Canary Cage / Trust and Community

“CANARY CAGE” ADVENTURE NIGHT
(Based on the movie of a similar name)

By Adventures in Youth Ministry – Katie McRee & Sally Ulrey
For use in the Diocese of Atlanta
www.adventuresinyouthministry.org
Key verses: Heb 12:1-2; John 10:2-5, 2 Corinthians 5:7

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus” …
Jesus is the “shepherd of the sheep. The sheep listen to his voice…they will not follow a stranger.” …
“We walk by faith not by sight”
Objective: To practice trust and community
The Set up: Maximum
The Plan:
 Hook: “Canary Cage” Adventure Night Activities (1 to 1.5 hours)
o Blindfolded activities to help underscore the idea of walking by faith and trusting God for the
things you can’t see
 Book: Scripture Connections (15 mins)
o Pass out Scriptures to each group and have them teach the large group about how that
Scripture connects to the activity
 Look: Discussion (10 mins)
o Small group discussion questions about what Scriptural ideas resonated most with them
 Took: Next Steps (5 mins)
o Close in worship and prayer, asking God to be with us in our next steps of faith
The Supplies:
 BIRDS (like: https://www.amazon.com/GIFTEXPRESS-Flamingo-Ornament-Ornaments-  Bucket
Adjustable/dp/B01N0BLIII/ref=asc_df_B01N0BLIII/?tag=hyprod-
20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198059725112&hvpos=1o5&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4008420330013398946&hvp
one=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010767&hvtargid=pla-
 Nerf Guns & Nerf Bullets (2-3 guns)
339249646991&psc=1 )
 Tree branches or a bush that can make
 BLINDFOLDS rustling noises
 Colorful line tape  Blankets (one per group)
 String  Backpacks (one per group) (fill with the
 Stakes heavy books)
 Mallet  Jackets (one per group)
 Bread, Peanut Butter, Jelly  Heavy books
 Bird Seed  Pens
 Plastic Knives  Tables
 Spray Bottles (2-3)
 A speaker  Adults Needed: approx. 9 plus extras to
 Balloons help groups get around
 Cones
 Wagon
 Hoola Hoop
Adventures in Youth Ministry ▪ Ulrey & McRee
“Canary Cage” Adventure Night 1
About the Lesson
Youth will be blindfolded, put in teams, and have to navigate through different activities to “survive” until they
reach safety. We’ll use this to teach about faith, when seeing/knowing things aren’t good for us, trusting God,
obedience, living in community, SO MANY GOOD THINGS!
 LEADER TIP: Youth do not have to have seen the movie “Bird Box” to appreciate this Adventure Night. The movie is not
suitable for everyone. Give parents a link to a parental review so they can use their discretion:
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/bird-box
“Canary Cage” Adventure Night—SET-UP
 Before the youth arrive, you will need to set up the mission areas as it looks in the diagram on the next
page.
 As you set up, keep in mind that, with the exception of "In the Boat," all of the missions will take place
at different locations, and the youth will follow strings you have set up to get from their boat to each
mission location.
 For "In The Boat," teams will return to the same location to complete very simple tasks before heading
out again (the “In The Boat” Tasks are on page 6). Make one copy per group and cut them up so you
can hand them out one task at a time after they come back from their missions.
 Descriptions of each mission location and set up are included on pages 8-13. You don't HAVE to do all
the missions... but you should!
 Set up all the mission locations, and give the adults in charge a copy of their mission description (pages
8-13).
 Another fun idea would be to have a meal before the missions, and start off by having the youth eat
blindfolded before going to “The Boat” and on to their missions!
Preparation:
 Set up mission locations
 Set up “The Boat”
 Print Mission Instructions for adults running each mission
 Print “In the Boat” tasks, one per group
 Print Group Activities Chart for leader tracking that

Set-Up:
Looks something like this:
Driving Blind
River Rapids
(Sandwich Supplies)
Group1
(Water Bucket)
Find Group2
Supplies Group3
Group4 Group5
Group6 (“The Boat”)
Don’t Take Off

Your Blindfold!
(Strings to activities)
Shoot “It”
Follow the Birds

(End)
“Canary Cage” Themed Activities (Hook, 1 to 1.5 hours)
Introduction for Youth (say something like):

You do not need to have seen the movie in order to do this activity, but let me tell you a little bit about the plot line:
monsters have taken over and if you see them, they make you go crazy and you die. So everyone has to walk around
with blindfolds on. They have to find supplies, defend themselves, drive, and navigate the river on a boat, all without
sight.
In the movie, they have two things that help them: (1) birds, which go crazy when the monsters are near, and (2)
blindfolds, which protect them from seeing the monsters and dying.
 Play clip from the movie at the beginning where Mallory is instructing the kids
 LEADER TIP: After the clip, debrief the part about “if you take off your blindfold, I will hurt you” and how
tonight may be intense, but the leaders will NOT hurt or scare the youth in any way. The youth are safe
with us. There is enough they will have to navigate without leaders hazing them. Instruct the leaders on
this point as well. We are not here to scare them! That would actually defeat the purpose of this whole
adventure!
Tonight, you will now have to survive and complete tasks without the use of sight. You will be put into teams and be
given two things: birds and blindfolds.
From this moment until you make it to safety inside (I will tell you when that is), your eyes must be shielded from seeing
the world AT ALL TIMES or else you will “die” in the game. Do not listen to anyone who would tell you to take off your
blindfolds or that it’s ok to look. Once you are INSIDE and you hear ME tell you you’re safe and it’s ok to take your
blindfolds off, then you may do so. You must be wearing your blindfolds or be under your team’s blanket at all times.
As a team, you will be completing several tasks. Your home base will be in the “boat”. You will return to the boat after
each activity. There, you can have “team time” under your group blanket. Each time you return to your boat, you will
need to care for your birds (a leader will give you instructions on this point).
In the movie, they used strings to help navigate around in the world outside. Each time you leave the boat, a leader will
put your hand on a string. You will need to follow that string to your next activity. Once you complete your activity, a
leader will put your group back on the string to return to the boat. Once you’ve completed all the activities, we will tell
you to follow the final string until it ends, and then listen for the birds. You will just have to follow the sound of the birds
to safety.
Additionally, in the movie, there were some pregnant characters. You will elect one person from your group to be
“pregnant” and wear a backpack backwards. As with pregnancy, you can’t take this off or trade with anyone.
Finally, you will need to come up with a group name that contains a name for a bird and a type of container, which starts
with the same letter as your bird name. For example, “canary cage” or “parakeet parcel”.
 LEADERS: Make sure the youth have their blindfolds securely fastened, put them into teams, take down their team names,
make sure one person is “pregnant”, give each team a bird, and guide them to their team’s spot and blanket in the “boat”.

“Canary Cage” Adventure Night
Instructions
Planning Sheet
Mission Location Leader(s) Names

1. In the Boat (Home Base) 2:
2. Driving Blind 2:
3. Shoot “It” 1:
4. River Rapids 1:
5. Find Supplies 1:
6. Don’t Take Off Your Blindfold! 1:
7. Follow the Birds (End) 1-2:
Approx. 1 adult needed per group to just make sure kids aren’t getting hurt
Objective:
The objective of all these activities is to experience the world (and God) differently. By being blindfolded and
learning to adapt to challenges as a team, we’ll discover and experience life in new ways!
 Teaching how to work together to accomplish a task
 Discover how to adapt to overcome obstacles and challenges
 Learn to trust instructions and each other
 Remember to “fix our eyes” on Jesus, and some other things aren’t what we’re supposed to be looking at
 Have a lot of fun
Set-Up:
See sheets on each activity to see how to set them up

In the Boat!!
2 Adult Leaders Needed; one will pass out/facilitate tasks; one will make sure groups go to tasks in right order.
TASKS Task Leader Name:____________________
Directions:
In the movie, the birds served as a warning for when the “creatures” were near. You MUST take care of your
birds!! After every task, you will return to your boat to care for you birds before moving on to the next task.
Supplies: Set-Up:
Peanut butter, jelly, bread, Rope off “the boat” with trail tape & stakes
plastic knives, bird seed Run one string from boat to each activity area
Bucket of water Create an area for each group in “boat”, put 1 blanket in each group area
Spray bottle Scatter bucket and sandwich supplies around “boat”
Blankets (one per group) Copy this page per group; cut tasks and put into an envelope per group
Birds (one per group)
After Task #1—Water the Birds

Staying under the blanket or blindfolded, you must search “the boat” for a cup of water and let your bird have
a drink. After you have watered your bird, make sure you give it some fresh air outside of the blanket (you
need to stay under the blanket, though).
After Task #2—Feed the Birds

Using the supplies, (and being SURE to stay under the blanket), make your bird a peanut butter and jelly
sandwich. After you’ve offered it to your bird, make sure you give it some fresh air outside the blanket before
your next task.
After Task #3—Dress the Birds

Using items of clothing your group is wearing, dress your bird with three things (obviously, you would still
need to remain decent). After you’ve put three things on your bird, make sure you give it some fresh air
outside the blanket before your next task.
After Task #4—Sing the Birds a Song

Sing your bird any song that your group can sing together. Bonus points if the song is about birds or you’ve re-
written to be about a bird. Make sure you give your bird some fresh air outside the blanket before your next
task.
After Task #5—Groom the Birds

The entire group needs to spend one full minute petting your bird. Everyone must participate. It must be for a
full minute. This time, you will need to take your bird with you on your next task.

In the Boat!!
2 Adult Leaders Needed; one will pass out/facilitate tasks; one will make sure groups go to tasks in right order.
GROUP ACTIVITIES CHART Leader Name:__________________
One leader “in the boat” will need to use a chart like this one to make sure all the groups get to all the
activities.
Group Name: #1 #2 #3 #4 #5
1: Driving Blind Supplies Shoot “It” Balloons River Rapids
2: Supplies Shoot Balloons River Rapids Driving
3: Shoot Balloons River Driving Supplies
4: Balloons River Driving Supplies Shoot
5: River Driving Supplies Shoot Balloons

Driving Blind
2 Adult Leaders Needed; Leader Names:_____________________________
Directions:
In the movie, they have to drive blind, using the car’s warning beeps as a way to know if they were getting too
close to something or were about to hit something.
As a team, youth will navigate the “car” (wagon) through the obstacle course (cones). One youth will sit in the
wagon, and the others will steer through cones. One adult will stand on either side of the course. The adult on
the left sideline of the course will make beeping noises when the youth are getting too far to the left. The
adult on the right will make beeping noises when the youth are getting too far to the right. The youth will
have to use the sound to help them navigate the course. Adults will refrain from helping the youth navigate in
any other way (while still keeping them safe). Once they complete the course, they can return to “the boat”
using the string.
One adult will keep time on their stopwatch app on their phone and record below.
Set-Up:
Supplies:
Set up cones slalom style
Wagon
Cones
Stopwatch
Pen
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:

Shoot “It”
1 Adult Leader Needed; Leader Name:________________________
Directions:
In the movie, they have to shoot blind. They know the “presence” is around because (1) the birds start making
noise and (2) wind and rustling leaves.
The youth will use the rustling tree branch/bush noises to help them know where to shoot. Taking turns, they
will all try to shoot bullets through the hoola hoop. Once they have shot two bullets through the hoola hoop,
they can return to “the boat” using the string.
Leader needs to use stopwatch app on a smart phone to record times.
Supplies: Set-Up:
Nerf Guns and lots of Nerf bullets Hang hoola hoop up somewhere (from a tree branch?)
Hoola Hoop Decide on starting line to shoot from
Pen Have a bush or tree branch to rustle so they know where to shoot
Rustling Tree Branches
Group Name:
Time to get 1st Bullet Through:
Time to get 2nd Bullet Through:
Group Name:
Group Name:
Group Name:
Group Name:
Group Name:
River Rapids
1 Adult Leader Needed; Leader Name: __________________
Directions:
In the movie, they have to get in a boat to navigate rapids on a river without looking. They fall out of the boat,
but they have to stay together, holding on to each other and not lose anyone through the rapids.
As a team, the youth must navigate the “river rapids” by scooting on their butts through the course as if they
are sitting in a boat AND staying connected together. They can’t lose anyone. They must hold hands in a line
while navigating the river rapids. If they let go of each other’s hands, they have fallen out of the boat, and will
get sprayed. This is the river, so they may get a little bit of spray from the rapids every once in a while. Once
they have made it through the rapids, return to “the boat”.
Leader can occasionally spray youth with the spray bottle. Leader will also need to use a stopwatch app on a
smart phone to record team times.
Supplies: Set-Up:
Tables Create a course by laying tables on their sides. These walls will be the
Obstacles sides of the “river.”
Spray bottle Put random obstacles (chairs, boxes, etc.) at different points in the “river”
Pen for them to have to scoot around
As the river gets toward the end, angle the tables to make it more narrow
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:

Find Supplies
1 Adult Leader Needed; Leader Name: __________________
Directions:
In the movie, they used string to help them find their way around AND their way back home without being
able to see. When they had to look in other buildings for supplies, they used string to navigate through the
world outside.
The youth will need to find an extra jacket by following the string through its twists and turns and ups and
downs. They need to return to the boat with the jacket.
Leader will need to use a stop watch app to record times.
Supplies: Set-Up:
Jackets At the end of the string which leads to this activity, place a jacket (one per
String group) for them to find and follow the string back
Pen Time the group from the time they get on the string from the boat until they
get back to the boat with the jacket
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:

Don’t Take Off Your Blindfold!!
1 Adult Leader Needed; Leader Name:__________________
Directions:
In the movie, there were some crazy people who were trying to get everyone to take off their blindfolds and
see the “presence”, which would have been very bad for the people to see!
Each youth in the group will need to defend themselves against someone trying to take off their blindfold by
popping a balloon. When the balloon pops, they are safe from the crazy people.
Leader can pretend to take off blindfolds of youth, and will need to use a stop watch app to record how long it
takes each person in the group to pop a balloon.
Set-Up:
Supplies:
In a large enclosed space, put out ONLY one balloon per person on the
Balloons (one per person)
team (like a classroom)
Pen
You will reset this before each group
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:
Group Name:
Time:

Follow the Birds
1-2 Adult Leaders Needed; Leader Names:_______________________
Directions:
In the movie, the last thing they have to do to get to safety is follow the sounds of the birds. They have to
walk without the aid of strings, etc., and only follow the sound of the birds. Meanwhile, they also hear voices
telling them to take off their blindfolds…they KNOW they can’t do that, but the voices are very convincing.
Once a group is done with all the activities, leaders will play bird noises (using their phones and a speaker).
Leaders in the boat will put the group on the string in the right direction, and when the string runs out, they’re
on their own, and just have to follow the bird sounds to the final destination.
Leaders can also tell them (falsely) to take off their blindfolds. They SHOULD know this is a trick if you’ve gone
over the instructions well in the beginning.

Scripture Connection (Book, 20 mins)
In this section, you’ll have youth try to make some connections from this activity to God.
 Debrief: allow them to tell some funny stories, etc.

 Celebrate winners of each event
 Pass out the Scripture page (next page), one per group, and have the youth discuss how those
Scriptures connect to what they just did
 Assign each Scripture to a group (depending on the number of groups, some groups may have more
than one Scripture, or some groups may have the same Scripture as another group)
 Have the youth teach their Scripture to the large group and share how that Scripture connects to the
activity
 Be prepared with some thought about this, like the following:
Scripture Connection Thoughts

1. If you’ve seen the movie, you know that there are a couple times where someone came to their house
(their safe place) needing help, and they had to decide whether or not to trust them and open up their
home to them. Each time we have a friend, we have to do the same thing…we have to decide whether
that person is going to be a good influence and safe, trustworthy friend, or not. If they’re not safe and
trustworthy, we can still love them, but maybe not let them into our closest inner circle.
2. In the movie and these activities, there were times when you were given false messages about if you
could take off your blindfold. There are often times in life where the world gives us false messages and
if we believe them, it’s not good for us. For example, the world gives us all kinds of messages about
what makes us valuable…like we’re only valuable if we’re attractive according to a certain arbitrary
standard of beauty…and if we believe that, it can cause us to do some not healthy or life-giving things
in order to meet that standard of beauty. But we have to hold onto the truth that God tells us in
Scripture about what is really life-giving for us, and not be tricked by other voices (the sheep listen to
the shepherd’s voice and not follow a stranger)
3. Sometimes, there are things that it’s just not good for us to see or to know. There might be a reason
why God isn’t telling us all the answers we want to know. Or there might be things that we’re not
supposed to see/look at/dwell on/think about. Maybe sometimes the blindfolds are for our good and
for our protection, so that we’ll think about “whatever is good” and “fix our eyes” and our thoughts on
Jesus.
4. Walking by faith and trying to obey what God is telling us, even when it doesn’t always make sense to
us or we can’t see how it will work out, is something we need to learn to do on this Adventure of
following Christ.

Scriptures
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever isnoble, whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such
things and the God of peace will be with you”
Hebrews 12:1-2
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
John 10:2-5
Jesus is “the shepherd of the sheep… and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and
leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him
because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him
because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the convictions of things unseen
Romans 1:17
For in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, for it
is written, “The righteous will live by faith.”
2 Corinthians 4:18
We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are
transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Adventures in Youth Ministry ● Ulrey & McRee

Discussion (Look, 10 mins)
In this part, youth will explore the parts of the activity and Scripture that resonated most with them.
Small Group Discussion

 When you think about your faith in God, which activity did you most relate to and why?
 What things is it actually a protection for us not to know or not to look at?
 What are some of the other “voices” we’re tempted to listen to but aren’t good for us to believe?
 What examples do you have of when doing the right thing/what God is asking you to do doesn’t make
logical sense, but you’ve just had to trust and try to be faithful?
Next Steps (Took, 5 mins)
When we take steps of faith in the real world, we’ll first need to center ourselves through worship and prayer.
 Sing several songs like “Walk by Faith”

 Close in prayer
Dear God, thank you that you love us and help us navigate a crazy world. Help us to listen to your voice, and
to trust and follow you, because we know that you want what’s best for us. AMEN!

About “Adventures in Youth Ministry”
Two youth ministers from the Diocese of Atlanta, Katie McRee and Sally Ulrey, paired up to form Adventures in
Youth Ministry which creates custom youth ministry experiences to help youth and youth workers
“Celebrate the Adventure of Following Christ.” Adventures in Youth Ministry has created custom retreats and
training experiences for other Dioceses throughout the national church as well as many local parishes in the
Atlanta area.
More at www.adventuresinyouthministry.org


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“CANARY CAGE” ADVENTURE NIGHT

(Based on the movie of a similar name)

Key verses: Heb 12:1-2; John 10:2-5, 2 Corinthians 5:7

Objective: To practice trust and community

The Set up: Maximum

“Canary Cage” Adventure Night—SET-UP

Adventures in Youth Ministry ▪ Ulrey & McRee

Looks something like this:

Group6 (“The Boat”)

Don’t Take Off

Follow the Birds

Introduction for Youth (say something like):

Adventures in Youth Ministry ▪ Ulrey & McRee

Mission Location Leader(s) Names

Adventures in Youth Ministry ▪ Ulrey & McRee

TASKS Task Leader Name:____________________

After Task #1—Water the Birds

After Task #2—Feed the Birds

After Task #3—Dress the Birds

After Task #4—Sing the Birds a Song

After Task #5—Groom the Birds

Adventures in Youth Ministry ▪ Ulrey & McRee

GROUP ACTIVITIES CHART Leader Name:__________________

2: Supplies Shoot Balloons River Rapids Driving

3: Shoot Balloons River Driving Supplies

4: Balloons River Driving Supplies Shoot

5: River Driving Supplies Shoot Balloons

Adventures in Youth Ministry ▪ Ulrey & McRee

Adventures in Youth Ministry ▪ Ulrey & McRee

Adventures in Youth Ministry ▪ Ulrey & McRee

1 Adult Leader Needed; Leader Name: __________________

Adventures in Youth Ministry ▪ Ulrey & McRee

1 Adult Leader Needed; Leader Name:__________________

Adventures in Youth Ministry ▪ Ulrey & McRee

1-2 Adult Leaders Needed; Leader Names:_______________________

Adventures in Youth Ministry ▪ Ulrey & McRee

 Debrief: allow them to tell some funny stories, etc.

Scripture Connection Thoughts

Adventures in Youth Ministry ▪ Ulrey & McRee

Adventures in Youth Ministry ● Ulrey & McRee

Small Group Discussion

Next Steps (Took, 5 mins)

 Sing several songs like “Walk by Faith”

Adventures in Youth Ministry ● Ulrey & McRee

Adventures in Youth Ministry ● Ulrey & McRee

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