Keep a Straight Face

Name and Purpose

• Keep a Straight Face is a low-energy social game where the whole group tries to hold their composure while staff and volunteers try to crack them.
• It builds community through shared challenge, eye contact, and genuine laughter.

a.k.a.

• Deadpan Duel, Stone Face Challenge

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 10-30 players | 10-20 minutes | Any indoor or outdoor space large enough for the group to face the staff area

Materials

• One small object to pass (optional, for a secondary passing challenge)
• Timer or stopwatch for the group timer
• Optional: score tracker for group hold times across rounds

Quick-Run Card

1. The whole group sits or stands together facing staff/volunteers.
2. Staff and volunteers try to make the group laugh using words, faces, and sounds. No touching.
3. Round is time-boxed: 3-5 minutes. A group timer tracks how long the group holds out.
4. When a player laughs, they head to the Comedy Workshop to build a 10-second bit with a partner.
5. Celebrate the group’s total hold time. Comedy Workshop performs at the end. Both groups applauded.

Setup and Boundaries

• Group sits or stands in a cluster facing the staff/volunteer “comedy crew”
• Signal: one hand raised = pause; two claps = stop and gather
• No physical contact during the challenge. Words, faces, and sounds only.
• Designate a Comedy Workshop area to one side where pairs plan their bits
• Check the space for anything underfoot before play

How to Play

1. The whole group sits or stands together, facing the staff/volunteer “comedy crew” (2-4 staff or volunteers).
2. On “Go!”, the comedy crew tries to make the group laugh using words, silly faces, sounds, or funny scenarios. No touching allowed.
3. A group timer starts when the round begins and tracks the total hold time.
4. When a player laughs, they head to the Comedy Workshop area, find a partner who has also laughed, and together they build a 10-second comedy bit, silly pose, or sound effect to perform at the end.
5. If someone laughs and no partner is available yet, they start planning solo and pair up with the next person.
6. The round ends when the timer hits 3-5 minutes (staff decides based on energy), regardless of how many players are still holding straight faces.
7. Staff announces the group’s hold time (e.g., “The group lasted 2 minutes and 40 seconds before the first laugh!”). Track this across rounds to see if the group can beat their own record.
8. Comedy Workshop pairs perform their bits for the group. Everyone watches and applauds.
9. Both groups are celebrated: the holders showed collective focus, the Comedy Workshop showed creative expression.
10. Play another round. Try to beat the group’s previous time.

I-OPt Options

• Start
  • A (Active): Sit in the front row, facing the comedy crew head-on
  • S (Support): Volunteer as part of the comedy crew alongside staff
  • Q (Quiet): Sit toward the back and focus on holding your composure quietly
  • O (Observer): Watch from the side; join the group or the Comedy Workshop when ready
• Mid
  • A (Active): Hold your composure as long as you can, or create an elaborate Comedy Workshop bit
  • S (Support): Help a Comedy Workshop partner plan their performance
  • Q (Quiet): Stay focused and calm in the group
  • O (Observer): Track the group timer; count how many people have laughed
• Late
  • A (Active): Polish your Comedy Workshop bit for the final performance
  • S (Support): Encourage quieter Comedy Workshop partners
  • Q (Quiet): Stay in the group to the end
  • O (Observer): Track the running time for the group
• End
  • A (Active): Participate in debrief discussion
  • S (Support): Offer a compliment to the funniest moment you saw
  • Q (Quiet): Give a thumbs-up for debrief responses you agree with
  • O (Observer): Share one thing you noticed from watching

Inclusion Adaptations

• Players who prefer not to be in the spotlight can sit toward the back of the group
• Silly sounds or written signs can substitute for verbal comedy in the Comedy Workshop for players with speech differences

Stewardship Moment

• This game needs nothing but people and laughter. No waste needed.
• Reflection: “What did we use to make each other laugh? Did it cost anything?”

Consent

• Pre-brief: “Staff and volunteers will try to make the whole group laugh. For those not comfortable being in the group, the Comedy Workshop or timer-tracking role is equally great.”
• Mid-game check: After one round, give a thumbs-up or sideways check-in. Anyone can move to the Comedy Workshop at any time.
• Opt-out/re-entry: Head to the Comedy Workshop or step to the side at any time. Rejoin the group at the start of the next round.

Risks and Mitigation

• Mockery or unkind humour from comedy crew: remind staff before starting that the goal is playful, not mean. Jokes must be absurd or self-deprecating, not about specific players.
• Players feeling embarrassed: the group timer reframes it as a collective challenge, not individual endurance. No one is singled out.
• Uneven energy: if the group holds too easily, add a second comedy crew member; if they crack too fast, slow the pace

Warm-Up Suggestions

• Mirror Game: pairs face each other and try to copy each other’s movements without laughing
• Statue Pose: everyone freezes in a silly pose on a signal, holds for 5 seconds

Debrief Questions

• What? “How long did the group hold out? What moment cracked the most people?”
• So What? “What was it like doing this as a group rather than one-on-one? What was the Comedy Workshop like?”
• Now What? “Where in daily camp life could you use this kind of playful connection?”

Cleanup and Reset

• Return any passed objects
• No setup to dismantle