A Trust Building Activity - Human Ladder

To develop trust, to be responsible for each other's safety, to engage in unself-conscious physical contact with members of your group.

6 to 10 smooth hardwood dowel rods about 3 feet (close to 1 metre) long, 1 to 11/4 inches (about 2.5 to 3 cm) in diameter (broomsticks would work).

Participants are paired and given one "rung" of the ladder. Several pairs, holding a rung and standing close together, form a ladder. A climber starts at one end of the ladder and proceeds to move from one rung to another. As the climber passes by, the pair holding that ladder rung may leave their position and proceed to the end of the ladder, extending the ladder length indefinitely.

The direction of the ladder may change at any time (e.g. right angle turn). Obstacles may be added and the height of the rungs may also vary. Do not allow rung holders to position the rungs higher than their shoulders.

How did you feel when you were climbing? When you were holding the rung? Did your feelings change after the first climber passed by your position? Did trusting some people make your climb easier? What makes it easier to trust someone? How do your relationships change when you can trust someone?