Group Finder

Name and Purpose

• Group Finder is a fast, funny mixer where players race to form small groups based on shared traits.
• Players practise communication, quick thinking, and discovering what they have in common.

a.k.a.

• Category Clusters, Find Your Group

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 10-40 players | 10-20 minutes | Large open area, gym or field; room for the full group to move

Materials

• Optional: cones to define the play boundary
• Flat, clear ground

Quick-Run Card

1. Everyone walks freely around the play area.
2. Caller announces a category and group size (e.g., “Find 3 people with the same favourite season!”).
3. Players find matching partners and form groups as quickly as they can.
4. Successful groups cheer. Players without a complete group stay in and try again.
5. Call a new category. Repeat for 6-10 rounds.

Setup and Boundaries

• Mark the play area with cones or use existing gym lines
• Signal: one whistle = pause; two whistles = stop and gather
• Remind players: move briskly, not at a full run, to keep the space safe

How to Play

1. Everyone spreads out and walks around the play area.
2. The caller announces: “Find a group of [number] people who [share something in common]!”
3. Players move quickly to form matching groups and lock in by standing together with arms around shoulders or simply standing close.
4. When the caller signals, groups freeze and celebrate.
5. Players who did not form a full group stay in the game for the next round.
6. The caller announces a new category. Repeat for 6-10 rounds.
7. Finish with a category that brings the whole group together (e.g., “Find a group of everyone who is here this summer!”).

Sample Categories

• “Find 3 people born in the same month as you”
• “Find 2 people who have the same number of siblings”
• “Find 4 people who have visited the same province or state”
• “Find 3 people whose favourite season matches yours”
• “Find 2 people who are also a middle child, oldest, or youngest”

I-OPt Options

• A (Active): Move fast, call out your trait loudly, and help others find their group
• S (Support): Guide players who look lost toward the right group; cheer for groups that form
• Q (Quiet): Walk calmly, make eye contact to find your group without shouting
• O (Observer): Watch one round from the side; join when a category feels comfortable

Inclusion Adaptations

• Categories should focus on preferences and experiences, not physical traits, so every player can participate equally
• For players with mobility considerations, the walk-only rule ensures the pace is accessible

Stewardship Moment

• No materials are used or consumed in this activity.
• Reflection: “Every round we found people who had something in common with us. What does that tell you about this group?”

Consent

• Pre-brief: “In this game you will move around and find small groups based on what you have in common. You choose what to share about each category. For those not comfortable with shoulder contact, standing close in a circle is another option for locking in your group.”
• Mid-game check: After 4-5 rounds, pause. “Everyone still having fun? Thumbs up, sideways, or down.”
• Opt-out/re-entry: Any player can step to the edge of the space for a round. They re-enter by jumping into the next category when they are ready.

Risks and Mitigation

• Collisions when players rush to form groups: walk-only rule; staff models calm movement at the start
• A player consistently unable to find a group: staff joins as a flexible wild card who can complete any group
• Elimination leaving players on the side with nothing to do: in this version, all players stay in every round; no one is eliminated

Warm-Up Suggestions

• “Mingle Walk”: everyone walks freely and waves to each person they pass for 30 seconds
• “Rapid Fire Names”: go around the circle at speed, each person says their name

Debrief Questions

• What? “What category was the hardest to find a group for? What was the easiest?”
• So What? “How did it feel when you found your group? How did it feel when you were still looking?”
• Now What? “How can you help someone feel like they have found their group this week at camp?”

Cleanup and Reset

• Collect cones if used
• No other materials to return