Description
This team building exercise will test your team’s critical thinking under a deadline, which no amount of physical brawn can overcome. A need for very clear communication and common vocabulary is key to solving this exercise and can show the need for perseverance and determination by all participants. Creativity, coordination, communication, leadership, perseverance, determination and many other teams and personal skills will be put to the test during this activity. It is tough.
How to Play China Syndrome:
- Two buckets of sand or water are inside a 60’diameter circle. Participants may not go inside the circle. Without entering the circle, the bucket of water must be poured into the second bucket. Participants are given several ropes and a circular bungee.
- Attaching the ropes to the bungee and pulling from all sides can stretch the bungee to fit around one bucket. Then they can pour the contents into the second bucket by manipulating the ropes.
- Anyone handling the ropes must be blindfolded, and therefore coached on what to do by another member of the team.
We have seen the benefit for participants using this event in both communication and leadership and specifically how these two areas impact problem-solving strategies.
Participants: 8 – 16
Location: Outside, unless you have a large amount of room inside.
Activity Level: Medium
Time Needed: 45 to 60 Minutes plus debrief – 75 to 90 minutes total
Objectives: Coaching, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Communication
This team building exercise is often considered impossible in the beginning and can be mentally tough, but with tenacity and perseverance, teams complete this challenge.
This team building exercise will test your team’s critical thinking under a deadline, which no amount of physical brawn can overcome. A need for very clear communication and common vocabulary is key to solving this exercise and can show the need for perseverance and determination by all participants.
