Tunnel obstacles require participants to crawl through narrow, dark, confined spaces that can feel claustrophobic and disorienting.
The refugee parallel
Tunnels represent the covert routes refugees sometimes must take to avoid detection – crawling through drainage pipes, smuggling tunnels, or makeshift passages. These spaces are cramped, frightening, and require suppressing panic while moving toward an uncertain exit.
Your role as leader
Setting the scene Approach with quiet determination:
- “This tunnel is our only way to avoid being seen”
- “It’s dark and narrow, but it leads to safety”
- “We go one by one, quietly – wait until I signal it’s clear”
Leading by example
- Enter the tunnel first to demonstrate it can be done
- Move steadily without rushing, showing controlled breathing
- Emerge calmly on the other side to reassure others
- Immediately provide guidance and encouragement for the next person
Supporting your group From the exit point:
- Guide entry technique: “Keep your head down, use your elbows to pull forward”
- Provide reassurance: “You’re halfway through – keep going toward my voice”
- Offer encouragement: “I can see you moving – you’re doing brilliantly”
- Celebrate emergence: “You made it – that took real courage”
Maintaining the experience
Manage claustrophobia with hope
- “I know it feels closed in, but there’s light ahead”
- “Each movement forward takes you closer to freedom”
- “Breathe steadily and trust that the exit is there”
Handle panic or hesitation When someone freezes or becomes distressed:
- Provide calm guidance: “Listen to my voice – you’re not alone in there”
- Offer practical help: “Just focus on moving one elbow forward, then the other”
- Maintain connection: “I’m right here waiting for you – you’re nearly through”
- Build confidence: “You’re braver than you know – your body knows what to do”
After the tunnel
- Acknowledge the mental challenge: “You conquered your fears in that darkness”
- Build collective pride: “Everyone faced something frightening and came through”
- Connect to resilience: “You found strength in a place where many would panic”
Working with course instructors
The professional instructor will:
- Ensure tunnel safety and structural integrity
- Monitor for anyone experiencing genuine panic or distress
- Manage the flow to avoid overcrowding
- Provide emergency assistance if needed
Your role focuses on:
- Maintaining the narrative of seeking hidden passage to safety
- Building courage to face confined, dark spaces
- Providing emotional support and encouragement
- Helping participants overcome their mental barriers
Managing modesty in confined spaces
Practical guidance
- Show how to manage clothing whilst crawling
- Remind participants to secure loose items before entering
- Demonstrate techniques that maintain coverage
- Normalise the physical demands whilst preserving dignity
Focus on courage over appearance
- Keep attention on the mental challenge rather than physical positioning
- Emphasise the bravery required rather than the awkwardness
- Build collective support rather than individual self-consciousness
Special considerations
For those with claustrophobia
- Acknowledge their fear without dismissing it
- Offer alternative visualisation: “Imagine you’re moving toward light and safety”
- Provide extra verbal guidance throughout their passage
- Celebrate their courage even more enthusiastically
For different body sizes
- Ensure everyone knows tunnels accommodate all participants safely
- Focus on technique rather than size
- Build inclusive support from the whole group
Key reminders
- Lead with calm courage in the face of confined spaces
- Provide continuous verbal connection for those in the tunnel
- Acknowledge that conquering fear is as important as physical achievement
- Build collective pride in facing and overcoming mental barriers
- Show that safety sometimes requires facing our greatest fears
- Maintain hope and connection even in isolated, dark moments
- Celebrate the mental strength required as much as the physical effort