Blind Compass Walk Game 

Blind Compass Walk is a Fun, trust-building navigation exercise for partners.

Benefits of Blind Compass Walk Activity

• Hones senses
• Encourages Teamwork
• Trust-building
• No props needed

How To Run the Blind Compass Walk Activity

To begin, ask the group to divide up into pairs. Instruct one of the players in the pair to locate a distant object. For example, a tree, a car, large rock etc. This person must then tell their partner what object they chose.

They must then close their eyes or use a blindfold and move slowly towards the chosen object. The objective is to move as straight as possible towards the object, eventually stopping in front of it. The exercise aims to test each person’s ability to judge direction and distance.

The partner will take up a position behind their blindfolded teammate. They will silently walk behind them, ensuring their safety, you can call them the ‘look-out partner’. They are also not allowed to assist the blindfolded player physically or verbally, they are there to only help their partner avoid any obstacles.

The chosen object should be quite a distance away, which makes the exercise a lot more challenging. Since you require a lot of space, it is, therefore, best to do this activity outside on a field etc.

Ask the ‘look-out partner’ to observe their teammate; are they veering off to the left or right and to what degree? When paired teams reach their destination, it can be quite shocking to some, to find themselves way off course. You may even find some players walking around in circles.

Allow teams to test their direction skills a few times, to see if they improve. Partners should then swap and perform the task again. When everybody has gathered together again, continue with a friendly discussion of the exercise, what was revealed about each person’s sense of direction?

Include in the debrief; questions that cover what helped with the task and what slowed down the process. You can also focus on the subsequent improvement of trust between partners.

Contextual Framing Ideas for Blind Compass Walk 

Most birds have an internal compass that provides them with an amazing sense of direction. Unfortunately for us, we do not have the same mechanism, which can become worse if our senses are impaired in any way. For example, think about how your sense of direction is when your vision is taken away. The following activity is a great way to show you how some of us completely lack any sense of direction…

Have you ever found yourself driving to some destination with a passenger in the car, and you somehow get lost? You then decide the best direction to go in, but your passenger is absolutely positive it’s in the other direction. This is, of course, in a situation where nobody has their phone and handy GPS. Many an argument has begun because everybody thinks their direction is the correct way.

During this activity, you will either be a navigational expert or unfortunately, you won’t be able to hide your lack of direction. The easiest way to determine direction during the day is by looking at the sun. We all know it rises in the east and sets in the west. What happens in the dark at night, how many of you lose your sense of direction completely?

Many of us seem to have a good sense of direction while others do not. This activity will show you how accurate your internal compass actually is.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Blind Compass Walk Group Trust Team Building Activity

• Have the group find a partner and form pairs
• One person will look around and identify an object a distance away (at least 50m).
• This person must then be blindfolded or close their eyes. They must then attempt to walk towards their chosen object, as straight as possible and stop next to it.
• The partner who can see should walk behind their blindfolded teammate. They are there to ensure the safety of their partner and avoid any unforeseen obstacles. They should walk silently and are not allowed to offer any verbal or unnecessary physical help.
• Take note of their effort and observe how accurate they were in their attempt.
• Partners can then swap positions, allow pairs a few attempts each.

Facilitators and Leaders Tips for Blind Compass Walk 

The easiest way to have groups perform this task is to simply ask everyone to close their eyes. If you find people are inclined to take too many peeks, you can then use an actual blindfold to prevent this.

To get the most out of this exercise, it is best to do it outside in a large open and safe space. Encourage those participating to choose objects that are a distance away, this makes the task more challenging and adds more value to the exercise.

When it comes to the sighted partner, the best position is to follow behind their teammate, as walking to the side or in front of them may cause unnecessary confusion. Remember, the sighted person is only there as a safety precaution and should not guide their partner in any way. The only time the sighted partner can intervene is if there is an obstacle in the way.

You can make a rule for the group, if a person does open their eyes during the task, they must begin over again from their start position. This can be prevented by using blindfolds.

Debriefing and Reflection Tips for Blind Compass Walk 

Here are some questions to ask the group, which will help them to process their experience of playing the game ‘Blind Compass Walk’

• What observations did you make as the blindfolded partner while moving towards your selected destination?
• As the blindfolded partner, did you find yourself veering off course to the left or right?
• Did you find yourself being more accurate with destination or distance?
• Was there anything that got in your way of you successfully reaching your destination?
• Did your partner who was looking out for your safety, influence you in any way?

Variations of Blind Compass Walk Group Trust Team Building Activity

• Walk together: Have two group members pair up who previously performed the task, and discovered they veered off course. Each one veering off course, but in opposite directions. These two group members must then perform the same task holding hands with their eyes closed. A third member should follow to keep everyone safe.