Minefield

Description of a Team Building Exercise

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Lay out your Minefield on a flat area with plenty of space
The team have come to a battle field that has been laid with mines. The entire team must cross the minefield without stepping on a mine.
There can only be one person in the minefield at any time
The team must take it in turns, if unsuccessful in their attempt to cross the team member must go to the back of the line and the next person must try to cross.
Once a team member steps into the minefield, the rest of the team cannot talk.
Each move must be one square at a time. A move can be in any direction.
Only the leader knows which squares are safe and will indicate appropriately.

Useful Tips .

Try blindfolding the Challenger who is in the Minefield and the rest of the team must guide them through the maze without using speech e.g. by clapping or making animal noises. This means the team will need to work together to agree and remember a code (e.g. 1 clap = forward, 2 claps = turn 90 degrees left etc)
For a very switched on group, and focusing on communication, ‘pen’ the team in an area about 10m away from the task, so they cannot see the Minefield properly, and as each Challenger comes of the Minefield they must communicate their route effectively to the next person

Equipment

Minefield (8 x 8 squares) set out in Draughts Board, tarpaulin (with taped squares) or carpet tiles.
Route Card (Download Example)

The team have come to a battle field that has been laid with mines. One person at a time must attempt to cross the battlefield without stepping on a mine. Once a team member steps on a mine, they must return back to the start.

Total time - 60 mins

Focus on correctly identifying problem and planning.
Solution requires group to work with others and use collective memory – Chunking breaking large problems down in to more manageable pieces.