Outing
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—
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 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!!
Sunday, March 1st
NTM Gifted Youth Book Club 12:30 PM.
At this Zoom meeting, we will be discussing Out of My Mind
by Sharon Draper.
Hosted by North Texas Mensa. Zoom link & contact info.
Virtual Event!!
Sunday, March 8th
Raising Gifted Children in the Age of AI 3 PM. Artificial intelligence is transforming how children learn and create. Gifted kids can push boundaries in ways that both excite and concern us. More importantly, gifted kids face unique challenges with AI that the generic “teach critical thinking” advice doesn't address. Their advanced cognitive abilities, intense curiosities, and asynchronous development create specific considerations. The AI landscape is changing rapidly, and there are no definitive answers yet to how we need to respond as parents. But we need to start this conversation as a community.
Tune in for our upcoming webinar as an expert panel, featuring an educator, psychotherapist, and a gifted student herself, join together in a candid conversation about navigating the age of AI when it comes to gifted kids. By the end of this session, parents will:
- Understand why talking about AI needs to be part of your gifted child's learning journey
- Learn practical strategies for supporting gifted kids in using AI thoughtfully
- Have conversation starters and talking points for discussing AI with their gifted kids
- Hear multiple perspectives on the opportunities and risks specific to gifted learners
This event is free and Mensa membership is not required to attend. Register here.
Virtual Event!!
Sunday, March 22nd
Chicago Area Mensa Odd Outing @ Funway 2 PM.
Held at the
Ultimate Entertainment Center in Batavia.
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).
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.
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!
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.
