All Aboard

Purpose

All Aboard challenges the entire team to fit onto a progressively shrinking platform. It develops creative problem-solving, physical cooperation, trust, and the willingness to get close and support one another. The exercise powerfully demonstrates that teams can achieve more than seems possible when they work together creatively.

At a glance

• Group size: 6–20 participants
• Duration: 20 minutes
• Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
• Facilitation style: Challenge-based with encouragement
• Setting: Indoors or outdoors; flat surface

How to run

1. Setup (2 min): Place a platform (wooden pallet, tarp, or marked square on the floor) large enough for the whole group to stand on comfortably.
2. Brief (2 min): Your team must get everyone onto this platform with no one touching the ground outside it. You must hold the position for 10 seconds.
3. Round 1 (3 min): Let the team succeed on the easy size.
4. Shrink the platform (10 min): Fold the tarp in half or switch to a smaller platform. Repeat. Continue shrinking until the team can no longer fit. Typically 3–4 rounds.
5. Debrief (3 min): What strategies emerged? How did you support each other physically? When did it feel impossible, and what changed?

Materials needed

• A tarp, blanket, wooden pallet, or tape square on the floor
• Flat, safe surface

Pitfalls & common mistakes

• Platform too small too fast: Gradual shrinking keeps the group motivated. One-step impossible kills momentum.
• Ignoring safety: People may climb on each other. Ensure the base is stable and set clear safety boundaries (no standing on shoulders).
• Not counting properly: Everyone must be off the ground for a full 10-second count.
• Forgetting the debrief: The creative strategies are the learning gold.

Inclusion & accessibility

• For participants with mobility limitations, allow them to have one foot on the platform and be supported by the group.
• Respect personal space boundaries — this exercise requires closeness. Check consent.
• Use a sturdy, non-slip surface to prevent falls.

Variations

• Shrinking Island: Use a tarp and fold it after each round. More dramatic visual.
• Timed All Aboard: How fast can the team get everyone on? Add a competitive element.
• All Aboard with task: While standing on the platform, the team must also complete a task (sing a song, solve a riddle).

When NOT to use this

• When close physical contact is unwelcome or culturally inappropriate in the group.
• With participants who have significant balance or joint issues that make crowded standing unsafe.
• After a recent team conflict about personal boundaries.

Source & further reading

• Rohnke, K. (1984). Silver Bullets. Project Adventure.
• Cain, J. and Jolliff, B. (1998). Teamwork and Teamplay. Kendall Hunt.