Scavenger Hunt

Featured

February 9, 2021 in Games

Scavenger Hunt

A timeless classic that works in any situation, location or team size. You can run the scavenger hunt indoors or outdoors, keep it short or even a day-long, run it with just a few people or involve an entire department – it’s all up to you.

Along the way, your team will learn to appreciate collaboration, communication, leadership and the sheer value of having fun!

Number of participants: Any

Duration: Open

Objective: Inspire collaboration, problem solving and teamwork

How to play

1. Clarify the purpose of the scavenger hunt. Your choice of activities and participants will vary accordingly. For instance, if you want sales and marketing teams to work better together, you can design activities that force them to collaborate. If you want to ice break new employees, get them to pair up with senior employees, and so on.

2. Create a list of activities. Again, align these with the purpose of the hunt. If you want people to just have a good time, pick activities that are less serious and competitive. If you want people to work well together (especially across departments/teams that don’t get along), pick team-focused activities. Use sample activities from sites like TeamBonding for inspiration. You can assign different points to each activity based on its difficulty.

3. Setup the activities, then divide your group into equally-sized teams, taking care to select the right partners based on your target objective.

4. Set aside 20-30 minutes to debrief each team. Leave 60-90 minutes for the actual hunt (change according to the size of the play area).

5. Once the time is up, evaluate which team has the highest points.

Strategy

Running a scavenger hunt requires a lot of preparation but the payoff can be big. A good scavenger hunt involves everyone and can force people/teams who don’t get along otherwise to work closely. For team-building, few activities come close.

February 9, 2021 in Games

Guess the Object

A quick take on dumb charades. One person from the group has to demonstrate an object. The others have to guess what it is. Great for inspiring creativity and getting people to loosen up at the start of an event. Also works great as an interlude between longer activities.

Number of participants: Any

Duration: 10-20 minutes

Objective: Inspire creativity

How to play

1. Ask one person from the group to volunteer.

2. Show this volunteer a common object (either an actual object or a picture on your phone) such as a lampshade, a computer desk, a kite, etc.

3. The volunteer must now demonstrate the object before the group without speaking. They can use gestures, actions and use their bodies in any way necessary to show what the object is and what it does.

4. The rest of the group has to guess the object out loud – just like dumb charades – within 2-3 minutes.

5. Ask other people to volunteer for the next round and repeat the process.

Strategy

As far as team-building activities go, this one is quite simple. It also won’t have a lasting impact on the team itself. But it works great as an opener or as a short activity to fill in the gaps. It encourages people to participate, plus it’s easy for everyone regardless of age or enthusiasm. Additionally, it forces people to be creative.

February 9, 2021 in Games

Perfect Square

Another blindfold game where team members have to work together to create a perfect square with a rope while completely blindfolded. Communication skills, collaboration and hilariously out of shape squares ensue.

Number of participants: 4-16 participants

Duration: 30 minutes

Objective: Build communication, leadership and collaboration skills

How to play

1. Divide the participants into small teams of 4-6 people.

2. Ask each team to stand in close inward facing circles. Get everyone to hold a rope and place it on the floor such that it forms a circle.

3. Once the rope is on the floor, blindfold everyone on all the teams.

4. The teammates now have to work together to turn the circular rope into a perfect square.

5. Give each team 5-7 minutes for this activity. After this, everyone takes off their blindfolds to see the results of their handiwork. Most teams end up making terribly shaped ‘squares’, which can be a source of much good-natured humor.

6. If you have the time, run the activity again, exchanging at least one person from each team. You can also get them to make more complex shapes other than squares.

Strategy

Making a square from a rope sounds deceptively simple, but it isn’t. For a perfect square, team members have to communicate clearly and work together to craft straight, equally-sized edges. They will also have to choose a leader to direct their efforts.

source:workamajig.com

February 9, 2021 in Games

Daredevil

This simple but challenging activity pits two teams against each other. One person on each team is blindfolded. The others in the team then give instructions to the blindfolded person to retrieve objects from the playing area.

Communication skills and trust are vital to succeed at this game.

Number of participants: 6-24

Duration: 45 minutes

Objective: Build communication skills

How to play

1. Set up a play area with several objects like water bottles, shoes, books, etc. around it. The objects must be unique enough that people can differentiate between them by touch alone. Also place a large basket in the center of the play area.

2. Divide the players into two teams. Ensure that the number of objects in the play area is at least twice the number of players on each team (like ’12 objects for 5-member teams’).

3. Ask the two teams to assemble on opposite ends of the play area. Ask them to choose one volunteer to be blindfolded from their team.

4. Play blindfolds on the volunteers, then call out a random object from the play area for each team.

5. The blindfolded volunteers from each team have to race against a clock (2-3 minutes) to pick up their respective team objects and drop them into the basket in the center of the room. They cannot see or ask questions; they must rely entirely on instructions from their teammates.

6. Teammates cannot name the object; they have to first describe the object, its shape and its intended purpose. Then they have to instruct the volunteer on how to reach the object and get it to the basket.

7. The team that gets its object first into the basket wins the round.

8. Repeat the process until each person in the team has had a chance to be the volunteer.

9. The team that wins the most number of round wins the game.

Strategy

The blindfold is one of the simplest, yet most effective tools in any team building exercise. It immediately increases the importance of communication and forces teammates to work together.

This game, because of its focus on verbal instructions, is great for building communication skills. It also requires leadership and decision-making; teammates have to decide who will volunteer and who will offer instructions.

January 29, 2021 in Games

Team Emblem

This creative team building exercise is great for smaller teams. Players are divided into small teams where they must work together to create an emblem, flag or shield for their teams. Besides collaboration and creative thinking, this activity is also great for building a stronger sense of team identity and cohesiveness. Plus, it’s flexible enough for any situation or group size.

Number of participants: Any

Duration: 30-90 minutes

Objective: Focus on creative thinking, collaboration and fostering a team identity

How to play

1. Grab cardboard, chart paper, markers, crayons, tape or anything else you’ll need to draw and paint a team emblem or team shield.

2. Divide players into small teams of 3-4 people each. You can make the team composition the same as your real-life office teams to focus more on the team identity aspects of this activity.

3. Give each team enough time to plan, draw and paint an emblem for their teams. The emblem must represent something the identifies the team and its values. They get 10 minutes for inspiration (they can look up ideas online if they want to), 20-80 minutes to make the emblem.

4. Once the time is up, ask each team to display their emblem. Invite all other teams to give their own interpretation of the emblem. Then the creating team gives their actual interpretation. Repeat the process for all other teams.

Strategy

One of the hardest aspects of team building is fostering a sense of identity. A simple team emblem – representing something the team collectively cares about – can help you do that. Teams will have to first build consensus on their collective values, then divide tasks to succeed at this activity.

January 29, 2021 in Games

Tied Together

A great, easy game for building relationships and getting people to work together. Teammates are tied together by the wrist and must complete a series of simple tasks. To be successful, everyone has to collaborate closely and communicate well.

Number of participants: 4-16 people

Duration: 30 minutes

Objective: Focus on teamwork, build relationships and communicate clearly

How to play

1. Grab shoe laces, zip ties, cloth strips or anything that can be used to tie two people at the wrists/ankles comfortably.

2. Ask all players to form a circle, facing inwards. Ask them to place their arms at their sides. Place all necessary items for completing the tasks in the center of the circle.

3. Use shoe laces or cloth strips to tie each person’s wrists to his/her neighbor’s until the entire group is tied together.

4. Now ask the team to complete a series of tasks from the objects placed in the circle. Example tasks include making a Lego structure, wrapping a present, building a bridge, pour a glass of water, etc.

5. Since teammates are all tied together, they will have to communicate clearly and collaborate well to complete these seemingly simple tasks. You can add a time limit to increase the difficulty.

Alternative: Tie everyone at the ankles instead of the wrists. Ask them to complete some physical tasks such as picking up objects, crossing a maze (made with cones), transfer tennis balls from one bucket to another. For added difficulty, tie people at BOTH the ankles and the wrists.

Strategy

Simple tasks become harder and some harder tasks become easier when you’re forced to work so closely with your teammates. Focus on the collaborative aspects of this game. Successful teams usually approach each task with a fixed plan and delegate authority well, choosing leaders and coordinating well.

January 29, 2021 in Games

Sneak-a-Peak

In this building-focused game, teams have to create a copy of a pre-built structure based on a “sneak peak”. Teams will have to value teamwork, communication and problem solving to succeed.

Plus, it involves Legos. And who doesn’t love Legos?

Number of participants: 4-20 people divided into two teams.

Duration: 30 minutes

Objective: Focus on teamwork and communication

How to play

1. Use Lego pieces to create a structure – something that is complex yet possible to replicate. Make sure that you have enough remaining Lego pieces to make two similar copies of the structure. Also make sure that no one can see the structure (ideally, place it in a separate room).

2. Divide the players into two teams.

3. One player from each team can look at the structure for 10 seconds. After this, the player has to return to his/her team and instruct them on how to build the structure for 25 seconds.

4. Each team takes 1 minute to build the structure as per the instructions. After a minute, another player can take a “sneak peak” at the structure for 10 seconds and relay the instructions for 25 seconds.

5. This process continues until everyone in the team has had a chance to look at the structure.

6. The team that builds the structure first, wins.

Strategy

To be successful at this team building activity, teams have to communicate really well. Each player who looks at the structure has to relay instructions clearly to his teammates. Teams also have to have some standards for consistency in instructions for a successful build. Without a clear Strategy and sound communication, teams will struggle at this game.

January 29, 2021 in Games

Team Jigsaw

A deceptively simple game. Teams have to complete a jigsaw puzzle within the specified time limit. Except there’s one catch: some of the puzzle pieces are with the opposing team. To successfully complete their puzzle, the teams are forced to work together.

Number of participants: 8-20 people divided into two teams.

Duration: 30 minutes

Objective: Build collaboration, problem solving and communication skills

How to play

1. Grab two puzzles. Mix in some pieces from Puzzle A with pieces from Puzzle B. Place them into two separate boxes.

2. Divide the group into two teams. If there are more people, you can create additional teams (don’t forget to split the puzzle to match the number of teams).

3. Hand each team a box with their respective puzzles. The teams will start out thinking that they only have to create their own puzzle.

4. Once they start working, however, the teams will realize that there are some missing (and some extra) pieces. Ask the teams to communicate clearly with each other about this situation. Eventually, it will dawn on them that they have to work together to solve the puzzle.

5. Teams can exchange puzzle pieces but only one at a time. Ask them to work together until the puzzle is solved within the specified time limit (20-30 minutes, depending on the complexity of the puzzle).

Optional: For added difficulty, divide the teams into separate rooms such that they can’t see each other.

Strategy

The teams start out thinking it’s a conventional time-based puzzle challenge. The realization that they have to work together to complete their puzzles always takes everyone by surprise. In the process, the teams learn how to work together, communicate well and solve problems.

January 29, 2021 in Games

Build Bridges, Not Walls

Two teams build separate halves of a bridge using the materials provided. Once finished, they have to work together to make the halves fit. A great game for building collaboration and creativity skills.

Number of participants: 8-20 people – at least enough to create two teams

Duration: 60 minutes

Objective: Build creative thinking, communication, collaboration and problem solving skills

How to play

1. Grab items that can be used to build a bridge, such as cardboard, Lego, building blocks, straws, paper, tape, rulers, etc.

2. Divide the participants into two equally sized teams. Separate them into two different sections of the playing area such that they can’t see what the other team is doing (use a sheet to make the separation if you have to).

3. Ask each team to build one-half of a bridge. A team cannot see what the other is doing. They can, however, communicate verbally and exchange ideas about the bridge design.

4. Give the teams free access to whatever materials they need to build the bridge.

5. Each team gets 10 minutes to come up with an idea and a sketch for the bridge. They get an additional 30 minutes to build the actual bridge. The teams can communicate verbally across the room throughout this period.

6. After 30 minutes, ask the two teams to meet together and see whether their bridges were actually similar or not.

Optional: If you have a larger group, you can make this competitive by dividing the group into 2 (or more) pairs of teams. The team-pair that gets closest to building a complete bridge wins.

Strategy

Building bridges is fun, but when you have to build only one half and ensure that the opposing team does the same, it brings in interesting dynamics. Teams have to communicate clearly through verbal instructions to be successful.

They also have to be good at solving problems, teamwork and collaborating on a design – again, without actually seeing each other (something that happens a lot in modern remote offices as well).

January 29, 2021 in Games

Photo Finish

A quick and easy game that can be played with small teams with zero equipment. Participants have to walk across a finish line at exactly the same time in a “photo finish”. Great for testing coordination. And for getting a frame-worthy picture for your office.

Number of participants: 4-20 people

Duration: 20 minutes

Objective: Focus on communication and coordination

How to play

1. Create a straight ‘finish line’ using chalk, masking tape or rope.

2. Ask all participants to cross the finish line at exactly the same time, i.e. a “photo finish”. Participants will have to coordinate with each other to pull this off.

3. Take a photograph every time they cross the finish line to see if it qualifies as a photo finish.

4. For added difficulty, ask the participants to walk or run across the finish line in a photo finish.

Strategy

This game sounds deceptively easy, but it actually requires a lot of coordination. For a true photo finish, players will have to work very closely together. They will also need to informally elect a ‘leader’ who can lead the coordination efforts.