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 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.

Two Surveys. One Brilliant Goal.

American Mensa needs your input. Two new surveys are now open to help Mensa better support gifted youth and their families. Your feedback will shape future programs and resources across Mensa. Please take a few minutes to participate, and feel free to pass along to the right people in Chicago Area Mensa or family networks. The deadline to share your feedback is Saturday, February 28th.

Parents & Caregivers Survey

Share what it's really like raising a gifted child—the highs, the hurdles, and the support that would matter most. (25-30 minutes, one child per survey.)


CAM GYP Leaders & Volunteers Survey

Tell us what's working in youth programming and where support is needed. (Just 8-10 minutes.)



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—and find out about the ones already planned! For questions, contact Beth W.. The Zoom info is available as part of her contact info.
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.

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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 Dr. 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!!

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Sunday, March 22nd

Chicago Area Mensa Odd Outing @ Funway 2 PM. Held at the Ultimate Entertainment Center in Batavia. Get a $34 activity card at a huge discount provided you register (only $19/adult CAM member; $15/minor; $24/adult non-member). Find out the details and/or register online by 10 PM Saturday, March 21st. There will be no on-site registration at Funway. Join us for a fun time indoors with a wide variety of activities for any Chicago Mensan and the entire family (bumper cars, black light mini golf, laser tag, bowling, roller skating, and arcade games).

Add CAM Odd Outing @ Funway

Sunday, April 5th

NTM Gifted Youth Book Club 12:30 PM. At this Zoom meeting, we will be discussing The Boy Who Reversed Himself by William Sleator. Hosted by North Texas Mensa. Zoom link.
Virtual Event!!

Add NTM Gifted Youth Book Club

Saturday, April 11th

Blood on the Clocktower Online 1 PM. We will be playing Blood on the Clocktower (BOTC) Online, a social deduction game of hidden roles, murder, and bluffing (think "Werewolf" or "Mafia") which relies on audio and text chat to interact with one another. There will be a zoom for anyone who would like to spectate the game and for anyone experiencing issues with the app, but it is asked that players only communicate through the BOTC app. The BOTC join code will be in the Zoom meeting, and our Storyteller, Ben M., will explain the rules once all players are in the game. Recommended for Mensans that are 10 years old and up, though younger players may join at their parents' discretion. For more details on the game, visit Blood on the Clocktower - Wikipedia.

Limited player spots available. If there are "no-shows", we will open up spots for those on the waitlist. RSVP: Reserve your spot by emailing Dena M. with the subject line "Mensa Youth BOTC Online". Please let me [Bill R.] know if you have any questions, or email Dena directly.
Virtual Event!!

Add NTM Blood on the Clocktower Online

Saturday, April 25th

Gifted Youth Program @ Monthly Gathering 6 PM in the Rolling Mead­ows Com­mu­ni­ty Center at 3705 Pheasant Dr. in Rolling Meadows. There is no specific agenda 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.

Add CAM Gifted Youth Program at our MG in the Community Center

Sunday, April 26th

Culture­Quest® XXXVII 3 PM. Today, all across the country as well as Canada, all at the same time, teams of Mensa members will participate in a 90-minutes-long contest to test cultural literacy administered by American Mensa. Prizes will be award­ed to twenty “Classic” (no age restrictions) teams and one “Next Generation” (youth) team with the highest scores! Submit your team registration information to American Mensa by Tuesday, March 31st. Get all the details including how to get the registration fee covered by GOBS funds and, if you want your team to meet virtually, how to request your own Discord channel. We wish our teams the best of luck today!

Add CultureQuest®

Friday, June 12th

Berkeley Math Tournament. The online, synchronous version of our middle school tournament! For those who are unable to travel long-distance to California, or weren't able to register for Berkeley mini Math Tournament (BmMT) 2026 due to capacity limitations, we're offering an online experience as well. BmMT Online is open to middle school students in grades 8 or below. In particular, there is no lower age limit to participate; advanced elementary school students are welcome to compete. Teams may have up to five students. You do not have to be local to the Bay Area or California to register for BmMT Online.

Visit the BmMT 2026 Online webpage for information.
Virtual Event!!

Saturday, June 20th

Gifted Youth Program @ Monthly Gathering 6 PM in the Georgetown West Club House at 301 S. Prospect Ave. in Wood Dale. There is no specific agenda 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.

Add CAM Gifted Youth Program at our MG in the Georgetown West Club House

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