Islands

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Transport an entire team across separated platforms using portable boards under stated boundary constraints.

Use it when: Use during in-person team initiatives or low ropes challenge courses when the group needs to coordinate physical planning, resource management, and cooperative execution.

Skip it when: Skip when participants lack mobility, when certified spotting support is unavailable, or when running an online or seated classroom session.

Group arrangement: Single group of 4 to 12 working together; larger cohorts split into separate parallel courses.

Timing: Playmeo allows up to 20 minutes for the physical challenge; UWT allocates 25 minutes total to include safety briefing, traverse attempts, and structured debrief.

Materials and tools

• 3 sturdy low wooden platforms (islands), approximately 60 cm by 60 cm and 10 to 15 cm high
• 2 heavy structural wooden planks or boards (long enough to bridge the platforms, typically 2.5 to 3 meters long)
• Measuring tape (for setup)
• 1 stopwatch or countdown timer

Before participants arrive

1. Requires substantial physical setup before the clock starts.
2. Check platforms and boards for splinters, cracks, and load-bearing stability.
3. Place the 3 wooden platforms on level ground in a straight line or staggered line, spaced roughly 2 to 3 meters apart so a board can bridge between adjacent platforms.
4. Place the 2 wooden boards next to the first starting platform.
5. Ensure the fall zone around platforms is clear of hazards, loose rocks, or sharp objects.

Say this to open

Our task is to get every person in our team from the first platform to the third platform. We have two boards to help us bridge the gaps. No person and no board may touch the ground between platforms at any time. Jumping between platforms is not permitted. If anyone or any board touches the ground, the group resets to the start. You have up to 15 minutes to plan and complete the traverse.

How to run it

1. Briefing and safety review 4 minutes

   Explain the boundary conditions: all members start behind or on platform 1, must end on platform 3, and cannot jump. Demonstrate safe board handling and emphasize personal spotting. State that anyone may choose a designated non-traversing role such as safety spotter, equipment manager, or timekeeper without explanation.

2. Planning and initial trial 6 minutes

   The team discusses their strategy and tests board placement across the first gap. They may reposition planks between platforms. Stop the trial immediately if an unsafe load or unstable plank balance occurs, reset to platform 1, and let the group adjust their plan.

3. Traverse attempt 10 minutes

   The team moves members across the boards from platform to platform. If a participant steps off a platform or board onto the ground, or if a board slips and touches the dirt, announce a reset. The group brings all members and boards back to platform 1 to restart the crossing. Conclude when the entire group stands safely on platform 3 or when time expires.

4. Structured debrief 5 minutes

   Gather the group around the course. Facilitate a brief reflection on their planning, resource use, and safety coordination using the debrief questions. Take up to 3 volunteer observations.

Debrief questions

• What strategy allowed you to move the boards forward once team members were stranded on intermediate platforms?
• How did the group coordinate physical balance and safety while passing boards?
• What adjustments did you make after a fault or near-miss occurred?

Finished output: Completion of the traverse with all team members on the final platform, or a documented record of attempts and strategies tested.

Remote

This physical traverse cannot be run online without turning into an entirely different design activity. For a remote alternative focusing on cooperative constraint solving, run a digital bridge-building puzzle where participants share screen controls to route resources across gaps within strict limits.

Hybrid

Hybrid delivery is not recommended. Remote members cannot safely participate in or spot physical plank traverses. If running a hybrid cohort, assign remote members to run an independent digital planning simulation rather than observing a physical course.

Access and participation choices

• Participants can opt out of walking planks or supporting dynamic weight by taking on active course roles: timekeeper, perimeter safety spotter, or equipment coordinator.
• Any participant may step off the apparatus and pass on further physical movement at any second without justification.

If the session gets stuck

A board sags excessively or slips off a platform edge during weight transfer.

Pause the action immediately. Verify board thickness and overlap margin. Enforce a rule that boards must have at least 15 cm of overlap on each platform before stepping on them.

The team becomes frustrated after repeatedly touching the ground and resetting.

Pause the clock. Offer a one-minute planning huddle where the group diagnoses the exact point of failure before attempting the traverse again.

Terms used here

• Island: A stationary low wooden platform anchored on the ground acting as a safe foothold.
• Spotting: Attentive positioning by team members with hands ready to assist balance and protect others from falls.