Sea Storm

Name and Purpose

• Sea Storm is a calming, imaginative parachute activity that builds trust and group attunement.
• Players practise listening, gentle movement, and responding to cues together.

a.k.a.

• Ocean Waves, Parachute Lullaby

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 7-12 | 10-30 players | 10-15 minutes | Large flat open space, indoors or outdoors

Materials

• One large parachute

Quick-Run Card

1. Two volunteers lie down in the centre of the parachute.
2. Edge holders create gentle ripples to start.
3. Volunteers call ‘Calm!’ or ‘Storm!’ to direct the intensity.
4. Edge holders adjust ripple size to match the call.
5. Rotate volunteers every minute or two.

Setup and Boundaries

• Lay the parachute flat on clean, even ground with no debris.
• Signal: one short whistle to pause; two to stop.
• Staff position: one staff member standing near the centre to monitor players lying down.

How to Play

1. Two volunteers lie down in the centre of the parachute, on top of it, looking up.
2. All other players hold the parachute edge and begin making gentle, small ripples.
3. Volunteers direct the group: ‘Calm!’ for tiny ripples, ‘Storm!’ for big waves, ‘Gentle rain!’ for medium ripples.
4. Edge holders listen and adjust the intensity of their rippling to match.
5. After one to two minutes, volunteers return to the edge and new volunteers take a turn in the centre.
6. Play continues until everyone who wants a turn in the centre has had one.

I-OPt Options

• A (Active): Lie in the centre and direct the waves.
• S (Support): Hold the edge and ripple in response to the volunteers’ calls.
• Q (Quiet): Hold the edge with small, gentle movements.
• O (Observer): Watch from the side and enjoy the scene; join holding the edge when ready.

Inclusion Adaptations

• Players who prefer not to lie on the parachute can always stay as edge holders.
• Volunteers in the centre can sit up rather than lie down if preferred.

Stewardship Moment

• Fold the parachute together at the end of play.
• Reflection: ‘What was it like to be responsible for someone else’s experience in the centre?’

Consent

• Pre-brief: ‘This game has an option to lie in the centre of the parachute while others create gentle waves. For those not comfortable being in the centre, holding the edge and creating the waves is the heart of the game.’
• Mid-game check: After the first round, pause and ask for a thumbs up, sideways, or down.
• Opt-out/re-entry: Any player in the centre can return to the edge at any time. Edge holders can volunteer for the centre at any round.

Risks and Mitigation

• Large ripples startling centre players: remind edge holders to start small and build only when called.
• Centre players getting cold on the ground: check that the ground surface is dry and comfortable before play.
• Edge holders getting competitive with wave size: staff remind the group that the game is about listening, not showing off.

Warm-Up Suggestions

• Breath ripple: everyone inhales together and exhales, moving the parachute with the breath.
• Volume dial: practice going from tiny ripples to large waves and back on a one-to-five count.

Debrief Questions

• What? ‘What did it feel like to lie in the centre while others controlled the waves?’
• So What? ‘What made you feel safe or less safe in the centre?’
• Now What? ‘When in life do you need to trust others to adjust to your needs?’

Cleanup and Reset

• Fold parachute together as a group.
• Check ground for any debris.
• Return parachute to storage.