A trust exercise in which a blindfolded player is guided through an obstacle course by the group's verbal instructions, framed as an aeroplane being talked down by air traffic controllers.
One player is blindfolded, and the room is full of obstacles (set up a few chairs). The idea is for the rest of the group to lead the blindfolded player through the room with verbal instructions. One possible interpretation of this exercise is that of a pilot in an aircraft, which is why this exercise is also known by the name "Pilot". The blind player is an "aeroplane" lost in fog, which the "air traffic controllers" now talk down from their "tower". The other players can also stand on a chair, for example, to have a better overview. The aeroplane has only a little fuel left and therefore has to hurry to reach its goal (the tower). The aeroplane may only move forwards, but can of course also fly to the left or right. The air traffic controllers must take care to give the instructions from the pilot's point of view.
Tips and notes:
- Start slowly at first.
- It's about working together, not about "outsmarting".
- When there is some practice, leading and being led can be swapped spontaneously back and forth.