Chicago Area Mensa Youth Information

Youth Facebook Group

Hi everyone,

If you’re a CAM youth member, a parent of a CAM youth member, or a CAM member with youth family members, you might be interested in our new Chicago Area Mensa Youth Facebook group.

Membership is limited to parents of CAM youth members and CAM members with youth family members. (And youth members old enough to have Facebook accounts.) Only those who answer all the required questions (including a membership number) will be able to join.

The Facebook group is a forum for conversation about gifted youth, activities, and impromptu get-togethers. Join it and keep track of what’s going on. We’ll still be emailing weekly reminders of all events, of course, as well as including them in ChiMe, the monthly events on this website, and Meetup!

Upcoming Youth Events

Saturday, May 18th

May Monthly Gathering Speaker: Who’s Who of Owls—Live Birds of Prey 7:30 PM

We are privileged this month to not only have Mark Spreyer with us, but also his volunteers from the Stillman Nature Center handling 4 or 5 live birds of prey. Mark’s volunteers will be bringing the birds through the audience. This offers a rare opportunity to see these beautiful creatures close-up while hearing Mark’s engaging stories about these birds and others of their kind.

“To some people, owls are symbols of wisdom but to others their hoots are harbingers of death and doom.” Join award-winning naturalist Mark Spreyer as he reveals the truth about many of our North American owls and other raptors. The owl’s amazing hunting adaptations will be explained. Special feathered guests illustrate just who’s who!

Mark Spreyer did his graduate work in Minnesota on great gray owls and then went on to organize and direct Chicago’s peregrine falcon release program. Under his leadership, Chicago hosted the first nest of peregrines in Illinois in 37 years. In 1989, he returned to Minnesota where he worked with the Minnesota National Wildlife Refuge and other conservation organizations. In 1995, after completing work on a raptor exhibit with the Science Museum of Minnesota, Mark migrated back to Illinois to become Executive Director of the Stillman Nature Center in Barrington.

During his career, Mark has also worked with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, National Audubon Society, and Chicago Academy of Sciences. He has taught courses for the College of Lake County and Northeastern Illinois University. Mark currently writes a nature column for the Daily Herald.

Saturday, June 15th

Chicago Area Mensa Annual Picnic 11 AM. Held at Salt Creek Park in Elmhurst (just east of Rt. 83 & south of 2nd St.). Covered pavilion, grills, and food. Get most of the details here and continue to visit our website for updates. We’ll let you know when registration opens. In the meantime, save the date! Join us for a fun time outdoors.

Saturday, June 22nd

Youth Game Night 1 PM. Table top game night for CAM youth in Oak Park! Please RSVP to Kendra K. by Monday, June 17th; address included as part of contact info. Parents must accompany minors. Consider bringing your favorite snack. Pet-free home. Shoe free home; feel free to bring your own house shoes or slippers.