GAUNTLET CHALLENGE

CONCEPT: Students take on 4 to 5 challenges that determine their fate in the evening. Their fate will be determined by the amount of eggs that they lose during the challenge.

Keep the rules Clear.
The Gauntlet challenges need to have clear and consistent directions or it creates a lack of trust in the leadership. Students will notice when leaders aren’t in sync so have conversations privately and stay consistent with the rules you create. Never change a challenge in the middle of it to make it harder or unfair this will create distrust. If there are different teams, then make sure the rules are the same for each team. We want to avoid having a ton of eggs destroyed at each challenge and dealing them back. Let the last challenge (Tire Swing) be the crusher. We will add in an additional challenge after the tire swings if we need more crushing to be done, but if the team comes into the tires with one egg per person plus a couple extra then we are in really good shape.

Debriefing the Gauntlet challenges.
People know when they failed. Don’t use the gauntlet to call people out or rebuke them. If you want to explore what you saw then simply ask the group, “Where did you see you ugly side of yourself in that challenge?” Overall, be an encourager as a debriefer. Remember, sometimes the one that appears the most arrogant on the team is the one who struggles with low self-esteem the most.

Making Deals?

The goal of the gauntlet is not to be “deal or no deal” the entire time. A perfectly ran gauntlet will end up close to perfect at the end. The last challenge may need to be adjusted or another challenge added.

The Challenges

Eggs:
Students are given all their resources as eggs. Each teammate carries their egg and a resource.

These eggs include:

• Shelter (tarp)

• Fire (Flint)

• Water (access to clean water)

• Food (rice/MRE)

• Company (Lose this egg then you sleep solo)

• Salvation of the Tribe

• Tools (Knife/Axe…etc)

• Mystery (Optional) (Watermelon)

• Land Permit (Optional)

• Bible (for team)

• Passport (Each person gets a passport egg) If you keep your passport you get a night of comfort out of the woods. Shower, food , meal. OR it equals a day off at the end of Stranded.

  
  Optional:
  Land Permit - Gain it at Helium Stick.

The following is for an eight person team with 16 - 18 eggs

The challenges include:

• Swing to Tire: The entire team needs to swing into a small tire without touching the ground. If they touch the ground then they lose an egg. Skip the challenge for four eggs.

• Spider Web: The entire team needs to cross through a spiderweb hole without knocking off a spider. every time a spider in knocked off it’s an egg. Skip the challenge for four eggs (1/2 number of participants)

• Goal Post: The entire team helps each other get over the arch of a tree. The last person must cross over by themselves. The teams are spotted, by their teammates for the duration and assist them down to avoid sprained ankles. Each member can avoid the challenge for an egg. Usually everyone succeeds.

• Rope Swings: This challenge should be done last. The entire team has to swing around the tree without touching the water. Every time a person touches the water it’s an egg. Every person that doesn’t make it around it’s an egg. This challenge may need to be adjusted quietly before taking it on. Skip the challenge for “four” eggs (1/2 the number of particiapnts).

If the challenges didn’t come out the way you hoped then you can add in one more team challenge. Other possible challenges.

• Helium Stick (optional)

• Tarp Turnover (optional)

• Bridge Switch (optional)

• Plank Crossing (optional)

• Etc.