Icebreaker Exercises

The course commence with a series of icebreaker exercises designed to break down inhibitions and allow the young leaders to get to know each other. These are of short duration, but aim to be fun whilst at the same time increasing understanding of the importance of good communication and working together as a team.

Attendees are then placed in teams of eight people for the remainder of the course.

High Ropes Exercise

A rope and a safety harness are used to climb a high structure. It nevertheless tests one's courage to the limits. The exercise is designed to take young leaders outside of their normal comfort zones, It pushes them that little bit further than they might otherwise have done, and in so doing enhances their self-confidence.

Low Ropes Exercise

This is a team exercise, which requires everyone to get from one end of an obstacle course to the other without touching the ground. It involves using ropes for support, whilst walking from stage to stage on wires. This is a problem solving exercise that requires good communication between members of the team.

Blind Trail Exercise

Young leaders get to find out what it is like to be blind. In so doing they learn to put trust in others. Sighted leaders also take on the responsibility of guiding the "blind" team members. Good 2-way communication is essential in earning the trust of "blind" colleagues.

Rock Climbing Exercise

Climbing up a rock face with small hand holds is not an easy task. This is another exercise that builds self-confidence in the young leaders, whilst also requiring them to place trust in their team members who are supporting them at the other end of a rope.

Problem-solving

Teams are confronted with a series of problems that require some collective discussion and consensus on the best way to resolve them. These short duration exercises reinforce the need for good communication within teams.

Design a Game Exercise

This exercise provides an opportunity for a young leader to lead a team in designing and making a game to be played later in the evening by the other teams. This task requires creativity and the use of brainstorming to generate ideas. The leader is required to ensure everyone is involved in completing the task within a strict time limit.

Operation Medway

Four teams go out into the woods and local neighbourhood on a search mission. Good communication and collaboration between teams is essential to the successful completion of this task. Once again, a young leader for each team has the opportunity of leading the other team members, and has to consider team morale throughout.

RYLA News

This task provides an opportunity for course participants to become editors during the production of a newspaper about RYLA. This is a very demanding task and participants will feel under pressure as the deadline for "going to print" draws near. The editorial team is required to fully utilise all resources to not only produce, but also sell, copies of the finished newspaper with all monies going to a charity of their choice.

Leadership Topics

All course participants are encouraged to review what they have learned from each task during review sessions. Discussion is also encouraged on a number of leadership topics including:

• Presentation Techniques - to help young leaders brief their teams
• Characteristics of a good leader - to recognise the qualities required of a good leader
• Action Centred Leadership - balancing the needs of the task, the team and the individual
• Delegation - to consider delegation to others and the amount of control required
• Building self-confidence