Youth Group Game – Paper Portal

Basic Idea

Paper Portal is a dynamic team-building activity that emphasizes coordination, communication, and strategy. The game challenges groups to traverse back and forth between two lines without touching the floor, using only sheets of paper to move across. The activity simulates a “Portal” mechanism, where players transport themselves on a conveyor belt made of paper, requiring them to work in unison and think on their feet to win.

Supplies Needed

• Sheets of paper: One for each participant, plus one additional sheet for each group. For example, a group of seven will need eight sheets.
• Space: An open area to set up a start line and a turnaround line at a reasonable distance from each other.

Time to Play

• Setup: 2-3 minutes for dividing into teams, distributing supplies, and explaining rules.
• Gameplay: less than 5 minutes, depending on the number of teams and rounds played.

Explaining the Rules

1. Team Formation: Divide participants into several even teams. If you have the space and the students, there’s nothing wrong with super large teams..
2. Starting Position: Teams line up at the starting line with their sheets of paper.
3. Gameplay Mechanics: On a signal, the first person in line steps onto their sheet of paper. The next person in line gives them their sheet of paper to put in front of the first, allowing the first person to step forward onto the new sheet, and the second person onto the first sheet, and so on.
4. Movement: As the first person moves forward onto the new sheet, the last person in line retrieves the rear-most sheet of paper and passes it forward to the front, creating a continuous path.
5. Rules: Participants may not touch the floor between the start and turnaround lines. The paper must not be dragged with feet; it must be passed hand to hand. Every player on the team must cross over the turnaround line.
6. Objective and Winning: The goal is to move the entire team down to the turnaround line and back as quickly as possible. The first team to successfully return to the starting line, following the rules, wins.

Level of Effort Needed to Plan the Game

• Preparation Effort: Low to moderate. Aside from gathering paper, setting up clear start and turnaround lines is necessary.
• Supervision: Moderate to high. It’s crucial to ensure that teams follow the rules, especially the stipulations about not touching the floor or dragging the paper. You need at least one leader per team to monitor for rules.
• Adaptability: High. The game can easily be modified for larger or smaller groups, longer distances, or to include additional challenges, such as obstacles or a time limit.

Paper Portal is an engaging and innovative game perfect for teaching the importance of teamwork, strategic planning, and the effective distribution of roles within a group. It’s an excellent choice for school events, team-building workshops, or any gathering looking to encourage collaboration and fun.

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