How to get to the Kennedy Course: (Use the Upper Map: SHOULD NOT be taking you to Stoughton, Park in front of the pavilion on Lamplighter Way and take the gravel path through the trees)
How to get to the ALPs Course: (Use the Lower Map: SHOULD be taking you to Stoughton, Park all the way in the back of the parking area on the left side of the building, walk along the fence to get the course)
Objective: The group must maneuver the A-Frame from one point to another using the ropes
Variations:
Once the group has gotten the hang of the activity, have a participant stand in the middle of the A-Frame
Safety protocol:
If a participant is standing in the A-Frame, reiterate that they should step off safely if they feel they are going to fall
If a participant is standing in the A-Frame, they should use both hands to hold on at all times
Objective: The entire group must balance on a platform for an agreed period of time (ie. 5 seconds, while singing a song, etc.). Participants cannot touch the ground with any part of their body.
Safety protocol:
Ask participants to step off safely if they lose their balance
The area around the platform should be clear of obstruction
Do not allow participants to lie down or pile up on each other
Variations:
All participants must be touching the platform OR only a specified number of participants may touch the platform
Have participants discuss a strategy and attempt initiative non-verbally
Use a tarp instead of the platform; fold it smaller as the group progresses
Objective: The group works together to lower and raise a tire onto the tallest post without touching it
Safety:
Participants should not stand on each others shoulders
If participants choose to lift one another up, make sure there are spotters
Variations:
Do not allow participants to speak
Debriefing ideas:
Describe your communication during this activity.
How were solutions decided?
What were the greatest challenges in this activity?
Objective: The group must use the two provided boards to travel from one island to another without participants or the board touching the ground. The board doesn't reach from one platform to another, so the group must find another safe solution for travel.
Safety protocols:
No jumping, leaping, or diving!
No more than 12 people may be on one island at a time.
Participants may not hold underneath the board with their hands while someone is crossing so fingers do not get pinched.
Facilitators will spot the participants as they walk across the boards.
Spotters should stand sideways so shins will not be struck by boards that slip or drop.
Instruct participants to move carefully across the bridge in order to keep the boards properly counterbalanced.
*A minimum of three people must be standing fully (both feet and entire body weight) on the weight bearing end of the bridge as a counter-weight before a participant begins to cross.*
Variations:
Give participants a rope to use, but do not allow them to tie the rope around their bodies
Do the activity without speaking
Have half of the group begin on the other end of the islands and have the groups switch places
Debriefing ideas:
How did you decide on the solution you used?
What did you do when you were not actively involved in getting someone to another island?
How was everyone included in the activity and decision-making process?
Objective: Get each group member into a landing zone without touching the ground between the established boundaries using the rope to get from one side to the other.
Set-up:
Use a ladder to attach the Nitro Crossing rope to the cable with a locking steel carabiner. Do not connect to the rapid link because it makes the rope too long.
Place additional props an appropriate distance from the group
In order to get the rope - which is hanging in the middle - they must use the resources within the group to get it. No tree limbs, no walking out to reach it, etc.
Place boundaries at the starting and ending point of the swing where group can safely land.
Safety protocol:
Standard spotting protocol for swing and platform
Instruct participants proper swing technique to prevent rope burns and allow for test swings
Participants should not step on other's shoulder or on the small of the back
Variations:
Have the group transport a bucket of water with them; if they spill any water, give them a consequence.
"Disc Jockeys" is a variation where participants land in one of a set of hula hoops. Increase the difficulty by moving the hula hoops further out or establish an order in which they can land in the hula hoops. You can also use wooden platforms or other spots as designated "landing zones".
Can be combined with All-Aboard and participants must all swing onto the same platform and fit their entire group on the platform without falling.
Debriefing ideas:
How did you choose roles for his activity? Describe the leadership and distribution of tasks.
What did your group do or not do to allow everyone's ideas and concerns to be heard?
What is the chasm/obstacle that your group (or you) needs to cross in the upcoming semester/year?
Objective: Get each group member though the web one person at a time without touching the cords or passing through the same hole twice.
*Note: Activity can be adjusted to accommodate the group's challenge level and ability needs. Address the issue of body size. Anyone can safely lift or be lifted if they choose.*
Participants: minimum 8 participants
Set-up: At Kennedy: use the p-cord with attached carabiners to make web between two trees.
Safety protocols:
Spotters and lifters required. Use closed hands ("Spoons not forks!") and an athletic stance while spotting.
Lifters fully support participant with one person dedicated to the head/neck until they are safely returned to their feet.
Liftee should keep their body rigid and communicate the direction they would like to be passed through the web.
No running, leaping, or diving!
Variations:
Allow the group to use holes more than once.
Pass a rope (instead of bodies) through double the amount of holes as there are participants without touching the web.
Without lifting, have the entire group pass through the same hole while staying connected. If they touch the web, that hole is "closed" and must use another hold. If they run out of holes, they may "reopen" a hole by collaborating and sharing their ideas.
"Vertical Keypunch" with numbered poly-spots and clothespins. Group must pass a ball through the web in order without touching the web. After completion, a time goal may be added.
EXTRA CHALLENGE: All participants must be connected to the group by physical touch at all time.
Debriefing ideas:
How did you choose the solution that worked?
How did you help keep each other safe during this activity?
Describe the leadership during this activity. Did it change?
Would you do this activity the same way again? What would you change?
Objective: Participants attempt to line up in a certain order (ie. first names, color of shirt, age, switch sides, etc.) while balancing on the log and not touching the ground.
Guidelines:
If a participant touches the ground they need to start over from the opposite end of the log from their goal.
Participants may only pass one another once everyone is on the log.
The participants may only use each other and the log for support.
Safety protocols:
Remind participants to step off safely if they lose their balance
No running, leaping, or diving!
Variations:
Instead of starting over, they may have another consequence (ie. singing, fun fact, can't use their voice/sight, etc.)
The group can just walk along the log supporting one another.
Play silent lineup - all group members are silent during the activity
Debriefing ideas:
What method worked best for your group to achieve the necessary order and why?
How did it feel to start over?
How did group members support one another? How can you support one another in your organization, workplace, etc.?
Objective: The entire group needs to start and end on the platform and traverse the cable to touch each pole without touching the ground. Each person needs to touch each pole and the group can provide support to one another from the cables as well as the platform.
Set-up: At Kennedy: Use turnbuckles to attach and tighten cables to each post.
Safety protocol:
Participants (and spotters if present) use closed fingers - "Spoons not forks!"
Remind participants to step off safely if they lose their balance
Only 3-4 people can be on a cable at one time.
No running, leaping, or diving!
Variations:
Participants on the platform could be the only ones allowed to speak
Have participants traverse the element backwards
Have participants collect items (ie. pipe cleaners) as they traverse the activity.
Can assign goals or values to each pole and participants call out the value when they reach the post.
Debriefing ideas:
What were the greatest challenges in this activity?
What strategy did you use to provide spotting and still allow everyone to participate?
What did the group do to support you?
Did you find any of the values you assigned to the poles useful in completing the activity?
Objective: The group needs to work together to get the trolley from point A to point B, as designated by the facilitator, without falling off. There is a consequence if they step off the trolley.
Safety protocol:
all of the ropes must be held by participants, none should be on the ground.
Do not wrap ropes around hands.
Instruct participants to step off the trolley and let go of the rope if they are falling to prevent a domino effect.
Let participants know to say "freeze" or "stop" when their feet are not on the trolleys, so they do not get crushed.
Everyone must be on the trolley before it can move.
Variations:
If a participant falls off, they must get back on the trolleys facing the opposite direction or move to the front and be in the lead position.
Travel backward
Have half of the group face forward and the other half face backward.
Have the group turn the trolley around (180 or 360 degrees).
Have the group navigate a "mine field" or do an object retrieval while on the trolleys
Have group members not be able to see or speak.
Only allow two people to hold onto ropes with the rest just standing on the trolley. This may be unsafe if you can't remove the extra ropes so be careful when trying this variation.
Have a designated leader(s) if there is an accessibility issue
At Kennedy, the trolleys are connected by a rapid link, so you have a "train" of trolleys that can be disconnected for two smaller groups.
Groups can work together to reconnect the trolleys.
Groups can race to complete a task.
Debriefing ideas:
How did your group handle frustration or success?
Who were the leaders and why?
Why was leadership important?
What did it feel like to be at the front/back of the trolleys?
Objective: Participants stand on the platform and attempt to balance it. *Note: Weight can often become a topic of conversation, so facilitator may ask participants do not mention weight.*
Set-up: ALPs Course: Unscrew the bolts that secure the support legs for the element (and re-secure at the end of the day).
Safety protocol:
No running, leaping, or diving!
All participants, spotters, and observers should keep hands, legs, and feet away from the area where the platform touches the ground and where the platform balances on the fulcrum.
Participants are instructed to only enter or exit from the end of the platform held down by the facilitator.
Variations:
Have smaller groups (3-5 people) attempt to balance. When it touches the ground, have them step off and give the next round a chance.
Everyone in the group attempts to sit down while balancing
One-by-one participants must step off of the platform without it touching
Participants on opposite ends of the platform must switch sides
Have each participant pick a keypunch poly spot with their birthday number on it. Then, have the group sit and balance on whale watch. Take the poly spots and throw them far away from the whale watch. Have the participants get off and retrieve their poly spots one at a time without unbalancing the whale watch. (Stuffies could also be used as an alternative to poly spots.)
Zombie Apocalypse:
There are three "scientists" on one side of the whale watch who cannot talk (because of their Hazmat suits!) while the rest of the group is on the opposite side
The people "stuck" on the zombie side of the river must move to the medical base on the other side
The scientists have Hazmat suits so they cannot get infected
Debriefing ideas:
How did each individual affect the whole group?
How did the group respond when someone made a mistake?
What did the group do to include everyone and listen to other's ideas?
Objective: Group is given three boards to traverse across the scattered grids of posts without touching the ground. Participants of boards that touch the ground during the activity return to the beginning.
Safety protocol:
Spotters should use closed hands (Spoons not forks!) and an athletic stance
Remind participants to step off safely if they lose their balance
No running, jumping, or diving!
Keep boards at waist level or lower
Debriefing ideas:
Describe the focus of the group during this activity.
What strategies did the group use to complete the activity?
Discuss the leadership in the group.
What did it look/feel/sound like when the group was working together?