Revision as of 15:00, 25 March 2026

Ideas for Group Activities

Purpose

Provide a variety of activity options that support different levels and styles of member engagement.

Guiding Principle

A strong activity calendar offers multiple ways to connect.

Variety increases participation by meeting members where they are — in interest, time, and comfort level.

Why Variety Matters

Many Local Group activities center around food — and for good reason. Food is universal, accessible, and works across a wide range of ages and interests.

However, a strong calendar goes beyond this foundation.

Offering a wider range of activities:

Reaches more members
Encourages broader participation
Creates multiple entry points for engagement

Types of Activities

A balanced calendar may include:

Category	Examples
Social	dinners, lunches, brunches
Active	mini-golf, bowling, sports, outdoor activities
Experiential	theme parks, go-karts, performances
Creative	crafts, art, writing, workshops
Intellectual	book clubs, discussion groups, speakers, museums
Casual	movies, concerts, informal meetups

Almost any activity can be successful — what matters is creating opportunities for members to connect.

Levels of Commitment

Members engage at different levels. A strong calendar includes options across that spectrum.

Low-Commitment Activities — easy to join, low pressure
Medium-Engagement Activities — some structure, moderate involvement
High-Engagement Activities — deeper involvement or leadership

Designing Inclusive & Accessible Activities

Every activity should consider different needs and comfort levels.

Offer both in-person and virtual options when possible
Choose accessible locations (mobility, transportation)
Vary times and days
Clearly communicate:
- Physical activity level
- Cost (if any)
- Social expectations

Clear expectations reduce barriers to participation.

Mixing Activity Types Over Time

Variety matters across time, not just within a single event.

Example monthly mix:

1 social event
1 intellectual or discussion-based event
1 low-key or virtual option

This helps engage different members without overloading any one group.

Member-Led Activities

Members are more engaged when they help create the experience.

Invite ideas regularly
Make hosting easy (low barriers, clear expectations)
Support first-time organizers with simple guidance

Recognition & Follow-Up

Activities continue after the event.

Thank organizers and participants
Share highlights or photos (when appropriate)
Invite quick feedback
Suggest related or next-step activities

Simple Planning Framework

When planning an activity, ask:

Who is this for?
What level of commitment does it require?
Is it accessible and clearly described?
Does it add variety to the calendar?

Key Takeaway

The goal is not to find the “perfect” activity.

It is to create enough variety that every member can find something that fits.

Planning & Execution

Engagement Strategy

Specific Use Cases

Back to Toolkit

Local Group Toolkit

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+= Ideas for Group Activities =
-= Purpose =
+== Purpose ==
-Provide a '''variety of activity options''' that support different levels and styles of member engagement.
+Provide a variety of activity options that support different levels and styles of member engagement.
-----
+== Guiding Principle ==
+A strong activity calendar offers multiple ways to connect.
+Variety increases participation by meeting members where they are — in interest, time, and comfort level.
 == Why Variety Matters ==
-Many local group activities naturally center around food—and for good reason. Food is universal, accessible, and works well across a wide range of ages and interests. In a group that may include everyone from young children to older adults, shared meals are one of the easiest ways to bring people together.
-However, a strong activity calendar goes beyond this foundation.
+Many Local Group activities center around food — and for good reason. Food is universal, accessible, and works across a wide range of ages and interests.
+However, a strong calendar goes beyond this foundation.
+Offering a wider range of activities:
-Offering a wider range of events helps reach more members, encourages broader participation, and creates multiple entry points for engagement.
+* Reaches more members
-----
+* Encourages broader participation
+* Creates multiple entry points for engagement
 == Types of Activities ==
 A balanced calendar may include:
-* '''Social gatherings:''' dinners, lunches, brunches
+{| class="wikitable"
-* '''Active events:''' mini-golf, bowling, sports, outdoor activities
+! Category !! Examples
-* '''Experiential outings:''' theme parks, go-karts, performances
+|-
-* '''Creative activities:''' crafts, art, writing, hands-on workshops
+| Social || dinners, lunches, brunches
-* '''Intellectual engagement:''' book clubs, discussion groups, speakers, museum visits
+|-
-* '''Casual meetups:''' movies, concerts, informal gatherings
+| Active || mini-golf, bowling, sports, outdoor activities
+|-
-Almost any activity can be a successful event—what matters most is creating opportunities for members to connect.
+| Experiential || theme parks, go-karts, performances
+|-
+| Creative || crafts, art, writing, workshops
+|-
+| Intellectual || book clubs, discussion groups, speakers, museums
+|-
+| Casual || movies, concerts, informal meetups
+|}
-== Key Takeaway ==
+Almost any activity can be successful — what matters is creating opportunities for members to connect.
-The goal is not to find the “perfect” activity—it is to create '''enough variety''' that every member can find something that fits their interests, availability, and comfort level.
-----
 == Levels of Commitment ==
-Members are interested in different levels of commitment within Mensa.  Providing options at as many levels as possible meets people where they are.
-=== [[Low-Commitment Activities]] (Easy to Join) ===
+Members engage at different levels. A strong calendar includes options across that spectrum.
-These are ideal for new members, observers, or those with limited time.
-----
-=== [[Medium-Engagement Activities]] ===
+* [[Low-Commitment Activities]] — easy to join, low pressure
-For members who want some structure but not a major commitment.
+* [[Medium-Engagement Activities]] — some structure, moderate involvement
-----
+* [[High-Engagement Activities]] — deeper involvement or leadership
-=== [[High-Engagement Activities]] ===
+== Designing Inclusive & Accessible Activities ==
-For members who want to be more involved or take on leadership roles.
-----
-== Inclusive & Accessible Activity Design ==
 Every activity should consider different needs and comfort levels.
-* Offer '''both in-person and virtual options''' when possible
+* Offer both in-person and virtual options when possible
-* Choose '''accessible locations''' (mobility, transportation)
+* Choose accessible locations (mobility, transportation)
-* Vary '''times and days''' to reach different schedules
+* Vary times and days
-* Be clear about:
+* Clearly communicate:
 ** Physical activity level
 ** Cost (if any)
 ** Social expectations
-👉 Clear expectations reduce barriers to participation
+''Clear expectations reduce barriers to participation.''
-----
-== Rotating & Mixing Activity Types ==
+== Mixing Activity Types Over Time ==
-A healthy group offers a '''mix over time''', not just one type.
+Variety matters across time, not just within a single event.
 Example monthly mix:
 * 1 social event
-* 1 learning or discussion event
+* 1 intellectual or discussion-based event
 * 1 low-key or virtual option
-👉 This helps engage different members without overloading any one group
+This helps engage different members without overloading any one group.
-----
-== Member-Led Ideas ==
+== Member-Led Activities ==
-Encourage members to shape the community.
-* Invite suggestions regularly
+Members are more engaged when they help create the experience.
-* Make it easy to host (low barriers, clear guidelines)
-* Support first-time organizers with simple templates
+* Invite ideas regularly
-👉 People are more engaged when they help create the experience
+* Make hosting easy (low barriers, clear expectations)
-----
+* Support first-time organizers with simple guidance
 == Recognition & Follow-Up ==
-Activities don’t end when the event does.
-* Thank organizers and participants
+Activities continue after the event.
-* Share highlights or photos (when appropriate)
-* Invite feedback (quick and simple)
-* Suggest related or next-step activities
-----
+* Thank organizers and participants
+* Share highlights or photos (when appropriate)
+* Invite quick feedback
+* Suggest related or next-step activities
 == Simple Planning Framework ==
 When planning an activity, ask:
-* Who is this for? (new, casual, active members?)
+* Who is this for?
 * What level of commitment does it require?
 * Is it accessible and clearly described?
-* Does it add variety to our current offerings?
+* Does it add variety to the calendar?
+== Key Takeaway ==
+The goal is not to find the “perfect” activity.
+It is to create enough variety that every member can find something that fits.
 == Related ==
+=== Planning & Execution ===
 * [[Events and Activities]]
+* [[Templates and Samples]]
+=== Engagement Strategy ===
+* [[Member Engagement]]
+* [[Membership Segmentation]]
+=== Specific Use Cases ===
+* [[Welcoming New Members]]
+* [[New Member Events]]
+* [[Supporting Remote Members]]
-* [[Main Page|Local Group Toolkit]]
+=== Back to Toolkit ===
+* [[Local Group Toolkit]]