I’ve done some traditional physical team building exercises and they were fantastic. 1. Round circle trust falls. This is where everyone stands in a tight circle. Someone goes in the middle and then falls like a teeter totter all around while people catch them.
2. And there is one where you stand on a balance beam or say a log that has fallen over randomly. Then you all have to arrange yourself alphabetically w/out falling off the beam (i loved that one).
I’ve also done mental exercises. Here are the three best ones I know. And they are loads of fun.
1. Survival Game. You read a scenario. Something like there are all these people trapped on a deserted island. There is a raft but it will only fit five people. It is possible the rafters will find help and send help back. But the people left on the island may die because food is running out. OR there is a nuclear war only six people can fit in the shelter.
Then you create your people. You can use ones on this website or create your own.
The team has to come to a consensus decision on who “lives” or gets on the raft.
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/clt/resources/staff/b2_3.shtml
http://wilderdom.com/games/descriptions/NuclearHolocaustWhoShouldSurvive.html
(you should be prepared for the possibility that no consensus will actually be come to. the real goal is not that everyone agrees on who should live because this is very rare. instead they should come to the idea as a team ,w/out your guidance, that they find another way of choosing who lives like randomly pulling names etc…).
2. The human knot
http://www.teampedia.net/wiki/index.php?title=Human_Knot
3. Toxic River- Everyone is on one side. You measure a space about 5 feet and call it a toxic river. You want the whole squad to cross as fast as they can. They aren’t allowed to cross the toxic river without special pair of boots and there is only one pair of boots. Each person can use the boots only once. The boots cannot be tossed over the river. Each person has to personally give the boots to he next person and if they touch the toxic waste without the boots, the team must start over. Hint: Carrying people over is the key. (if it is played right the answer will end up being carrying more than one person at some point but don’t tell them that or hint at it, it is really quite funny).
Note of caution: Be cautious of exercises that are aimed at younger populations. They seem nice but when played out they don’t end well and people get bored and frustrated easily. Choose only the BEST ones. ALSO the more you participate in the better. People get tired of being simply told what to do. Of course you shouldn’t participate in the ones that have a secret answer or else be very quiet about the secret.