VARIATION 1

Toxic Waste Dump: Instructions

BACKGROUND: A can of highly toxic popcorn has contaminated a circle approximately 10 feet in diameter. The toxic area extends to the ceiling. If the poisonous popcorn is not transferred to a safe container for decontamination, the toxic popcorn will contaminate and destroy the population of the entire city. The popcorn is estimated to have a safe life of exactly 30 minutes before it explodes. Obviously, there is insufficient time to contact authorities and evacuate the city. Therefore, the lives of thousands of people are in your hands.

Inside the circle you will find two cans. One (unsafe) container is about half full of the toxic popcorn. The other (safe) container is available for decontamination.

OBJECTIVE: You must find a way to safely transfer the toxic popcorn from the unsafe container to the safe container, using only the materials provided to you. For your group, this includes a piece of rope (each approximately 7Þ feet long) for each person, and a bicycle tire tube.

RULES:

1. No participant may cross the plane of the circle with any part of the body. If this occurs, the person must be taken to the hospital immediately (removed from play) and may not participate in any form from then on. The group is responsible for the safety of all its members.

2. No participant may sacrifice himself or herself to aid in the transfer of popcorn.

3. No spills are allowed, or the popcorn will explode.

4. Participants may only use the materials provided. However, they can be used in any way desired.

5. The popcorn will not spread its toxicity to the safe can, the ropes, the tube, or the instruction giver. The participants have no protection inside the imaginary cylinder created by the 10-foot diameter rope.

6. The safe container may move anywhere in or outside of the circle. The unsafe container must stay inside the circle, and not be moved more than one foot from its center.

7. Remember, the popcorn must be transferred within 30 minutes, or there will be a tremendous disaster.

VARIATION 2

Description of a Team Building Exercise

Toxic Waste Engaging small group

activity Task is to move the contents

of "contaminated container" to a safe location using minimal equipment, whilst maintaining a safe distance  and within a time limit!

Can be used to highlight any almost aspect of teamwork or leadership

Difficult activity - avoid using with groups who are still in the "forming" stage of group development

Logistically simple but needs equipment set up

Equipment: Approximately 75ft of light rope / cord, old bicycle tube, two large cans (approx. 1.5l), and toxic waste (water).Time: ~20-30 minutesBrief Description: Equipped with a rubber tube and some string,  a group must work out how to transport a can of "toxic waste" to the neutralization can.

Description of Toxic Waste This activity provides an engaging, focusing, challenging small group challenge for about 30-60

minutes. Group sizes of approximately 7 to 9 are ideal, but can be done with as few as 5 or as many as

12. Create two circles about 8 ft in diameter and about 30 ft apart, outside if possible Place a large can with toxic waste (water or balls) in the center of one circle and an empty can

in the center of the other circle. Explain that people must always maintain a distance of 4 ft from the toxic waste, otherwise they

will lose a limb or even die.  The circle represents the danger zone, but 4ft distance must be maintained wherever the waste goes.

If the waste is tipped into the other can, it will be neutralized. The waste will blow up and destroy the world after 20 minutes if it is not neutralized. Equipment consists of many lengths of light rope / cord and an old bicycle tube.  That's it. Give the group some planning time e.g. 5 mins, then action time, e.g., 15-20 mins. If they spill the waste entirely, refill it for them, but don't encourage it.  If someone breaches the

4ft zone (often there are creeping hands), give a warning, then start enforcing loss of limbs (hand behind back) or function (e.g., blindness if a head enters the zone) that lasts for the rest of the game.  If a whole person enters the zone, they have to sit out for the rest of the exercise.

It is not an easy exercise and may need some coaching along the way.  The solution usually involves doubling the tube over several times, attaching about 8 cords around - everyone pulls on a cord to stretch out a rubber ring which is placed over the waste.  With good coordination and care, the can can then be lifted, moved and tipped.

There are invariably plenty of key communications and decisions during the exercise that provide for fruitful debriefing.

Toxic Waste