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!
Let our Gifted Youth Coordinator know if you’re interested in organizing an event or have any questions.
Upcoming Youth Events
Tuesday, September 19th
CAM Youth and Parents 7 PM.
CAM Youth Members, Youth family members of CAM Members, and all of the parents, please come join us
in this Zoom gathering to give everyone a chance to get together, chat, and set up some activities
for our CAM youth—
Virtual Event!!
Friday, October 6th
Ultimate Ninjas Chicago 6:30 PM. CAM Youth and families, please join us for an evening of fun at the Ultimate Ninjas Chicago at 2500 Bradley Pl. in Chicago in Unit H. Members may bring one guest (in addition to family). This event is GOBS subsidized. The cost for members and guests is $20/youth. There is no cost for adults. Please RSVP to Kate L. no later than 10 PM on Thursday, September 21st. Payment will be required in advance and can be made via Zelle, Venmo, or check. Also, children will need to wear gym shoes to the event.
\Saturday, November 18th
Jiu-Jitsu/Self-Defense and Nerf Guns!!! 3 PM.
Youth (ages 4-17); CAM members and their siblings or children of CAM members
Where: Real MMA Academy,
at 891 Illinois Rte. 59 in Bartlett
(inside the Yoga Fitness Gym).
Come join us for an afternoon of self-defense, nerf guns, and pizza.
RMMA’s self-defense class helps promote self-confidence. They combine grappling
and jiu-jitsu techniques with physical education and movement intelligence in
order to improve coordination, mobility, agility, and mindfulness.
Members may bring one guest (in addition to family). This event is GOBS subsidized.
Members can bring a guest, they are even encouraged to! This event is GOBS subsidized.
The cost for members and guests is $15.75/youth (limited to 30). No fee for parents.
Please RSVP to
Vinh T.
no later than
Sunday, October 15th.
Payment will be required in advance and can be made via Zelle or check.
All participants will need to wear comfortable athletic clothing.
Please make sure feet are clean; shoes and socks must be removed to get on the gym mat.
Saturday, December 9th
Mensa Youth: Take Apart and Assemble Whatever 5 PM. This event will be held at the Rolling Meadows Community Center located at 3705 Pheasant Drive in Rolling Meadows (free parking in NW lot behind building; use Entrance K) before the Monthly Gathering. We’ll have a collection of non-working small appliances, parts that were taken apart at the HalloweeM Take Apart as well as a collection of tools. Kids (and adults who show up) will get to disassemble to their hearts’ content and if desired, construct something out of the parts.
Sunday, December 31st
NYE
Party at the WWHfWMs 3 PM. This party is being held at the
Weiss Ward Home for Wayward Mensans (WWHfWMs) in Bloomingdale. The exact address is available as part of
Beth W. contact info.
Come celebrate the end of 2023 and the start of 2024 by eating, drinking, talking, and gaming with a
bunch of Ms! Please bring some food and beverages to share.
All ages welcome! (Note to parents: Although alcohol will be available, this is not a wild drinking party.)
Any questions? Contact Beth at
LocSec@chicago.us.mensa.org .
Time Change!!
Saturday, December 6th
Gifted Youth Program @ Monthly Gathering 6 PM in the Rolling Meadows Community Center at 3705 Pheasant Dr. in Rolling Meadows. There is no specific but we'll have hands-on activities, often shaped by the kids themselves. Information about the location and directions can be found on our Monthly Gathering webpage.
Program Topic: Anacondas: The Misunderstood Marvels
Did you miss meeting Buttercup and her remarkable friends at WeeM? Don't worry—your next chance is just around the corner! Terry Cullen, director of The Dragonwood Conservancy, will take us on a fascinating journey into the world of anacondas, the largest snakes on Earth. Terry will separate fact from fiction and bust some of the wildest myths surrounding our legless friends.
Terry is bringing along some of Dragonwood's reptilian ambassadors for a special Meet & Greet! Get up close with these incredible creatures and learn what makes them unique.
With over 60 years of experience in veterinary herpetology and conservation, Terry is a powerhouse of knowledge. He's a member of the IUCN, the Crocodile Specialist Group, the Crocodilian DNA Group, and many other prestigious organizations. His stories and insights are not to be missed!
Come for the snakes. Stay for the science. Leave with a new appreciation for these misunderstood marvels.
Thursday, December 18th
Holiday Magic Excursion — Brookfield Zoo 5 PM & Dinner 7 PM. Join us for a festive evening at Brookfield Zoo's Holiday Magic followed by dinner at the nearby Serbian restaurant Skadarlija. Holiday Magic features over 3.5 million lights, transforming the Zoo into a dazzling winter wonderland. Wander through themed areas featuring giant holiday displays, a maze, tunnels, and animal-themed lights—it's one of Chicagoland's best holiday traditions!
Schedule
- We'll meet inside Australia, just southwest of the North Gate, at 5 PM (you're welcome to arrive earlier; the zoo opens at 3'PM). If you arrive late and want to find us, call or text Beth.
- Dolphin Discovery: There's a show at 4 PM; you can purchase tickets in advance on the zoo's website.
- Dinner: 7 PM at Skadarlija, 9237 Ogden Ave. in Brookfield.
Transporation
- Public transportation serves the main (south) entrance.
- Members with cars will provide rides from the zoo to dinner and drop passengers back at the train afterward.
GOBS
- Zoo admission: Purchase your own ticket and save your receipt. At the event, Beth will take a photo of your receipt and GOBS will reimburse $10 toward your admission.
- Dinner: Beth will pay the combined bill and let everyone know their share. Please reimburse her by cash (exact amount), PayPal, or Zelle.
- Limit: Maximum of 20 people (each CAM member may bring one guest) for a max subsidiary of $15.
Zoo Prices
- Purchase your timed-entry tickets on-line to get your preferred time.
- Admission: $29.95 adults / $20.95 children (3-11) / $24.95 seniors (65+)
- Dolphin Discovery show is ticketed separately: $8 adults / $4 children /$6 seniors
- Parking: $17.86
RSVPs Meetupstrongly preferred) by Monday, December 15th so we can confirm dinner reservations at Skadarlija and to alert the zoo animals to our arrival. For more information or to RSVP directly, contact Beth W..
Thursday, February 12th through Sunday, February 15th
"A Gathering of Gamers"
Games, games, and more games!
Only 85 days until AGOG . Join your fellow Mensa members on February 13th – 15th for fun and games.
Register NOW to qualify for the reduced rate of $90 (ages 18+) and $55 (ages 9-17). Friday, January 30th is the last day you can preregister. Registering at the door will be an additional $30 for ages 18+ and $25 for ages 9-17 over the current preregistration rate which is good through Friday, January 2nd. Non-Mensa members (ages 9+) pay an additional $5.
Do you like games? Do you spend the entire WeeM weekend in the games room? Would you like to do again? No, we're not asking you to wait almost an entire year until WeeM 2026. Instead, we're saying you can do it again this February!!! Every winter, Chicago puts on AGOG—A Gathering of Gamers (this year, February 13th – 15th). It's a weekend-long gathering of just games while socializing with fellow Mensa members and guests. All the games we have at WeeM and more, because folks like you can bring your own to share. We provide food, non-alcoholic beverages, and all the games you want for a reasonable price.
Friday, January 23rd is the last day to book a room for the amazing rate of $125.
Thanks for being our 3,246th visitor to Youth info.
These pages and all content Copyright 2025 by Chicago Area Mensa, all rights reserved. Chicago Area Mensa is part of American Mensa, Ltd. Mensa® and the Mensa logo (as depicted for example in U.S. TM Reg. No. 1,405,381) are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by American Mensa, Ltd., and are registered in other countries by Mensa International Limited and/or affiliated national Mensa organizations. Mensa does not hold any opinions, or have, or express, any political or religious views.
youth.php last updated November 10, 2025.