Games Day - Whampum

On April 30, a group of facilitators from The Adventure Center traveled to Renaissance High School in Clarkston Michigan.  I will talk more about this group on Friday, but I played a game with them that I have not done in a long time.  I forgot how much I enjoy playing this icebreaker.  It usually always leads to people laughing and having fun.  It can also give you a window into how safe your group is going to be that day.

WHAMPUM
Equipment-Props:  Styrofoam “boffer” or foam noodle cut in half.

How you do it:

Have the group stand in a circle, with a spot marker for each person.  There should be quite a bit of space on the inside of the circle. The player in the middle has a soft foam boffer 3 or so feet long (it must be soft). A person in the circle shouts, “Mary” (the actual name of a fellow player).  The task is for Mary, who has heard her name loud and clear, to shout the name of another player before  the player in the middle hits her BELOW THE KNEES with the boffer.  So it goes, randomly around the circle until the player in the center successfully hits someone before he or she is able to say the name of another player in the circle (again, below the knees only).  It is a fast game, and demands focus.  As players get used to the game, and to each other’s names, it becomes more and more difficult to get out of the center of the ring.  An easy out has someone yelling “switch”, where the last person who said a name takes the place of the center person, thereby relieving the pressure to perform.

Safety:

The boffer can be used to really whack someone, no matter how soft it is.  A light to medium hit below the knees is acceptable.  Nothing else.