The Focus Ring
The video above is an example of an adventure-based teambuilding activity.
Using the Focus Ring, carry a ball from one point to another point and then place the ball onto the pedestal.
Rules
- Group Size: 4-10
- Age Range: Elementary – adult
- Intensity: Mental=3, Physical=2
- Time: 15-45 minutes
- Props: Focus Ring, pedestal and one ball to place on the pedestal
Using the Focus Ring, carry a ball from one point to another point and then place the ball onto the pedestal.
Rules
- Each participant gets to operate at least one string.
- Participants must hold onto the end of the string and no other place.
- Participants must stay at a distance of at least the length of a stretched out string (very important).
- If the ball falls off the steel ring the group must start again.
- If the pedestal falls over the group must start again.
- The group is successful when the ball is balanced on the pedestal and the ring is resting on the ground with no one holding onto a string.
- The Focus Ring activity gets its name from the fact that it requires a group to completely focus on the activity to achieve success.
- I like this activity because it’s so portable and I can lead it with small and large groups.
- When a group works together to complete a task, the impact each person has can be profound. In this activity, the ball can be caused to drop if even one person doesn’t do their job well. This fact may prove useful to the group during the debrief (processing of the activity).
- I often ask a group to identify their most important goal and then ask them to identify the biggest obstacles to reaching this goal. I then write the goal on the tennis ball using a marker and then place physical objects (tables, chairs, doors, etc.) in the path of the group – I even identify each obstacle with an index card (example: table = lack of adequate time). Then I’ll make the group travel under the table, over the chairs, through the door, etc. To debrief I’ll ask the group to describe how they handled each of the physical obstacles and how they may be able to use similar skills to handle the obstacles which are real to them in achieving their goal.
The Helium Stick
- Group Size: 4-12
- Age Range: Elementary – adult
- Intensity: Mental=3, Physical=2
- Time: 15-30 minutes
- Props: 1 thin, light-weight, 6-10ft helium stick
Lower the helium stick to the ground without losing contact with the group's index fingers.
Directions
- Line up in 2 rows facing each other.
- Participants point their index fingers and hold their arms straight out.
- The helium stick is layed down on top of their index fingers.
- Each person's finger must remain in contact with the helium stick at all times. Pinching or grabbing the pole is not allowed. If anyone's finger loses contact, the challenge is restarted.
- The team succeeds when the stick is successfuly laid on the ground.
- Participants may be confused initially about the strange behavior of the stick. It often seems that the harder the group tries, the more the stick "floats".
- The debrief for this challenge is often a Q&A session
- What was the initial reaction of the group? How well did the group cope with the challenge? What skills did it take to succeed as a group? What would an outsider have seen as the strengths and weaknesses of the group? What did each group member learn about him/her self as an individual? What other situations, for example at school, are like the helium stick activity?
Successful Adventures
Danville, CA 94526
Danville, CA 94526