Changes

* 1’ x 1’ squares of cardboard or foam or rubber baseball bases work well also(3 less half to two-thirds as many squares than total as people in the group number) * You can also substitute 8.5" x 11" pieces of paper * 2 pieces of rope (or masking tapeor 4 cones) * Several Blindfolds(optional)

The object of the activity is to get all members of the group safely across the river. They must go as one big group, not multiple smaller ones. Also stress that everyone must be on the river before anyone can get off the river, forcing the entire group to be engaged at once.

The water is filled with piranhas (which eat people) so any time a group member . Therefore if someone loses their balance and touches a hand in the water there will be consequences it gets eaten(consequences put behind the back). Same goes for a foot. If a person completely comes off the raft they are gone and since this is a team exercise everyone must start over. I recommend using this motto with the group, "start as a team end as a team." You can include starting also be creative and add challenges in as the whole group from crosses. For instance you can say a fish jumped up and tail slapped someone in the beginning, eyes so now they cannot see(blindfolded). Tell them the loss of eyesightriver is acidic and when two people share a raft it tipped and now their legs are fused together(blindfoldtie ankles together), . Use these tools to help take away the loss of voice, standing natural leaders or more outspoken participants and it forces the others to step up and take on 1 foot, etcmore substantial roles. No scooting or sliding on the squares. This canbe a safety issue and it emphasizes individual work versus teamwork. Rafts must be in contact with a human at all times or they will be swept away with the current. Once thegroup has started the process, your role is to take cardboard squares that are “swept away bythe current” and to watch for safety issues. Use this to your advantage as well. The facilitator can take away (participants will invariably slip up and leave some rafts here or give back) cardboard squares back arbitrarilythere with no one contacting them, those you should steal.When the first group members get to the other side immediately start to encourage them to hurry and get off the river. Nearly every time the first few people will rush off the rafts leaving them unattended for you to steal and stranding some of their team-mates. Work this into your debrief, when working with a team you can't forget about your mates. just because you have made it to the finish line someone else may not have.

* Choose to add challenges like muting individuals, using only 1 arm, eyesclosed/blindfolded, no one can talk, others can be "gators" in the river and try to impede those crossing the river, stand in front of the group with arms outstretched to simulate tree they must go around.* Give group an object that they need to carry with them to safety and discuss whatthat might represent

* What happened during the process? What worked? What didn’t or what hindered theprocess?

* What were the individual roles people played? Were members were comfortable with their roles?