Lay two ropes on the ground horizontally (like =), with about seven giant steps in between. Have the campers line up on one side of the rope, and tell them that they are looking at a giant hot chocolate river. They must get thier entire team across the hot chocolate river, but it is too hot to swim across, and too deep to walk across. (Obviously, they cannot walk around the river, since it does not end just because the ropes do).
The only way to get across is by using the large, fluffy marshmallows that you provide (at my camp we use carpet squares, but anything will do, as long as it's not too big. Give the campers about eight or nine carpet squares, so that they have enough to get across with one or two left over. This isn't about physical abilities, but rather communication). Unfortunately, the current in the river is so strong that it actually sweeps the marshmallows away if someone is not holding them down (with a hand, foot, or other safe appendage). Also, the marshmallows swell up once they are placed in the river, and they become too heavy to move again, so they must remain where they are placed.
This seems like a simple exercise, but kids, especially middle schoolers, have a lot of trouble with it. It will take a good 45 minutes for them to begin to communicate with each other, and you will probably need another set of eyes to make sure that all the marshmallows are being anchored down.
Possible debrief options include: Team Responsibility (did it matter if only a few of you made it across the river?), Communication (the importance of checking on the person behind you before stepping onto the next marshmallow), and Individual Strenghths and Weaknesses. This is one of the best initiatives I have ever used in a ropes class, as it is pretty all-inclusive.
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Requirements
2 ropes, or other way of marking off the river's edges.
8 or 9 carpet squares, tarp pieces, or anything else to use as marshmallows.
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