In a team building manual put together in 2007 by several groups of 4H teens, one of the first pages posed this question: "Do we have as much sense as a goose?" It then went on to explain that when geese fly in formation, the team works together to lighten the load for all---they share the work of the leader, they encourage one another and they stick up for each other when things go wrong. Humans can learn a lot from the teamwork of geese, but its not always easy. Incorporating team building games into a work situation can help those involved learn to work together. And if you do it outdoors, it'll be more fun for everyone.
Icebreaker: Back Stabber
Take your group outside and hand each participant three clothespins. When you say "go," each participant runs around and tries to clip his clothespins on the back of the other players. Each player can only clip on one pin at a time, and the pin will only count if it is clipped to a player's back, above the waist. If the clip falls off within the first five seconds, the player who clipped it must pick it up and try again. Instruct the players that they can't grab or hold another player's clothing or body in order to attach the pins. The first player to clip all of his pins wins, and the game ends.
Then separate the players into teams of three and start the game again. This time, all the rules remain the same, except that members of the same team can remove clips from their teammates' backs. The first team to get rid of all their pins together wins.
Debrief afterward and ask what the players took away from the game. Ask what they felt the differences were between the first game and the second, and how that feeds into the overall experience of working in teams.
Goal Setting and Cooperation: Earthball
Provide your group with an over-sized inflatable ball. Tell them that this game only has two rules: keep the ball in the air, and no player can touch the ball twice in a row. Ask the group how many hits they'll be able to accumulate while keeping the ball in the air. Start the game by throwing the ball and setting the players loose.
When the ball finally hits the ground, ask if they accomplished their goal. If not, see if it's time to reassess and try for a different goal. If they accomplished the goal, change the rules. Tell them that this time, once a player has touched the ball, that player can't touch it again until everyone else has touched it. Ask the players to set a goal for how many touches they will achieve. Start the game again.
Debrief after the game and ask what they learned about cooperation and goal setting as well as reassessing goals as a team.
Responsibility and Communication: Lava Flow
Stretch out two long ropes, spacing them approximately 15 feet apart from each other. Give the group nine carpet squares. Explain that the space between the ropes is a lava flow and the team needs to move to the other side, from the side they are currently standing on. They can't walk around or walk through the lava, so they must use their carpet squares, or "logs," to travel across the flow. But, there's a catch: If nothing holds the log in place, it will float away. A team member must always have a hand or foot on the log in order to hold it in place. Also, once a log hits the lava, it catches fire and cannot be moved again. When the players are ready, they can start moving across the lava.
When the team all reaches the other side, debrief by asking them what they learned about individual responsibility and communication.
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