Bonding Harbor

Bonding Harbor Activities

We’ve labeled the activities in the Bonding Harbor as Mingling, Creative, and Embodied so you can pick what’s best for your group.

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In This Section

Blobs and Lines
From Deeper Joy

Parameters: more than 10 people in person. Facilitator prompts participants to either line up in some particular order (by birthday, for example) or gather in “blobs” based on something they have in common (number of siblings, for example).
Electricity
From Deeper Joy

Parameters: More than 5 people, in person. Ask if everyone is comfortable touching hands. This game is not suitable if there are group members who don’t want to deal with touch at that moment.
Mural or Collage
From Deeper Joy

Parameters: Perfect for a group from two to infinity! Here is a great way to contribute to the ambiance of your gathering space while bonding. Giving people something to do with their hands and focus can take the edge off of socializing.
Pillowcase Skits
From Deeper Joy

Parameters: This game is for a larger, in person group. Put 3-5 unique and random items in each pillowcase. Break the group into teams of two to five people and distribute the pillowcases among them. Give teams instructions to create a skit using all of the items.
Rainstorm
From Deeper Joy

Parameters: The larger the group the louder the rainstorm. If group members are sensitive to loud noise, consider stopping at #3 or #4. Explain to the group they are going to create the sound of a rainstorm with their bodies.
Teapot
From Deeper Joy

Parameters: more than 2 people, can be done in person, or on video call. The lead tries to discover the meaning of “teapot” by asking members of the group questions like, “Do you teapot a lot?” or, “What does it feel like to teapot?”
The Mighty Wind Blows
From Deeper Joy

Parameters: More than 5 people, can be done in person or on video. The lead introduces themselves, is greeted by the group, then picks something about themselves they might have in common with other members of the group. Everyone to whom this applies makes an agreed upon gesture
Found Object Still Life
From Deeper Joy

Parameters: any number, in person or online. Appreciate beauty and collaborate on meaning making as participants find objects to add to a tableau and create a story about it.
Group Rhythm
From Deeper Joy

Parameters: 4+, in person. Practice listening, choose when to lead or follow, and coordinate as a group as participants add layers of sound to a group rhythm.
Group Stories
From Deeper Joy

Parameters: 3+, in person or online. Paper, writing utensils or skribbl.io needed. There are speaking, art and writing versions of this game. Participants build a story together one sentence or picture at a time.
Mind Meld
From Deeper Joy

Parameters: Any even number, in person or online. Two people try to say the same word simultaneously by making connections with their words.
Remember Me
From Deeper Joy

Parameters: any number, in person or online. Paper and writing utensils needed for the variation. Explore identity and begin sharing personal stories as participants say their name and a way to remember their name or something special about it.