A forest can become a magical place, especially when listening to the sound of nature around you. With this activity, the nature around you will be the only sound you will be able to hear; the participants will practice non-verbal communication and teamwork surrounded by this magical atmosphere.
Duration:
30 minutes
Preferred location:
it is strongly recommended to do this activity in a forest, or in another place with a square of trees, that will also fit.
Working method:
teamwork – focusing on non-verbal communication, problem-solving, and role-play (at least 5 people).
Materials:
water, glasses, rope, fake gold, and player cards (find them below).
Purpose:
improving non-verbal communication, improving teamwork, improving problem solving
Instructions
- find a place surrounded by trees and choose the points where the participants’ “homes” are situated; each participant will have their own home;
- put the role cards in each spot together with the respective items (each card has a task written on it and each task will need items in order to be completed);
- choose one tree as the enchanted tree somewhere out of the “village”.
During the game: - assign each participant to a house and start the activity;
- say to the participants that they are not allowed to talk during the activity;
- after each of the participants reached a house the activity can begin.
Debriefing
when the time is over you can reflect with the participants – this game was created in order to give the participants the opportunity to reflect on how they cooperate in a team, how they communicate without speaking, and how “trust” affects their interaction with other people. Here are some examples of questions you can ask the group:
- how was it; what did you do?
- did you manage to reach your personal goal; if not, how come?
- how did you communicate with the other participants?
- how did you look at the other participants after reading your role; how come?
- if you could do the activity again, what would you do differently?
Possible alternatives
you can also create new cards and new roles depending on how many participants will take part in this activity. You can facilitate this activity as well in a closed space changing the “forest” references in the explanation and in the cards.