Title of Activity: River Crossing / Poison River

Number of Teams & Group Size: Involve all participants as 1 big group Variation: Split into 2 teams for competition

Logistics Needed: Masking Tape Paper Plates / A4 Paper / Cardboard Squares - 1 piece for each person Variation: 1 piece for 2 people

Time Allocated: 20 - 50 minutes

Goal: To get every group member safely across the river

Preparation & Set-Up: Set-up in a large, empty, outdoor or indoor area Tape 2 lengths of masking tape far apart to represent river banks The distance between the 2 river banks should be about 5 m - 10 m apart The Paper Plates / A4 Paper / Cardboard Squares represent rafts Distribute the rafts to participants

Directions for Conducting the Activity: 1. Inform participants that the river is poisonous / has crocodiles / has piranhas. Because of that, they cannot swim across. 2. They must find a way to get everyone across the river using the rafts, in 1 big group, not multiple smaller ones. 3. If anyone falls off the raft completely, they die, and the entire group must start over. 4. Inform participants that they cannot slide or scoot the rafts. To move it, they must pick it up, then put it down in the new location. 5. Before any participant can step onto the other river bank, the entire group must first be on the river.

6. Also inform participants that the river is flowing very quickly, and their rafts have to be in contact with them at all times, or it could get swept away. (Note: At some point, participants may slip up and leave a raft unattended, you can choose to remove it from the activity.) 7. Allow participants some time to plan (~ 5 minutes) before starting the activity. 8. While participants are crossing the river, throw several obstacles at them. - ie. Remove unattended rafts, place rocks in their way that they have to go around, someones foot / hand gets eaten and cant be used, a huge wave sweeps away half the rafts, etc.

Specific Rules: 1. Participants can only cross the river using rafts. They must be on the rafts at all times. 2. If a participant falls off the raft completely, the entire group must start over. 3. No sliding or scooting of rafts. To move the raft, it must be picked up, then placed in the new location. 4. The entire group must be on the river before any participant can step onto the other river bank.

Variations: 1. Introduce an object Treasure, that the entire group must safely transport across the river. 2. Assign a handicap to some of the participants. - ie. Mute, unable to use hands, unable to walk, blindfolded, only can use 1 leg, etc.

Learning Points: Planning Teamwork Communication Problem Solving Assigning Roles Leadership Managing Challenges / Setbacks / Change Goal Setting Working Within Resources

Facilitator Notes: This activity may involve close body contact, so you may wish to divide teams by gender. Be creative during this activity, think of various challenges and obstacles you can throw at participants while they are crossing the river.