Here are some team building activities:

Lighthouse

Pick a team member to become a lighthouse and one to be a ship. The rest of the team members are rocks. Blindfold the ship. In the boundary area (ocean), have the rocks set in a spot and freeze. Sand the lighthouse at one end of the ocean and the ship at the other end. Have the lighthouse guide the ship, by giving verbal directions through the rock hazards to safety. Make sure the rocks spot the ship in case of it sinking on the rocks.

Standing Twister or Knots

Put the group in a huddle. Each person extends his or her right hand and grabs the hand of another person in the huddle. Each person then extends his or her left hand and grabs a different person's hand. No two people should be holding the same hand. The object is to have the group untangle themselves slowly without ever letting go of hands. Some people will have to step over other people; some will go under people; some will get twisted and have to untwist and turn to unravel themselves.

Line Up

Draw or tape two parallel lines on the ground about 12 inches apart, long enough for your team to stand in a single file line between these two lines without stepping on the lines.  It might be helpful to number the people off as they are standing in their single file line.  The object is to reverse the order in which the players are standing without anyone stepping outside of the lines.  It’s tough to do without falling, and requires a great deal of cooperation and hanging on to each other.  Once they succeed in reversing the order, have them get into a new order… by birthday, or height, shoe size, whatever you can think of.  You can also use a plank of wood instead of the lines on the ground, if you have one long enough.

Lap Sit

This works best with a group of 20 or more, but you can try it with a small group.

            After everyone forms a circle, step closer to the center until everyone is standing shoulder to shoulder.  Have everyone turn to their right, so they are now looking at the back of the head of the person to the right of them, and the circle is forming a single file circle heading counter clockwise.  They should be about 6 inches apart.  On the count of 3, everyone slowly sits down on the lap of the person behind them.  If it’s done right, everyone sits and no one ends up on the ground.  If it’s not done right, well…  So try it a few times, if you fail on the first try.

Big Booty

This is a keep the rhythm game which can be used to get the team to focus and listen to each other.  The object is to become the Big Booty.  You can call the leader a different name if you prefer, but most kids like this game because they get to say “booty”.  You can explain that it’s another word for Pirate’s Treasure, if they can’t settle down.

Stand in a circle, for younger kids, draw on the ground with sidewalk chalk BB for the leader, then 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (for however many players) clockwise.  For older kids, they number off and have to remember their number.

            The rhythm is a slap (on the thighs), clap, slap, clap.  The players have to say their number first and then a number they are passing it to.  Big Booty doesn’t have a number, s/he is referred to as Big Booty.  And the Big Booty starts every round by holding their hands up and making the first slap, saying, “Oh yeah, Big Booty, Big Booty, Big Booty”  then s/he makes the call, “Big Booty, Number 3.” slap, clap.  Whoever is Number 3 then says, “Number 3, Number 5.” slap, clap.  Whoever is Number 5 might say, “Number 5, Big Booty.” slap, clap, and so on.

When someone messes up they go to where the highest number was standing (in this case 5), and everyone moves forward (if they can) toward becoming Big Booty.  If Big Booty gets out, Number 1 becomes the new Big Booty.

It is important for your team to both work together and to laugh together. We hope your group is working well and that they - and you -are having fun.