this is EE) together, the initiatives listed to the left are all ones that require full group effort towards one common goal, and illustrate the importance of collaboration and getting "in sync". Have Fun!