Group Initiative Course Map
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Island Hoppers
Croc Pit
Trolleys
Incomplete Bridge
All Aboard
Nitro Crossing
Spider Web
Green = Level 1
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Yellow = Level 2
Balance of Life
King’s Finger
Group Wall
Trust Fall
Muse
Red = Level 3
Guidelines for Group Initiatives
The group initiative course is divided into 3 levels of activities. They are in order of safety
concerns not necessarily in difficulty level for the group.
Level 1 – Participants are less than a foot off of the ground. These activities have the least
amount of inherent danger and require less spotting by the instructor.
Level 2 – Participants are off of the ground under their own control. These activities require
more spotting by the instructor.
Level 3 – Participants are lifting each other off of the ground. These activities require lots of
spotting by the instructor making as well as teaching the participants how to spot each
other.
The rules for each activity should be set before hand and once the activity begins do not
change the activity. This will lead to an easier time in the beginning. If it is too easy for the
group and they complete it super fast feel free to have them try again with an “additional
challenge.” If it ends up being too difficult you can offer hints to assist but if you change the
rules to make it easier the participants can end up feeling cheated.
Each activity can be adjusted to the difficulty level of the group by adding additional
challenges such as not being allowed to speak, blindfolding specific participants, or you can
make up your own.
Feel free to set a time limit on an activity, if they don’t complete it then that is fine as long as
you still debrief the activity. Failure is a part of life and it can be a learning activity in itself.
All Aboard
Level I
Equipment/Props: 2 platforms
Story: You have been stranded in the ocean after our ship went down. Even worse, there are sharks circling
around you in the water. You have spotted this deserted island, and must get everyone on the island in order to
be safe. Once everyone’s feet are fully out of the water, I will count to ten to make sure we have given enough
time for the sharks to swim away.
Specific Rules and Guidelines: All feet must be off of the ground. After the group has successfully completed the
task you can move to the smaller platform if they need an additional challenge. Explain that the tide has washed
away some of the sands, but we must still get the entire team to safety. Again, all feet must be out of the water.
Safety Concerns: Participants shouldn’t do anything to jeopardize safety, such as standing on peoples’ backs or
lying on top of each other. Layering participants on each other is not necessarily safe for the bottom people.
Other: For first platform, the team will find a way to get everyone on, such as helping and supporting other
individuals, and sacrificing personal space. The end result will usually be everyone laying on the ground and
putting their feet up on the island.
Questions:
 What actions did we take to be successful?
 How did people step out of their comfort zones?
 What is thinking “outside of the box”?
 What should we have done differently?
 How did our planning process evolve and change?
 What do you want to take with you to other challenges and to real life?
Ants on a Log
Level I
Equipment/Props: Telephone Pole
The Story: While walking through the jungle you come across a huge ravine. You are tired after already having
walked for miles and cannot turn back now. Fortunately, a giant tree has fallen across the ravine making a bridge.
However, in the middle of the trip across, you run into another group going the opposite way. Going backwards is
not an option, you must go forward. To survive, both teams must pass each other without any players falling into
the ravine. If any group member touches the ground then the entire group must start again.
Specific Rules and Guidelines: Participants must remain on the log at all times. If any participant falls off or has
their feet touch the ground the entire group must restart at their beginning positions.
Safety Concerns: Participants shouldn’t do anything to jeopardize safety, such as standing on peoples’ backs.
Participants should not jump over each other.
Other: There are many variations for this activity. Rather than splitting the group in two, they could all stand on
the log and rearrange themselves alphabetically, by height, birth date, etc. Extra challenges could involve no
talking. If a group is struggling with falling off the log you could give them a set number of touches until they have
to restart.
Questions:
 Does it make any difference in what order we line up?
 Is everyone getting a chance to offer suggestions, and are we all listening to those suggestions?
 How was it hard to communicate while standing on the log?
Balance of Life
Level II
Equipment/Props: One built balance beam
Story: Your entire group has just survived a shipwreck on the open seas. Looking around you find a piece of
wreckage from the ship that is left floating. The water is very cold and you must get your entire team on top of the
board in order to survive. To make matters worse the waves keep on moving the board up and down. You must
work together as a team in order to get everyone on the board and keep it balanced off of the ground in order to
save yourselves.
Specific Rules and Guidelines: Participants need to use their bodies to balance the beam for a certain amount of
time (10-30 seconds should be adequate). They are not allowed to touch the ground with anything once they get
on the board. If participants solve it the first time quickly, adding time adds to the challenge. Participants should
be seated on the beam, as well as enter and exit the element from the heavier side.
Safety Concerns: Inspect the beam prior to use. If the beam is wet, do not use. The facilitator should be watching
for unstable participants, and should be moving around spotting the entire group. It is highly recommended to
have more than one facilitator/adult chaperone to help with spotting the participants. People should enter and
exit the beam from the side that starts on the ground. Be cautious of people jumping/falling off the far end, and
people should be clear of the sides of the element.
Other: Of the Level II elements, this is arguably the hardest/highest level. The beam is very hard to balance and
move on; standing up is highly discouraged. The beam will also shift from side to side; it is made to do that to add
to the challenge. Be cautious of what participants say about other’s weights. There are many variables to this
challenge, and many variations; some depend on the group, and some are stylistic issues in running this challenge.
Another would require the group to just get on and then balance the beam. You may choose to have the group get
off the beam in the same fashion they got on, which would require a lot of time. Another way to have the group
divide up between the sides is by equal number of years in their company on each side, years of experience, age,
alphabetically, etc.
Questions:
 What strategies did the group come up with?
 What was the reason the life raft kept tipping over?
 How did people support others?
 Is it difficult to get x amount of people doing the same thing at the same time?
 How does one team member’s actions affect others?
 What does it take to balance the group?
 How is balance a part of your life?
Croc Pit
Level II
Equipment/Props: one built croc pit, three boards, two milk crates, one broomstick
Story: After a long hike through the jungle, the team has come to a long river. The river is too long to walk
around, and it is infested with hungry alligators. You must cross over the river, without going in, by building a
bridge. When crossing over the river, the team must avoid the poisonous jungle growth (point to boundary line) as
well as the poisonous growth at the end (point to both ending boundary lines). Since the alligators are attracted to
sudden movements, anyone crossing over the river must go slow (demonstrate with hand). The tools you will have
to use are the three boards, two crates, and the broomstick. In the end, get everyone across, along with all of your
tools.
Specific Rules and Guidelines: No one may walk around the activity. No one may use the trees at all. The
boundary lines should not be touched. The tools must follow the same rules as the group, such as no throwing
them, touching in the center, etc. The tools must make it across as well. Participants may not jump, dive, etc.,
across the river.
Safety Concerns: Participants must be careful with the boards and broomstick so as not to hit anyone with them.
When using the bridge, participants should be encouraged to sit on any materials to balance the person walking
across, instead of standing on them, since the materials are generally unstable. If they insist on standing, that is
okay as long as other participants are spotting and supporting those off the ground. The constructed bridge’s
length will tend to pop up due to the force applied on the lever end by the group. This should be spotted by the
facilitator with their foot, since the pop up could cause people to fall over each other.
Questions:
 What strategies did the group come up with?
 How did the group entertain different ideas in the planning phase?
 How did the plans evolve?
 What is important to consider when changing plans?
 What is important to learn after mistakes are made?
 What roles did people play?
 How did team members help others?
Croc Pit
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Group Wall
Level III
Equipment/Props: 1 pre-built wall
Story: While traveling through the jungle your team has come to a solid rock wall that spreads for miles on either
side. Your team must climb the wall in order to continue on their journey as it would take too long to walk around
and going back is not an option. Your entire team must safely make it to the top of the rock wall in order for your
team to continue their journey. Participants may not jump the rock wall.
Specific Rules/Guidelines: Start with 2 or 3 participants at the top of the wall. There may be no more than 3
people off the ground at one time. Each person should have a number of lifts they can be a part of (anywhere from
1-5 depending on the group; just spotting does not count as a lift. Clothes or props should not be used to make a
rope. Sides of wall cannot be used, nor can the cracks between the boards. Anyone stationed on the platform to
help should have at least one foot on the platform. More important is for no one to ever have their head lower
than their knees.
Safety Concerns: The smallest number of people required of an extremely strong group is twelve. The average
group requires more; about sixteen people. Review safe lifting techniques with the participants. Spotting is
required whenever someone is not standing on the ground or the wall platform. Climbers are not to use the gaps
between boards Remind spotters to positions themselves both in back and on sides of climber
Other: This activity is not recommended for young children. Participants should be at least middle school age to
do this element. It is very easy for people to think they are stronger than they actually are—pay close attention
whenever any lifts are occurring. Be aware of what participants are saying to each other; weight issues can come
up in this process.
Questions:
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Was being lifted up out of your comfort zone?
How did your team help you overcome this obstacle?
In real life, how do others lift you up?
Incomplete Bridge
Level II
Equipment/Props: 5 platforms, 4 boards (2 with yellow paint and 2 with red paint)
Story: The members of your group are fortunate survivors of a plane crash that occurred in the
jungle. Unfortunately, when the crash happened the plane split in 2, with the front half landing on one side of a
large river and the back half landing on the other side. The front half of the plane contained all of the food for the
trip while the back half contained all of the water. So that everyone can survive, each group must cross the river
so that they can have access to the resources that their half of the plane did not have. You may not swim the river
as the water is infested with piranhas. There are rocks sticking out of the river that could be used as platforms, but
they are too far to jump to from the shore. Each group has found 2 boards in their half of the plane that they can
use to get across the river. The ultimate goal is for each group to reach the other shore.
Specific Rules and Guidelines: Each team should be given 2 of the same colored boards (either red or yellow). If
the board touches the “water” (ground), then the board goes back to where it started. If one of the team
members touches the water, they must return to the start as well. The boards need to be fitted in the grooves in
the platforms before someone walks across them.
Safety Concerns: This group initiative may be difficult when it is wet out, as the group will be walking on the
skinny edge of the board and not on the broad, flat side and could slip. Spotting might be necessary by the
instructor. Jumping from one platform to another should not be allowed at any time.
Questions:
 How did your group communicate with each other when you came across a problem?
 How did you communicate with the other group when crossing the river?
 What roles did certain individuals in your group play?
 How did one group’s decisions affect the other groups?
Island Hoppers
Level II
Equipment/Props: 3 ‘Island’ platforms of different sizes. Two wooden planks of different sizes.
The Story: After wandering through the jungle facing many different challenges your group finally sees a way out
of the jungle. You realize your group has been crossing a large island and to escape you must cross to a smaller
island where a helicopter is waiting. You cannot swim to the island because fast hungry sharks are circling in the
water between the islands. Luckily, you find 2 wooden planks to help you cross. You’ve made it this far and now
you must safely get your entire team to the helicopter. If any participant falls into the water the whole team must
restart. If a plank falls into the water the current carries it away.
Specific Rules and Guidelines: Participants and boards may not touch the ground. If a participant touches the
ground the entire team must restart. If a board touches the ground then it goes back to the starting point. The
entire team must reach the smallest island.
Safety Concerns: Only 1 person should move from platform to platform at a time. The boards should form a
straight line across; if they are not evenly stacked they are more likely to swing out. No jumping, especially from
platform to platform, or from board to platform. No throwing the boards to other participants, they should always
be handed off.
Other: If a student has a physical limitation you can give the team a certain amount of magical water skis that
allows them to walk on the water without getting attacked by sharks. These students can be used to help spot or
pass boards back and forth.
Questions:
 What is the most effective way to get from one platform to the next?
 What is the most efficient way to use the two boards?
 How important is the order of persons crossing the water?
 How important is it to be willing to listen to new ideas, even if they sound farfetched?
 How well did you work as a team during this activity?
 Is there anything you would do differently if you had to do this activity again?
Island Hoppers
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King’s Finger
Level III
Equipment/Props: Tall pole and a Tire
Story: While wandering through the jungle, your group has become very hungry. You have spotted a bunch of
bananas in a tree, but the tree itself has no low branches and cannot be climbed. Nearby, you spot a hoop that
surrounds another tree. If you could get a hold of that hoop, you would be able to fashion a lasso that you could
use to grab the bananas. However, the tree that you need to lift the hoop over is 10 feet tall and it has very sticky
bark. If the hoop or a member of your team touches the bark then they are immediately stuck, meaning that the
group must start over.
Specific Rules and Guidelines: Group must try to lift the tire over the pole without allowing it to touch the pole.
Safety Concerns: Members need to be very careful when lifting each other up. Preferred methods of lifting would
be creating “hand baskets” to lift each other up or to have team members lift each other on their shoulders. 3
spotters are always necessary when a person’s feet are off of the ground. This group initiative involves a minimum
number of participants due to the spotters needed.
Other: Variations could include having the group both put the loop on the pole and take it off, or have them do it
all without talking. Please talk to Edwards Staff in order to ensure proper spotting/lifting techniques.
Questions:
 How did your group decide which members would be the ones in the air?
 How did the spotters, bases, and people in the air work together and communicate?
 Was the group able to communicate their ideas in an effective way?
The Muse
Level II
Equipment/Props: Pre-dug cinder blocks, 2 boards
Story: As your group leaves the forest you see that you are on top of a series of ocean cliff tops that are not
connected at all. Beyond those cliffs is another section of forest. You hear loud noises coming up from behind you
that sound like hungry animals. Looking around you see two logs that seem strong enough to hold people. Using
the logs, you must get everyone from one side to the other side safely.
Specific Rules/Guidelines: You must get your entire team from one side to the other. If any member of your team
touches the ground between the two sides then the entire team must restart. The only two things allowed to
stand on are the cinderblocks and the boards. You may not jump or step between the cinderblocks. In order to
use a board to step on, both ends of the board need to be on a cinderblock or a board that is resting on a
cinderblock.
Safety Concerns: Prior to doing the course, inspect the boards to make sure they are structurally sound. When
participants are crossing the boards, the facilitator should be to their side (and if there are 2 facilitators one should
be on each side).
Other: The boards, without cracks, will hold adults. It is also easy for large groups, either at the start or finish
lines, to get distracted from the task at hand.
Questions:
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How did you work together to accomplish the goal?
What were some difficulties that you had as a team?
How did you support each other for the event?
The Muse
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Nitro Crossing / Wolf Pack
Level II
Equipment/Props: One Rope Swing, Starting Line, and Platform
Story: After a long hike through the woods, your team has come to the edge of a massive lake. The lake is so big,
that walking around it would take weeks, and further, no one may even go in the lake since there are piranhas.
The team may not lose anyone to the piranhas. Fortunately, the team has located a speedboat floating on the
water not too far away. The entire team must make it to the speedboat before the boat will take everyone to the
far side of the lake. There is a vine conveniently hanging down over the water, which must be obtained before the
group may use it. The only resource the group may use is the group itself. Once the team gets the vine, they must
get everyone onto the boat. The team may talk in the trees over here (show them), which is a good enough
distance away.
Specific Rules and Guidelines: No one may use any sticks, etc., only their own resources. If any member of the
team touches the ground between the boundary and the platform the whole group must restart. No one may
jump or dive for the rope, or throw people. Allow them to go and re-plan if needed, without consequence to the
group.
Safety Concerns: Inspect the swing to make sure it is in good shape, and that there are no questionable branches
overhead, and that ground conditions are clear. Never allow participants to jump, dive, or throw people at the
rope. Swinging items at the rope is acceptable, but encourage the other team members to stand back, so as not to
get hit by the swinging objects. Participants may not go on others backs. The facilitator should spot the upper
body when participants swing across; keeping in mind that the beginning and end part of the swing may be the
most challenging. Also be aware of the landing platform’s surface, and sweep off any dirt, sand, or snow that
could make it slippery.
Other: There are many ways to change this challenge to suit the needs of the group. They may be required to
stick however they land on the boat, or they may have to bring a large canister of water across without spilling it.
If someone touches the ground while swinging, you may choose to either start that person over, or reset the entire
group. If you have a person with physical limitations you may introduce the concept of 1 free pass that the group
can give to anyone that allows them to walk across the boundary once without consequences. To add an
additional challenge, every time someone swings across the rope resets in the middle of the lake.
Questions:
 What went into planning out this challenge?
 How did people handle getting everyone onto the boat?
 What other ways did people support fellow teammates?
 How did team members help others?
Spider Web
Level III
Equipment/Props: One built permanent web
Story: A gigantic spider has spun an enormous web blocking the only available path through the jungle. The jungle
is so thick that you may not walk around the sides, or even go over the web, or under. The team must travel
through the web, avoiding touching it in any way, since the vibrations may wake the spider. In the end, your entire
team should make it to the other side.
Specific Rules and Guidelines: The entire team must go from one side to the other, going between the two trees
and not touching the web. Each hole may only be used once (or twice depending on the size of the group). If
anyone is going to be lifted off of the ground there must be at least 2 people on either side. Restarting the entire
group, or just one person, is a choice of the facilitator. You may even choose to allow the group several touches,
so that they do not have to restart. No matter what rules that you set they should be consistent for the entire
activity.
Please check with Edwards Staff to ensure proper and safe lifting and spotting for this activity.
Discuss with the group proper lifting techniques. Also discuss concerns regarding support for the head, neck, and
back. All team members should help when someone is being lifted, even if they are just spotting. The group
should make sure to consider variables when passing, such as traveler positioning, strengths of the team, etc.
Participants should tuck in T-shirts when passing through.
Safety Concerns: Group must lift appropriately. All participants should help in lifting and spotting. Facilitator
must ensure support for the head, neck, and back. All participants traveling through must go slowly. Have anyone
standing around help spot. The facilitator should spot the head, and transition to the other side when the upper
back is over the web.
Other: Avoiding touching the web is not only a way to make the activity more challenging, but is also an indicator
of how well the group is taking care of people, and how well they are doing to get people safely through. You may
choose how strict to be with the group. In colder months people need lots of layers to stay warm and that can
present an additional challenge.
Questions:
 Which role was more challenging and why, a lifter or a traveler?
 How was communication between the two sides of the web?
 What problems needed to be solved during this activity?
 How did you provide support to those with concerns?
 What types of support did the group provide?
 Where is teamwork needed here?
 How would you describe the planning process your
group used and its effectiveness?
 How did you generate ideas and make decisions
about who would go when and where?
 How did uncertainty, fear, mistrust, concern get
expressed and impact the group?
Trolleys
Level I
Equipment/Props: 2 Sets of two boards with rope attached to them.
Story: You have successfully reached the edge of Candy Castle. Candy Castle has every candy you can ever think
of insides its walls. But the castle is protected by a moat of liquid boiling chocolate. Luckily while you were looking
for a way to cross you found these huge candy canes and licorice. You can reach the use these devices to reach
the castle.
Specific Rules and Guidelines: The entire team must travel to the other side of the path without touching the
ground. If any member of the group touches the ground then the entire team must restart. The only thing that
they are allowed to step on is the boards.
Safety Concerns: Participants are prone to falling during this activity. The ground should be mostly level. Also be
sure that there is nothing dangerous that the participants could fall on.
Questions:
 What strategies did the group come up with?
 What was the reason the group kept tipping over?
 How did people support others?
 How does one team member’s action affect others?
 What does it take to balance the group?
 What was the most difficult part of this activity, why?
 What skills were required to solve this problem, when would you use those skills in the real world?
 How did this activity help you prepare for the problems you will have in the future?
 What is the easiest way to solve any problem in your lives?
Trust Fall
Level III
Equipment/Props: one built trust fall platform
Story: We will be using this platform as an opportunity to step up and face a challenge with the help of
the group. Every participant must step onto the platform. Once on the platform, you may choose to
either continue r step back down. Either way, the group will applaud the choice taken. If that person
chooses to step back down, they will rejoin the group. In order to continue, they will get ready while the
group gets ready. The person on the platform will stand facing the tree, with their back to the group.
Heels must hang over the edge of the platform, ankles glued together. Then stand stiff and straight,
hands grabbing the pants by their side. Eyes should be on the tree. The group will get ready by forming
two lines, one on each side of the platform, facing each other. Everyone in the group should be
shoulder to shoulder, no gaps. People should bend their knees slightly, and have hands in the middle,
palm up, fingers together. Each hand other alternate from participant to participant, all the way down
the line, so that collectively, everyone’s arms form a “zipper.” Then the participant on the platform will
use these commands. “Spotters ready?” “Ready.” “Falling?” “Fall on.” Once permission is cleared by
the group, fall backwards while stiff and straight. Once the group has caught you, they will stand you
upright feet first.
Specific Rules and Guidelines: The participant falling must commit to falling stiff and straight, without
sitting back or bending. If they feel unsure, have them wait. Participants should always fall facing away
from the group; this is due to the fear some people have, which could force them to change position
while falling. Arms should always be at their side; some people that cross arms may try to fling their
arms out while falling, hitting the spotters. Spotters may stay ready and rigid, waiting to absorb the fall.
Safety Concerns: Spotters must correctly form the sipper in order for them to catch the participant
falling. Should the group zipper correctly, and the faller fall correctly, then everyone in the group will be
catching the weight of the participant. Ensure that the lines are straight, and that the faller is correctly
positioned on the platform. Hats should be turned back or taken off. Spotting by the facilitator may be
an extra hand at some point in the line, generally where the head or upper back will land, or where
there is an identifiable weak spot in the zipper. Another spotting point, for someone who could
potentially sit instead of falling stiff, is at the platform. When the person begins to fall, hold their feet in
one hand, pressing down. With the other hand, push against their knees, preventing them from being
able to sit. Due to the nature of the challenge, the group should have already demonstrated a
responsibility level conducive to running this challenge safely. All involved must be focused on the
activity at hand. The group should also have enough people to be able to catch all people in the group.
At any time, the facilitator must be prepared top correct unsafe behavior or performance.