Activity: Pru-e

Or at least that's how I spell it. This activity could be spelled "Pruie" or "Pruey" or however you would like to. It's one of the best activities that I came away with from the AEE International Conference this last October. It was presented by Chris Ortiz from High 5 Adventure. If you go to the right slide-out sidebar and hover your mouse over [check them out] and you'll find High 5 Adventure there along with some other pretty awesome links. 

I did this activity in a group of about 80 so if you do this in a small group like 12, your experience will be very different than mine. I'll give an update to it when I've done it with some smaller groups.

Activity Prep: 

NONE! Isn't that great? I love no prop activities because it means that you can pull it out of your back pocket if you are seeing a way for it to fit into your programming.

 

Setting up the Field of Play

This is a bit of a big one. In this activity, your participants will need to have their eyes closed as they mingle around the playing area - this means they must have their Bumpers Up. It's important to go over what this looks like and why it is so important that they mingle with proper bumpers*.

Your playing area can be a small space or a large field. You need to read the skills and tolerance of your participants. Too large of a playing surface can promote quitting as success is very difficult. However, if the playing area is too small - it is hard for participants to experience what the activity sets them up to experience.

Rules of Play

1. Explain to all the participants that before the activity begins, you (the facilitator) will have everyone close their eyes and they will touch one participant on the shoulder who will be Pru-e. Pru-e's job is to remain still, eyes open and silent.

2. The next thing you will need to explain to participants is that everyone who is NOT Pru-e is looking for Pru-e. But they must do this with their eyes closed and Bumpers Up because they will be mingling around saying "Pru-e" to everyone they come in contact with until they find Pru-e who does not answer back.

3. Once a participant asked "Pru-e?" and Pru-e doesn't respond, the participant remains with Pru-e, essentially become Pru-e too (no longer mingles around, doesn't speak, and can open their eyes).

As the activity plays out and more and more participants find Pru-e, it will become very evident to the Pru-es and to the participants who are still looking for Pru-e that they are the only ones.

This is where the Pru-e clump will experience the need to call out or make noises to try to help. Some Pru-e members will not experience empathy. This is where the conversation lies. Certain personalities will find it almost impossible to remain silent as the remaining participants wander around calling "Pru-e? Pru-e?

Debrief
What do you think your response would be?

When you feel like laughing at the participants who can't find Pru-e, how would you feel?

How do you keep on searching for Pru-e when you can tell you're one of the last? What does perseverence mean?

How easy or difficult is it to watch someone struggle?

That's all for now! Have a great day and I hope you find Pru-e.

Pru-e? Pru-e? Pru....