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People working as a team crossing a series of steps on the ground as featured in group initiative called Stepping Stones

Stepping Stones

Classic group initiative that inspires collaboration.

  • Inspires teamwork
  • Promotes communication & trust
  • Highlights goal-setting
  • Develops coordination & focus

Step-by-Step Instructions

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Have you played this activity? What worked, what didn't work? What type of group? Do you have useful advice for other users? Do you know a fun variation?

Comments (3)

  1. David Piang-Nee

    Love this activity. In groups of 15 – 20, usually i give 1 “stepping stone” per participant and they go about it. Depending on the group, my variation is to walk behind the last person and collect the stones they leave behind. Once the group has reached the safety bank, i congratulate them and we reflect on the experience..

    I choose to then tell them that ” there is a new hazard and they now need to return back to the starting point.. but at this time they do not have any stones left.. and possible would have been worthwhile hanging on to the stones even if they think that they do not need it.. lead into conversation about resource management or supports.. who are our supports in our life (parents/ teachers ) etc.. and keeping these alliances strong as we never know when we may require their assistance or when we can be of assistance to them.. lots of possible conversations there… love it

    • Mark Collard

      Terrific David, thanks for sharing. Yes, I enjoy guiding a group through a reflection to see how well they prepared for ‘contingencies’ in the event something went wrong. The approach you typically see may also speak to the ‘disposable’ culture some communities have developed.

  2. David

    Can work very well with one group of up to 50 or 60 people. With groups of between 20 and 60 people:
    – allow your safe zones to be around 8m apart
    – give the group only 8 or 9 stepping stones
    – everyone must stay in contact with each other the entire time (holding hands, shirts, etc), from the moment the first person enters the ‘forbidden area’ to the most the last person crosses into the far safe zone. If someone breaks the connection, everyone starts again
    – if someone’s foot, heel or toe touches the ground off the stepping stone, everyone starts again
    – when they start again, they recover any lost stepping stone
    – the last person to come across the ‘forbidden area’ must collect all the stepping stones

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