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Winter fun event
by Stephen Paine (North Downs' Events & Social Officer)

7th January, 2007

Teamwork is one of the many perks of YFC!
Teamwork is one of the many perks of YFC!

One of the best things about YFC is the way in which it brings all members together as part of a team. What better way to do this than through a fun, team-building competitions evening!

North Downs YFC held a series of fun team-based games and challenges one December evening. Fifteen people (including 4 new members) turned up to play scrapheap challenge, spaghetti towers, pictionary, race in a water relay, and attempt a messy assault course (inspired by 'fear factor')... blindfolded! Throughout the evening, teams also had a Christmas quiz to complete.

Special thanks go to: Philippa Stedman-Collins for travelling all the way from Hythe to help out; Elaine Sedge and Paul Wallis for giving up their evening to umpire various challenges; Emma Lifford for helping pull everything together; and Lottie Kemp for putting together a really tough Christmas Quiz. A fun evening was had by everyone!

 

Photos from the evening

Line-up

Lining up in order of height didn't stump these young farmers!
Lining up in order of height didn't stump these young farmers!

Before getting into teams, everyone had to line themselves up in height - nice and easy! Then comes the more challenging one: people had to line themselves up in reverse order by date of birth. The clever people at North Downs managed this task OK - although there was a little more deliberation than with height. Finally everyone had to line themselves up in order of their first names, a good way of learning who's who! After this, everyone got into teams of 3 or 4.

 

Water relay

The quickest teams seemed to be the wettest!
The quickest teams seemed to be the wettest!

The first activity for teams, a warm-up for the challenges of later: a water relay race! This race has a big difference though - the person holding the water is NOT allowed to touch the ground! It didn't take long for them to realise the other team members would need to carry the water-holder from one side of the hall to the other, as quickly as possible, without spilling any of their cargo on the floor! Some teams were much better at this than others, although the results were quite spectacular!

 

Pictionary

It's an old classic, and all the teams did well! Themes included People, Places, Songs, Animals and Films. Scroll down and see how well you would do!

Carrieanne demonstrates her artistic skills...
Carrieanne demonstrates her artistic skills...

 

Philippa thinks of a tough thing to draw... it's Nia's turn to draw!
Philippa thinks of a tough thing to draw... it's Nia's turn to draw!

 

How would you do?

It's teletubby land of course!
It's teletubby land of course!

 

Rockin' around, a Christmas tree...
Rockin' around, a Christmas tree...

 

Asta-la vista baby! It's Terminator...
Asta-la vista baby! It's Terminator...

 

It's the Scissor Sisters - Filthy / Gorgeous! Geddit?
It's the Scissor Sisters - Filthy / Gorgeous! Geddit?

 

Blind assault course / fear factor

An essential part of teamwork is trust... which this activity pushed to the limits! The rules are simple - one team member directs the other three around an assaut course. Oh yes, and each bindfolded person has to carry an assortment of eggs (soaked in corn-flower), cat-food and spaghetti hoops to the bucket at the end of the course. Points were lost for mess made - which was a considerable number considering the fact participants had to climb over chairs and crawl through a tunnel!

First step: Blindfolding and picking up cargo! A nice assortment of cornflower-dressed eggs, cat food and spaghetti hoops to carry

Louise and Carrieanne go for the cat food option...
Louise and Carrieanne go for the cat food option...

Second step: Step up onto a chair! Careful not to fall, or drop any precious eggs!

Chris ingeniously uses his shirt for carrying spaghetti hoops. Could be a bit sticky in the morning though!
Chris ingeniously uses his shirt for carrying spaghetti hoops. Could be a bit sticky in the morning though!

Third step: Another chair!

Nia dons a festive blindfold whilst Kelly guides her safely over obstacles
Nia dons a festive blindfold whilst Kelly guides her safely over obstacles

Fourth step: Now for that tunnel...

Little does she know the previous team dropped an egg where she lay...
Little does she know the previous team dropped an egg where she lay...

Fifth step: A short run to the finish line, and items put into the appropriate buckets! Points lost for putting cat food in with spaghetti - it's cheating!

Cat food and spaghetti hoops - Kelly guides Nia to make sure she puts the right one in the right bucket!
Cat food and spaghetti hoops - Kelly guides Nia to make sure she puts the right one in the right bucket!

 

Kelly wonders how many days it'll take to get rid of the smell of cat-food from her hoody. Meanwhile, Clive realises the egg option leaves his hands covered in goo
Kelly wonders how many days it'll take to get rid of the smell of cat-food from her hoody. Meanwhile, Clive realises the egg option leaves his hands covered in goo

 

Spaghetti towers

The objective was simple - 1 pack of spaghetti, 1 reel of celotape, and the challenge of building the tallest tower in the room!

It's amazing how strong spaghetti is... yeah right!
It's amazing how strong spaghetti is... "yeah right!" says vice-chair Rosie

 

Scrapheap challenge

Much like the TV programme, each team were given a tough challenge and the contents of a recycle bin with which to be creative! 17 minutes are allocated for the design of a flag, and a method of transporting the flag from one side of the hall to the other. As well as paper, string and card, teams had access to paper, fabric, elastic bands, balloons, tubes, old bottles, and convenient sticks of dowel rod!

Team KCC examine their stash and draw out blueprints
Team KCC examine their stash and draw out blueprints

 

Nia, Kelly and Chloe add the final touches
Nia, Kelly and Chloe add the final touches

 

Santa's little helpers built this attractive, string-propelled ship. Teams were awarded extra points for original design too!
Santa's little helpers built this attractive, string-propelled ship. Teams were awarded extra points for original design too!

 

Flags to the starting line!
Flags to the starting line!

 

The name game...

The title says it all - everybody was grouped together to learn a little bit about each other in a fun game! Some very interesting revelations, not least about Sam...

Something Nic has said caused laughter - but is that a look of pity from Rosie?
Something Nic has said caused laughter - but is that a look of pity from Rosie?

 

Meanwhile, Santa's little helpers are trying to complete their Christmas quiz...
Meanwhile, Santa's little helpers are trying to complete their Christmas quiz...

 

Results

Table of results

It was a very close one... but Kelly-Ann, Carl and Clive (the chairperson's team - KCC) won the evening by 2 points!

Philippa Stedman-Collins, the County Field Officer and our guest of honour, awarded the winners the North Downs Cup and their prize - a box of minature heroes!

The winners collect their prize from Steve and Philippa!
The winners collect their prize from Steve and Philippa!

In second place came Santa's little helpers, which was led by club President Nia Atkinson. They also won a box of minature heroes!

The runners up don't look too disappointed with their prize!
The runners up don't look too disappointed with their prize!

Everyone had a really great night, and the four people who came along as guests have subsequently joined the club. No-one can wait till the next thing on the club calendar!

 

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