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Pipeline (a.k.a., Channels) Obstacles

11/20/2019

2 Comments

 
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If you've been following the FUN for a while, you know Pipeline (a.k.a., Channels) is one of my go-to team building activities - I use this activity in so many ways. I've posted some Pipeline considerations in the past: 
  • Pipeline: Variation
  • Immobile Chopsticks (w/video) - Pipeline using foam noodles. 
  • Bridges & Traits (A Pipeline Enhancement)
  • The Channels Project: Creating with (new) Bloom's 

Looking through my collection of 'Blog Post Ideas' recently, I found some Pipeline Obstacles I've used in the past - fun ways to make transporting a round object a little more interesting. So, place these challenges along the path from Point A to B - let the group know your expectations of each challenge. When I program this one, any object drop results in a restart. 
Passing Through: Find something the object has to roll through - like an opening in a chair (see picture), a hanging tire on a ropes course, a window, a hair scrunchy, a mailbox slot, a hole cut in a cardboard box (maybe there is a hole in two sides of a larger box and channels have to be used inside the box to get the object through the second hole!), the handle of a purse...what else?
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The Ice Pond: This is a laminated blue sheet of paper with a little 'Ice Pond' graphic. This paper is placed on the ground. When a group gets to it, one player (or two) must pick it up, another player, with the object, rolls it onto the pond, another player 'catches' the object at the other end of the pond. After success, the pond is placed back on the ground - the group travels on to the next challenge. 
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The Rabbit Hole: In the picture, the group is using a Deck Ring, but any circular object can work. Cut a plastic water bottle into a ring shape, how about a small cardboard ring or a plastic cup with the bottom cut out. The challenge is to DROP the object down onto the next channel through the Ring. The wider the Ring the harder the challenge. 
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Drop It In: Use ending containers with different sized openings and different sized bases. Smaller bases are less stable and more challenging to keep upright - unless the group solves for this problem. Container openings just big enough to accept the size of the round object will be more challenging than large openings - of course, unless the group solves for this challenge (see picture). When I play, if the container falls a restart is enforced. 
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What are your favorite obstacles? Share in the Comments below. 

All the best, 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 

2 Comments

Pressure Cooker 2.0

11/7/2019

2 Comments

 
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Our team building friend, Neil Mercer (the creative power behind the post On Board) recently shared with me a newer version of Pressure Cooker. The first version he shared with me is included in the book, Portable Teambuilding Activities. It's an activity you can do with those numbered spots you have for Ven Key Punch, Key Punch: The Overlap, or Thread the Needle.

In the initial version of Pressure Cooker, Neil simply gave his group 20 minutes and a maximum of three tries to produce their best time through the numbers. He noted that planning is not very productive during this challenge - there is some, but it's not very intentional. In this 2.0 version, he divides the time and restricts the boundary area for more driven results. I really like "the things to look for" (and focus) he uses with this one. Lots of good discussion points to bring up during processing. Thanks Neil!!
 
Set Up: You need numbered spots and a long activity rope. (If you don't have rope, use cones to mark off a square boundary.) You can set up with numbered spots from 12 to 24 with more or less space between numbers inside the circle boundary area. The activity calls for one number per player (the larger the number of players the longer the activity). The more space you have between numbers the easier the activity. Lots of good adjustments to make depending on the challenge you want to present. 
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Pressure Cooker 2.0 (from Neil Mercer)
Before you is an invisible maze of numbers. The way through it is to follow the numbers on the discs scattered inside the perimeter.
 
This task is split into two sections of 10 minutes.
The first 10 minutes is dedicated to planning and practice.
The second 10 minutes is what we call “Money Time!” … execution.
 
The first ten minutes (the planning & practice time):
  • There is an identical number of discs as there are team members – ideally 12-16 people.
  • The Objective: Each person must pass and touch all the numbers in ascending order and the team must complete the task as quickly as possible.
  • Only once all team members have entered the perimeter and stood upon a disc can the action begin.
  • Every team member touches every number in ascending order and returns to their original number. For example, I start on number 8. I touch, in order, numbers 9,10,11,12,1,2,3… and return to number 8 (in a group of 12 of course!)
  • Only once all team members have returned to their original number may the whole team exit the perimeter.
  • Time starts when the first person enters the perimeter (circle) and stops when the last person exits (the circle).
 
The second ten minutes (or three attempts):
  • The group has 10 minutes or 3 attempts, whatever comes first.
  • If anyone touches the circle boundary or exits the circle during an attempt, an extra 5 seconds are added to their final time.
  • The moment anyone enters the circle in this second stage (this has to be made very clear) an attempt will begin, time starts, whether the group is ready or not.
  • Here, the facilitator must tell everyone to get moving and begin the attempt. Even if they are not ready.
  • ​Time starts when the first person enters the perimeter and stops when the last person exits. 
 
Things to look out for (and talk about):
  • Generally, [Neil has seen] most of the planning take place inside the circle, there is no real vision of the spread of the numbers.
  • The first chance to really look at the spread is under pressure in the execution stage.
  • Do we blindly follow another team member or learn our own route?
  • Do we as a team operate “mechanically/mathematically” all touching their number at the same time and waiting for all to catch up, or “organically” by feeling how we are all moving together without stopping or waiting?
  • How come someone stepped into the perimeter before we were ready?
  • Who goes along with the action even though he/she does not know the plan? Why does this happen? [Chris added this one - he sees this all the time.] 
I can't wait to give this new version a try! 

All the best my friends. Keep us posted. 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 

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    Blog Author

    Dr. Chris Cavert is an internationally known author, speaker, and trainer in the area of adventure-based activity programming and its relation to community and pro-social behavior development.

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    This blog is a space for hands-on programable fun - energetic activities and ideas that can be used as a means to bring people together; activities and ideas we as educators can add to our social development curriculums. 

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