Team building activities have become very popular over the last ten to fifteen years. Not only do we see these exciting challenges on school campuses,. but they have become very popular in the private sector as well. There is something very rewarding about completing a challenge with a group of other people. Communication, planning, a lot of give and take, are all ingredients that help create the successful completion of a challenge.

The following seven challenges will require you to prepare by either making or purchasing the items for each challenge. HOME DEPOT has been an excellent source for these items.

As in any learning situation, if the activity becomes to frustrating for the students and arguments, instead of discussion, ensue, then perhaps you need to stop and identify the problem and elicit workable solutions from

the students. ALL students are needed to succeed.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again", "You can do it , if you work as a team" ," Never, ever give up" ... "slow down and focus on the task". These are a few of the encouraging words I try to use to keep the kids spirits and enthusiasm on an upbeat. Have fun...isn't that what it's really all about... well, that and the hokey pokey.

Geoff McCloud

Hint: add one person at a time

WORLD RECORD: What is the class world record?

Variations: each person uses only one hand on tarp.

Or close one eye

Or start at #6 and work backward.

Get 6-8 people around the tarp and pick it up. All players should be evenly spaced around the tarp. One player introduces a tennis ball on the tarp. The team challenge is to keep the ball away from the holes in the tarp. In other words "keep it on". Have fun!

Equipment: Large 48" cage ball and two small tires.

Challenge: the group tries to transfer a large cage ball from one end of the gym (or play area) to the other...say, 45 to 60 feet. The

Larger the ball, the more interesting the challenge. The ball starts out resting on a tire. The goal is to move the ball to a second tire at the other end of the play area.

RULES: Ball cannot touch the floor. Ball cannot touch the hands or arms of any group member. IF any rule is broken, the ball must be returned to tire one and the group must start the task over. Have fun!

Equipment: None

Challenge: To get a group of people to count to 10 without any interruptions. Anyone can start the count. Any time someone calls out a number while someone else is calling out a number, the group must start over. This is harder than it sounds.

Challenge: Player crawls (or walks) across a horizontal ladder that is constructed by other players. Ladder rungs are held by partner teams facing each other. These pairs then stand side by side with others. Take turns going across ladder. Stress safety!

Equipment: 8-10 bases (12" apart in a straight line)Have one more base than you have number of players.

Challenge: Students stand in a specific order using bases set in

a straight line, then reverse their order by moving from base to base.

Rules: Only one person may touch a base at a time. When moving, a person may move in either direction. Players may touch a new base only if it is empty. Bases may NOT be moved(minor adjustments okay) Shoes must stay on and are part of the person. No one may touch the floor with any part of the body.

Get 6-8 people standing in a circle, (single arm distance apart). The challenge is to see how many hits in a row your team can hit without the birdie hitting the ground. Try and stay in a circle formation and use an underhand type of hit. Feet may be used as well. Good luck.