Minefield (or maze)

Objective of the Game: Develop leadership skills, communication skills, and innovation/problem solving skills.

The rules of the game:

• all participants must walk through the field (a grid) filled up with mines. They all start before the first row. If stepped on the spot with a mine, a facilitator makes a sound ("bomb", "boom", "flank" etc.), and the group starts again from the first row.
• no empty space in the grid is allowed - flank them. no speaking or crossing the first line is allowed while going through the field. no notes or recordings of any type are allowed.

Step by step:

1. Draw a 9x16 grid on the floor using tape or chalk.
2. Copy the grid to your notebook and draw a path through the maze. All spots must be connected, can't be reverted but more than 1 spot in each row is allowed. This drawing will help you controlling the play.
3. Explain the rules and objective of the game to all participants. Set a timer for 25 minutes to complete the activity.
4. Start the game and let the participants build up their strategy and then navigate their first steps in the maze on their own. Take notes on communication, leadership and teamwork.
5. Flank them and ask them to start again every time when they break the rules or step on the mine. Do not explain why you flanked them.
6. As the game progresses, participants will need to work together to find the best solutions to get everyone through the field successfully. This will require leadership skills, communication skills, and innovative problem-solving skills.
7. Once all participants have successfully navigated the labyrinth, the game is over.

Some questions to be used in debriefing:

• What did it feel like to be in the maze?

• How did you determine the correct path?

• What strategies did the group use to remember it?

• How was the level of support from the group?

• What would you do better a second time?