Event Toolkit

Bridge Builder Challenge: Building Brotherhood, Breaking Masks

Theme & Purpose

The Bridge Builder Challenge invites young men to explore bridges in two ways. Through the #MillionMaskMovement, they build Inner Bridges by reflecting on the gap between what they show the world and what they don’t let others see about themselves.

In the Outer Bridge Challenge, teams use everyday materials to design and build a physical bridge, discovering how creativity, teamwork, and trust connect ideas and people.

Together, these experiences reveal a powerful truth: real connection happens when we bring our true selves forward. Just as a strong bridge spans two sides, sharing what we usually don’t let others see helps close the distance between us and others.

Benefits for Young Men

  1. Self-Awareness – Young men gain insight into the parts of themselves they rarely express, developing emotional literacy and confidence.

  2. Teamwork & Leadership – By collaborating on a tangible challenge, they strengthen skills in problem-solving, communication, and shared responsibility.

  3. Connection & Brotherhood – Linking the inner and outer bridges shows that authenticity builds trust, creating bonds stronger than any structure they build.

Materials

  • Recyclable items: cardboard, string, paper, tape, sticks, bottles, clothespins, etc.

  • Scissors (safety first, depending on group)

  • Markers for decoration (optional)

    Table/floor space for building

  • Mask Cards: millionmask.org or digital millionmask.org/drawboard

  • Box/envelope for mask shuffle

Group Size

6–20 participants (split into small teams of 2–5).

Time Needed

60–75 minutes total.

 

STEP-BY-STEP Program

Our Family Tree, Our Many Masks

1. Welcome & Purpose (5 minutes)

Host Script:
“Today we’re building two bridges: one on the outside with our hands, and one on the inside with our honesty. First, we’ll make masks that show the difference between what we let people see and what we don’t let others see about ourselves. That’s the inner bridge — moving closer to one another through truth. Then we’ll build a physical bridge together, reminding us that teamwork and trust make us stronger.”

2. Team Formation (5 minutes)

  • Split into mixed teams of 2–5.

    Ensure diversity (different grades, schools, or experiences) to model real bridge-building across differences.

3. Create a Mask (15 minutes)

  • Hand out mask cards.

  • Invite participants to draw/write:

    • Front (outside): what they show the world.

    • Back (inside): what they don’t let others see about themselves.

  • Mask Links:

  • Collect masks face down in a box, shuffle, and redistribute.

  • Reflection: “Look at the card you’ve received. Notice how much we all carry. Taking off the mask is the first bridge — it closes the gap between what we show and what we don’t let others see about ourselves.”

4. Bridge Building Challenge (20 minutes)

  • Each team uses materials to build a bridge at least 12 inches long that can hold a small object.

    Connection Prompt: “Think about your mask as you build. What qualities (trust, courage, honesty, teamwork) help you build bridges — both in life and here today?”

  • Teams should:

    1. Name their bridge.

    2. Link it to a quality that also helps young men build inner/outer connections.

5. Team Presentations (10–15 minutes)

Each team shares:

  • Their bridge design.

  • The quality it represents.

  • How that quality helps connect what they show to the world with what they don’t let others see about themselves.

6. Group Reflection (10 minutes)

Facilitate discussion:

  • What made teamwork easier?

  • What challenges came up, and how did you solve them?

  • How is building a physical bridge like building trust with others?

  • How can taking off the mask make it easier to build bridges in your own life?

7. Closing & Action Step (5 minutes)

Host Closing Script:
“Bridges aren’t just made of tape and sticks — they’re made of trust and truth. When we take off the masks and share what we usually don’t let others see about ourselves, we close the gap between us. Let’s carry today’s teamwork and courage into our schools, families, and communities as real bridge builders.”

8. SHARE MASKS POST EVENT (10 minutes)

Take pictures of each mask and email them to millionmask@everforwardclub.org to join our #MillionMaskMovement and help us reach 100,000 people by this November!

Optional Add-Ons

  • Bridge Display: Exhibit the finished bridges with captions on what quality they represent.

  • Bridge + Mask Wall: Post photos of bridges alongside masks — showing the inner and outer work of building connection.

  • Dedication: Invite each participant to dedicate their bridge to someone who helped them “cross” a challenge in life.

For any questions, please contact millionmask@everforwardclub.org

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