Helium Stick

To begin:

• 
  Before beginning the first challenge have each team member write down their name on a piece of paper, fold it up, and give it to you. Then randomly redistribute the names. The name that each team member receives will be the person that they must observe throughout all of the challenges. They may not tell anyone whose name they have. At the end of all of the challenges each team member will be required to say a few positive things about the person they were observing in relation to team work etc.
  
• 
  For each exercise after going through the instructions with your team, please ask them to set a time goal (i.e. how long will it take them to complete the challenge). If the teams get frustrated feel free to stop their time, let them debrief quickly and restart their time (possibly with a different goal).
  

Game 1: Counting Off—Everyone will start this with activity

(5-10 minutes)

• 
  Get your team to sit down (wherever they want)
  
• 
  The challenge is going to be to count in order from 1-10 with their eyes closed. Everyone has to say at least one number, the numbers have to be in order, and if two or more people say the same number (at the same time)- they must restart.
  
• 
  Give them two minutes to discuss strategy and then have them start—remembering to close their eyes.
  
• 
  If they succeed and get to 10, you can increase the number to 20.
  

Debrief—Please note-these questions could be used for all challenges:

• 
  What was the hardest part of this challenge
  
• 
  Did one person take the lead? If so, was this helpful?
  
• 
  Did you feel like you were suggesting a strategy that was not heard…how did this make you feel?
  
• 
  How is this relevant to working with a team or your chapter.
  
• 
  How did they come up with a strategy that worked?
  
• 
  Why did it take them so long to get to that strategy?
  

Helium Hula hoop- Andre

(15-20 minutes)

Introduction:
Have a short discussion with your team about the importance of goals/mission statements. Why are they important? How do they help your team/group? Does the team want to make their own mission statement? Etc.

For the next challenge, the group will have a simple mission:

To lower this hula hoop to the ground better than ANYONE in the world.

Have the group repeat the mission a couple of times...

The Challenge:

1. 
   Have the group get in a circle.
   
2. 
   Explain the technical rules to the group (very important): everyone's index fingers MUST remain in contact with the hula hoop at all times, and the hula hoop must rest on top of their fingers at all times (no grabbing, finger curling, etc.)
   
3. 
   Have the group extend their index fingers at waist level.
   
4. 
   Lay the hula hoop across the group's fingers.
   
5. 
   At that time, the group must work together to lower the hula hoop to the ground.
   
6. 
   Inevitably, the hula hoop rises almost instantly - causing laughter, frustration, or confusion. The rise is caused by the small ripples of upward pressure as individuals each try to remain in contact with the hula hoop.
   
7. 
   After refocusing, the group will be able to lower the hula hoop.
   

The Debriefing:

1. 
   Ask the group if everyone understood the mission and technical lowering rules.
   
2. 
   Ask if anyone was intentionally trying to sabotage the group's mission by lifting the hula hoop.
   
3. 
   Ask if everyone sincerely wanted to accomplish the mission or thought that it could be done.
   
4. 
   If everyone understood the mission, and was committed to succeeding, why did the group get so far off track right away? Try to elicit answers that are related to the group process, not the technical explanation of the challenge. For example, "we didn't plan well" more so than "we weren't holding our fingers correctly.
   
5. 
   Ask the group to share example of groups that they have participated in "the real world" that seemed to be comprised of committed folks, but were not productive.
   
6. 
   Discuss what types of actions are important to keep a group focused on the mission.
   
7. 
   Many times during this activity, people become frustrated with others who aren't lowering the hula hoop, and often choose one person as the culprit. Also, some people give up and let the hula hoop come off their fingers. If either happens, be prepared to discuss how blame or giving up affects groups.
   

Tip for success: When you place the hula hoop on the group's fingers, apply slight downward pressure before letting them begin. This helps create the initial upward pressure that creates the "helium hula hoop."

Requirements

hula hoops

Balloon Balance- Lorne
(15-20 Minutes)

Props:

• 
  Balloons, at least one per person, with extras
  
• 
  Tarps
  
• 
  Sharpies
  

Challenge:

Group balances a member on a bed of supportive balloons.

Distribute one balloon to each person. Ask them to inflate it and tie it. Give each person a fat tipped permanent marker and ask them to write their name on the balloon. Along with their names on the balloons, tell them to write something they do to support other people (on their team, or in their chapter)
Now ask for one volunteer who is willing to try something new and take the risk of lying down on the supporting balloons of the group. Any takers? (get a volunteer).
Explain that the challenge is to float or balance this risk taker, who may metaphorically represent the team, on a bed of support without touching anyone or anything other than balloons and without anyone holding the balloons in place. You can help your group member into position, but support must be by balloons only. Any questions?
Give the group ten minutes to strategize, then five minutes to actually "float" the person
Debriefing:

• 
  What was the hardest part of this challenge
  
• 
  Did one person take the lead? If so, was this helpful?
  
• 
  Did you feel like you were suggesting a strategy that was not heard…how did this make you feel?
  
• 
  How is this relevant to working with a team or your chapter.
  
• 
  How did they come up with a strategy that worked?
  
• 
  Why did it take them so long to get to that strategy?
  

Magic Carpet- Lior

(15-20 Minutes)

Props:

• 
  tarp
  

Challenge

Ask the group to stand on the' "magic carpet" (tarp). The entire group must be on the tarp completely.

Once everyone is settled, advise the group that they are going on a magic carpet ride. Tell them that they have risen 1000 feet in the air and are ready to go.

Unfortunately, the instructions on how to steer and land the carpet are on the other side of the carpet. So, they must flip the carpet over while standing on it.

Very fun and challenging!

Debriefing:

• 
  What was the hardest part of this challenge
  
• 
  Did one person take the lead? If so, was this helpful?
  
• 
  Did you feel like you were suggesting a strategy that was not heard…how did this make you feel?
  
• 
  How is this relevant to working with a team or your chapter.
  
• 
  How did they come up with a strategy that worked?
  
• 
  Why did it take them so long to get to that strategy?
  

Line Up on a rope- Jenn and Ariel

(15-20 Minutes)

Props:

• 
  Ropes- arranged rope in a capital “I” formation.
  

Have USYers stand on the rope first (in any random order). Once they are standing on the rope instruct them that the challenge is get in order by their birthday (day, month and year!) without talking AND without falling/stepping off the rope.

Let them begin. If they get frustrated or begin talking allow them to start back in their original positions and give them a few minutes to discuss strategy and start again…BUT once the “game” is on there is to be no talking!
Hint: They must use the capital ends on the I to move to and fro on the rope.
Debriefing:

• 
  What was the hardest part of this challenge
  
• 
  Did one person take the lead? If so, was this helpful?
  
• 
  Did you feel like you were suggesting a strategy that was not heard…how did this make you feel?
  
• 
  How is this relevant to working with a team or your chapter.
  
• 
  How did they come up with a strategy that worked?
  
• 
  Why did it take them so long to get to that strategy?
  

The following two games are for use on sunday:

DOWN MEMORY LANE - A Team challenge

FINISH     

START     


Peg out with string or rope a grid of say 5 x 8 squares each big enough for a USYers to step in - see diagram.
Plan a secret route on paper for USYer to walk from one end of the grid to the other; the above is just an example.
A team of USYers stands at the start and the first USYer takes a step in the grid.
If he (or she) follows the route you planned (the yellow squares), he can take another step to the second row.
If he steps in the right one again he carries on, and so forth.
But if he takes a wrong step, or steps on the string, he goes back to the start, and the next USYer takes a turn.
The next USYer should have remembered the correct steps taken by the first one.
The object is for the whole team to succeed in: 
a) following the secret route you planned beforehand, and
b) each of the team to remember which right steps were taken by their predecessor.
Best to give the team say 20 minutes in which to finish.

Connect 3, 4, 5

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
A
B					y
C					y
D		x	x	x	y
E					y
F					y
G
H		z	z	z	z	z

Purpose:

To have USYers understand that even though they are all in separate chapters, in order to be successful, all the chapters/the entire region need to help each other out  “The whole is greater than its parts!”

Materials:

Large Paper, Easel, Markers

Instructions:

Teams must try and score as many points as possible by forming ‘3, 4, or 5’ in a row (like connect 4).

Scoring: 3 in a row = 50 points

4 in a row = 75 points

5 in a row = 100 points
Picking squares is done in round robin style. Team members are encouraged to discuss a strategy/plan of action between rounds, BUT once the square selection round has begun; teams may not discuss strategy and must choose a square. After each round, teams will be allowed to once again discuss their next move.
Teams naturally will try and adopt an aggressive strategy to playing by trying to block each other while at the same time trying to collect as many points as possible.
Debriefing/Solution:

Hopefully the teams will realize that in order to score the most points, they need to work together RATHER than work against each other. Instead of blocking each other, teams should understand that if they help each other out EVERY team can win. This can be accomplished by teams strategizing TOGETHER between rounds, rather than just individual strategy.