Category: Videos

Coiled Rope & Knot My Problem (Human Knot Variations)

7/4/2019

*Programming Note from Chris: Below you have access to three videos related to the Human Knot. Here is the order of difficulty I give to these activities: Knot My Problem, Coiled Rope, Human Knot. You will need to decide which one (or two) you use with your group based on their readiness to play - i.e., how close they will feel comfortable getting next to each other.

Coiled Rope

I learned this variation of Human Knot (rope version) years ago from my good friend, Mike Spiller (HERE's a video of the original set up for Human Knot - no rope - if you don't know about this one). Historical Reference: The earliest documentation of "Knots" that I know of is in, The New Games Book, 1976.

The full write up of Coiled Rope is included in my book, Portable Teambuilding Activities: Games, Initiatives and Team Challenges for Any Space. (Find it HERE). It's actually part of a 'Trilogy' activity with 5-Point Star and Shooting Star.

From the video you will get the idea of how to play. But I do want to share a little bit about the set up before you watch. I use a 50-foot activity rope for each group of 8 to 10 players. (If you don't have a retired rope around, my favorite inexpensive 50-foot rope is the 3/8 Utility rope from AtWoodRope - it has a great feel, lots of cool colors and it keeps its shape even after it gets wet. The site is a little confusing - the rope I get is shown at the top of their home page. Look for the group that has the names, Blue Force, Liberty & Black Lightning. These are the ones I get).

I tie a single fisherman's knot with the two ends making a big rope circle, then I coil the rope with about a 24-inch diameter. Players reach across the rope coil to grab a bight from the other side of the coil in which they are standing.

Note: The video included below will show you the start of the activity and progress through to some of the untangling. We did this one after the, Knot My Problem video shoot (below) and had to cut this one short due to lightning in the area. You'll get the idea though!

Knot My Problem

This variation of the Human Knot is found in the book, Tinker: Building Purposeful Experiences from Classic Adventure Activities (2017) from my friends at High 5 (find your copy HERE). I read the entire book recently and really - quick read - and enjoyed getting reacquainted with some of my old favorites (and learning a few new ones I didn't know about) - I got a lot from the commentary about the activities from the High 5 authors.

The set up for this version is much simpler and you can get more people involved with one rope since you don't have that 'leaning in' reach included with Coiled Rope (above). As noted above, I think this is the easiest one-rope variation of Human Knot.

Have fun out there my friends! Keep me posted.

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

2 Comments

Hooper Dooper (Revisited)

5/23/2019

0 Comments

Back in 2015, I posted HOOPER - a variation of the activity 60 in 60 (found in, The More The Merrier by Sikes, Evans & Cavert). Recently I found some video footage of Hooper and updated the self-directed handout (download below), so I thought I'd 'revisit' this fun activity with a new post.

I've played this one with middle school age groups and older. So far, 12 groups in play is the most I've tried this with.

The Basics:

Hooper Dooper is meant to be a self-directed activity for one or more small groups of five to six players.
Provide one hula hoop, one inflated beach ball and the directions to each group.
Set a planning and practice time for all groups in play - for the first planning and practice time, I give them 10 minutes. Then, only three minutes before any other additional game. (I usually provide time for three games - scoring attempts.) All groups plan and practice at the same time.
Set an 'Official Game' time - I also refer to this as a 'Scoring Attempt'. Depending on group objectives, a short game is two minutes, a long game is four minutes (long games are usually for groups working on that stick-to-it/grit objective). All groups play the Official Game at the same time - all groups are on the same clock held by the facilitator.

I love using this activity when there are lots of groups in play. We have great conversations about:

Where ideas came from - were ideas 'stolen' from others?
Did any collaboration take place?
How did groups spent their planning and practice time.
If a plan was made, did groups stick with it or change it in progress, and why?
What distraction happened and how did groups deal with them?
Did each group follow the directions (especially the one where each player take turns hitting the ball).

Here is the handout:

hooperdooper_guidelines.pdf
File Size:	39 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Let me know how it goes for you!

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

0 Comments

P-Cord Loop Activities (FUN Follower Share)

4/25/2019

0 Comments

Well, the cat is out of the bag! Over two years ago now I saw a cool video (below) with a group using strings and tennis balls - they were moving tennis balls across the strings and dropping the tennis balls into baskets. Shortly after that Ben Venderzyden (a FUN Follower) sent me a PDF (below) of three activities put together by Andrew Bogue noting, "Andrew put this series of activities together as an introduction to P-Cord Loop Activities." Then, shortly after that my friend Solomon Masala sent me his version of "Tennis Ball Transfer" (the other PDF below).

With all this information converging in a relatively short period of time, I knew I had to try it out. Well, finally, this past January, I put my P-Cord Loop Activity gear in a bag and carried it with me to two different conferences in hopes of getting some good video to share. However, I failed!! I did shoot some video but nothing I found useful - we ran out of time at each workshop to complete the activity. Then, today, someone shared on the Facebook group, Challenge Course Pros, a little clip of one of the workshops where we were trying out the process of rolling orbs along the P-Cord track - the cat out of the bag.

So, it's time to share everything I have and give a GREAT BIG thanks to those who shared with me so long ago - sorry it's taken this long. (I'm still on the quest to shoot some video of a full activity, so I'll share it when I have it.) And, since you'll have your hands on these ideas, try them out and get some film!! We would love to see how it works for you!

My "Loop Kit" contains 12 orbs, about 8 inches in diameter (I found these at a Dollar Store and I can let out the air and pump them up when ready to use) and 12 P-Cord Loops (25 feet of P-Cord each, tied at the ends with a Barrel Knot). I have enough equipment for 24 participants (each pair gets one orb and one loop).

Have FUN out there my friend!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

Let's Get Loopy (P-Cord initiatives from Andrew Bogue and Ben Vanderzyden)

p-cord_initiatives.pdf
File Size:	618 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Tennis Ball Transfer (from Solomon Masala, Source Consulting Group)

tennisballtransfer_masala.pdf
File Size:	358 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

0 Comments

Objectable Human Knot

3/27/2019

2 Comments

(Spoiler Alert my team building friends! I have yet to see the successful completion of this challenge! Want to be the first in the record book - send in a short video clip of the last two minutes leading to success. We would love to see if this is possible!)

These were the first attempts to my eyes (two groups at a conference workshop) of, Objectable Human Knot. In the video you will see us set up the Human Knot with buddy ropes in a way that will lead to a single circle solution.

Once the tangles were set a beach ball was placed atop each set of ropes.

The Challenge: Without human contact with the beach ball, untangle the rope knot without letting go of the ropes or dropping the ball. (With this set up, everyone should be standing next to the person from the initial circle of the set up - this would be the expectation of "untangle.")

During these Beta Testing attempts, the groups placed the beach ball back on top of the ropes right away if it fell to the ground. In "real life" team building, we decided, if the ball drops, the group would have to reset the tangle from the beginning before placing the ball back on top of the ropes. (Just a thought so far.)

We also talked about letting some of the air out of the beach balls so they didn't roll around as much (to make the activity easier), use different objects like a small cardboard box or stuffed animal and allowing for a certain number of drops (e.g., three) before resetting the tangle.

Give this a try. Help out the cause. Is the task even possible - we would love to know! (And, see a video of a successful conclusion.)

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

2 Comments

ReuseYourGear Games

2/27/2019

0 Comments

Have You Ever...
worn two helmets on your head at the same time? On the way out the door, literally, from the ACCT Conference in Denver, I ran into Jeremy Sterndale and friends re-using retired climbing gear for some FUN in the hallway. Of course I had to find out what was going on - and play a little bit.

Last year Jeremy started the blog: reuseyourgear.blogspot.com

His site, "is an effort to repurpose, recreate, reimagine, and rediscover. I want to help out "re" in the forefront of things, thoughts and processes in the challenge course and outdoor facilitation worlds."

He's also posting ideas on Instagram at ReuseYourGear

During our super-fast game session, I learned about making rope discs, rope darts, monkey fist knot tossables and fashioning two helmets together for a target. Use hot glue to fasten the coils and helmets together. (I'm guessing a gorilla glue will work too.) In the short video above you'll see some different views of the gear so it makes more sense. For rope "darts" (rope version of Lawn Darts), simply tie a stopper knot (i.e., half barrel) at the end of a length of rope - start with at least 20 inches of rope. (I didn't get specifics - so you can experiment.)

You can use this gear, among other things, to play a static version of corn hole and a dynamic version (shown in the video). And, this is just the beginning I'm sure. So, what would you do with this gear? Leave your idea in the Comments below and/or head over to the ReuseYourGear blog to contact Jeremy about your idea. I know he's looking for more!

A BIG thanks to Jeremy for sharing and starting something fun and beneficial! Everyone has those "things" around that can find new life. Share what you've done and what's possible.

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

0 Comments

Flip and Find (with Playing Cards)

1/31/2019

2 Comments

Hello Team Builder! I'm sticking with the playing card theme for this post. After you play the Ice-Breaker "Who Am !" from the LAST POST, you can play Flip and Find.

In the video above, you will see the large group version of Flip and Find (small group version below). This large group was participating in a Team Olympics - there were about 60 players in the room. Points were awarded for the top three places. So, how does it play?

Set Up:
Establish a starting line (I suggest cones or masking tape. If you use a rope, players might trip on it.) We used Jumbo Playing Cards in the Olympics (video), but any cards will work. You need a suit of 13 cards for each group of 6 to 8 players. Mix up (shuffle) each suit and then set them down in a vertical line moving away from the starting line - the first card is about 10 feet from the starting line. The further the cards are apart, the more running involved (and the more challenging they are to see from behind the starting line - if teammates are watching/ helping).

The Objective:
Turn the cards over in sequence - starting with the King and ending with the Ace - as quickly, and safely as possible.

Directions:

One person from each group can be in the "card field" at a time (over the starting line).
One card can be turned over during each turn into the card field.
If the card turned over is the first one (the King) or the next one in sequence (after the King), it can stay turned over - face up. The card must stay in the same place on the floor (or, ground).
If the card is not the one in the sequence, it must be turned back over, face down in the same place on the floor.
All players must take one true before any player takes a second turn. All players must take a second turn before anyone take a third turn, and so on.
Players can talk to each other during the activity - they can help each other remember where certain cards are positioned.
When the Ace (the final card) is turned over, the player to turn it over lifts the card into the air to signify completion of the task (jumping up and down is okay too!).

Depending how you play, there can be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, or go by time - play two rounds and add time together for the overall place in the game.

Small Group Version

Set Up: Depending on space, you can set the cards up vertically (like in the video) or horizontally (like in the picture). When I set them horizontally, the line of cards is about 20 feet from the starting line (the closer they are the easier the cards are to see - make it easy or more challenging depending on the group). Notice, there are two groups in the picture, one is playing down the other side of the porch. I set it up this way so the two group could collaborate.

The Objective:
Turn the cards over in sequence from King to Ace.

Directions: The activity plays the same (see directions above). However, in the small group version I give each group three attempts so they have the chance to improve on their process (and, hopefully share ideas with other groups in play). A super fast time comes down to creating roles and responsibilities and relying on each other for help.

Let us know how it goes! Leave a Comment below.

Have FUN out there,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

2 Comments

CUPple-a-Points (with Video)

1/3/2019

0 Comments

First and foremost, I want to thank the wonderful team building facilitators at BRIDGES for trying this activity with me (for the first time ever). And, a BIG shout out to the creative mind that gave us the name for this one. (It was fun watching you all work!)

Context Note: The footage was taken at a day-long team building facilitator training. I kept in the "learning" conversations. I thought some of you out there might benefit from the thinking that went on during this discovery process. (Alfie Kohn might call this, taking the facilitators, and you, "backstage" for some Deep Modeling as a way of learning.)

More Team Building Activities with CUPS! Check out CUP IT UP

CUPple-A-Points (here's what we have so far):

Set Up: Place 10 nested stacks of 30 cups each (300 Cups), inside a hula-hoop (or maybe even make a small box shape on the floor with tape).

Objective: Gain as many points as possible in two minutes. Every cup that is not touching the floor after two minutes earns you a point.

Directions: If you have time, and the planning dynamic is part of the group's program objective (e.g., practicing planning behaviors), allow for unlimited time to plan and practice before the first official two-minute build. If you don't have unlimited time, give them, say, three minutes to plan and practice before the first build, then maybe, two minutes before the second build and one minute before the final third build.

Note:

Round 1 Footage: Participants can be used as resources/props.
Round 2 Footage: Participants CANNOT be used as props.

Rules: (Applied to either Round 1 or 2 set up. Each round, or variation, includes three building attempts.)

After two minutes, only cups outside of the hula-hoop will count for points.
Any nested cups, one or more cups inside of each other, will not count for points.
After two minutes, all "hand" must be off the cups. Then, after three seconds, "1, 2, 3," the cups that remain off the ground can be counted for points. (It might be faster to count the cups NOT off the floor, then minus this number from 300 for the score.)
When you (the group) are ready to start an official two-minute building, let your facilitator know. The facilitator will keep time and inform you about time remaining.

To reiterate, there are two different presentation variations so far (shown in the video - they are noted as "Rounds") - one where participants CAN BE use as resources/props, and one variation where participants CANNOT be use. We tried both to get some film of each.

Also, at this time, I would choose one of the variations and take time for three two-minute building sessions in order to see how the evolution of the builds turn out. What will be "success" for the/your group?

Let us know how it goes. Leave a Comment below.

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

0 Comments

Handshakes, Part 1 (Learning) & Part 2 (Playing) - Videos

9/20/2018

2 Comments

A lot of people ask me for my favorite large group activity. "Handshakes" is always at the top of my list - especially, when I turn handshakes into an action-packed exercise, called Handshake Buddies, I learned from my good friends at Group Dynamix. (See Handshakes, Part 2 - The Game with the Shakes, below.) And the BONUS: Handshakes works with smaller groups too.

First, let's learn some fun handshakes you can use with your small and large groups (Handshakes, Part 1 video). Michelle Cummings, the Big Wheel at Training-Wheels.com and me (Chris Cavert, from FUNdoing.com) got together to film some of our favorites. Here's the list:

The Basic (Right-Handed) Handshake
The High Five (more of a "connection" than a shake, but you're okay with it!)
The Fist Bump (another "connection")
The Fisherman's Handshake and the Double Fisherman's variation
The Rodeo Handshake
The Lumberjack Handshake
The Caterpillar Handshake
The Moose Handshake
The Heartbeat Handshake
The Dairy Farmer Handshake

I'm guessing many of you know lots more. Hopefully we've added one or two new ones for you. No matter how long your list of handshakes and connections, you can use them together in Handshake Buddies. It's a great way to mix and mingle groups at the beginning of a program. The Handshakes, Part 2 video (below) gives you a short verbal description, with some visuals. (I hope to add a group-in-play video soon). Here's a written description of how I play:

Handshake Buddies

Ask everyone to go back-to-back with someone in the group. (a group of three can work too).
Demonstrate a handshake (or connection).
When you say, "Ready, GO!" partners turn around and perform the handshake (connection) just demonstrated and then find someone new to stand back-to-back with (emphasize "someone new" - not someone they have shaken/connected with).
Now, demonstrate a new handshake/connection.
On "Ready GO!" partners turn around and perform this new handshake and then go off to perform the first shake with their first partner, then find someone new to stand back-to-back with.
Demonstrate a new handshake/connection.
On "Ready GO!" partners turn around, perform this new handshake, then go back to their second partner for their shake, then the first partner for their shake, then back-to-back with someone new.
And, the process continues.....
On the final back-to-back, you now have your group's attention so you can give them information for the next activity.

If you go through six handshakes/connections with your group, it takes about 10 minutes. I find six shakes is a good number to get everyone moving, interacting and warmed up. However, if the group is really into it, a couple more is not a bad thing. (Remember, don't over-play or the activity loses it effect.)

Extension: When I use handshakes with a group, I now have a way to partner up participants when I want to form other groupings. "Find you High Five partner!" Now I'm ready to split the group in half, work in pairs, put two pairs together to form a group of four, and so on. And, at the end of the program, when I call, "Handshake Buddies" everyone is energized as they work through all their shakes.

Have FUN out their my friends! Share your favorite handshake with us in the Comments below.

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

2 Comments

Zig Zag (with Video)

9/6/2018

0 Comments

Zig Zag is a nice "simple" team building challenge. I love it's versatility. I've used it with 3rd graders, as well as corporate adults - it's all about the tossables and the distance between the lines.

Basic Set Up: (Let's say, 8th grade students) Set down two lines of rope (or webbing) about 10 feet apart - make sure your lines are long enough to fit half the players in the group standing shoulder-to-shoulder. Players will need a little room to toss and catch. Have two dodge ball sized tossables ready for play (and, maybe a rubber chicken, just in case).

Group Size: Using two objects, I've programmed Zig Zag with 8 to 16 players. If my group is bigger, I'll add more objects or divide the group into smaller "teams" having all teams work on the same task. You can work on/talk about competitive and/or cooperative behavior dynamics.

Challenge: Get the objects in play through the two lines of players as quickly as possible.

Rules:

One object starts in each line.
An object must be tossed by a player from one line to a player in the other line.
All players in the game are required to toss each object at least two times.
All players in the game are required to catch each object at least two times.
If an object is dropped, the challenge is re-started.
Tosses begin when the timer says, "GO!"
Time stops after each player has tossed and caught each object at least once.

As in most timed activities, it's nice to give the group multiple attempts to "improve" their performance - whatever this looks (and sounds) like for the group. (Remember, there are "process" and "product" goals you could help the group focus on.)

Adjustments
With Younger Groups:

Move the lines closer together.
Use larger tossables like beach balls.
Roll the tossables - use volleyballs or basketballs.

With Older Groups:

Move the lines farther apart.
Use smaller objects like stress balls or tennis balls.
Use "different" objects like rubber chickens, stuffed animals or flying discs (e.g., Frisbee).
Add more tossables, for example, start a tossable at both ends of each line (4 total tossables in play) - I like to use this one to experience managing multiple tasks.

General Adjustments:

Set the lines down on angles so one end is wider than the other (e.g., >).
Start with just one tossable.

As noted above, this is (what I call) a simple team building challenge - low props and few directions. I will often use Zig Zag at the beginning of a program in order to "warm up" the group to what they will be experiencing together throughout the program.

With that said, simple does not always mean easy. I have experienced groups that breeze through the challenge, ready for more. And, I have seen groups struggle through the process because they are still working on behaviors they need to function together efficiently. That's what we're all about, right? To help our groups find the behaviors they need to function together in positive ways - ways that help, not hinder.

Let me know how it goes.

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.

0 Comments

Take Two (Face Up) w/Jumbo Bananagrams (Video)

7/19/2018

0 Comments

A couple of weeks ago I posted about Take Two (Face Down) using Jumbo Bananagrams. Please head over and read through this post to get all the directions of play for this engaging game.

In Take Two (Face Up), I basically turned the game upside down - just to see what would happen. Here's how I set this one up before playing. (Again, all the additional rules you need are over at the Face Down post.)

Set Up Place all the Jumbo Bananagram letters face down in the center of the playing area - all the small groups you formed are sitting around the letters. Have one player from each small group go out into the letter pool to retrieve seven letter tiles and bring them back to his/her group - no one looks at their letters until the game begins.

Now, ask all the other players, the ones that did not choose the group's seven letter tiles, to go out into the letter pool and turn all the tiles face up - so all the letters are revealed. When this is done, all the players return to their group area.

Play The game, Take Two, as described in the Face Down post, is played the same. The difference being (obviously), players can see what's available.

What I Discovered In this first-time-ever (by me anyway) try, the Crew I filmed (below) did have the opportunity to avoid certain letters, like the Qs and Zs and I did notice some specific letter requests from team members, but not all the time. It was still pretty much a frantic dash into the letter pool. So far, the Face Up variation of the game played about the same as Face Down.

Potential The next time I try this one, I'm going to be the only one that calls, "Take Two". Each group will still have a runner and builders, but no caller (roles are described in the Face Down post). Instead of the caller, I'll introduce the role of "looker" - this player has an eye on the letter pool to inform the group about what is available.

I'll call, "Take Two" when at least one group, maybe two, has used all its letters. But I won't call right away. I want to give the group(s) time to determine what they could use from the pool. So, the idea (in my head), is to slow down the pace a bit and let the groups be a little more intentional about their process.

I'll let you know how it goes. (And, hopefully get some film.)

BIG THANKS AGAIN to Kim and her Crew for helping me capture this game on film!!

All the best,

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.