Activities

WhatsApp

A WhatsApp account will be available shortly before the event, so attendees can coordinate sharing rooms, transport, activities. There will be easels and post-it notes at registration for non-tech people.

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ACTIVITIES

Your registration includes:

• Two breakfast buffets, two lunch buffets, all day beverage & snack stand.
• Gala Banquet: Pan Seared Boneless Chicken Breast with Maple Thyme Jus OR Grilled Vegetable Strudel with Goat Cheese & Basil Pesto Cream Sauce (extra registration)
• The Blue Parrot Café – Hospitality room and games room (adjoined)

Note that there is a spa and pool at the hotel, but this is not included in AG program.

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YOUTH PROGRAM

There will be activities, contests, PRIZES, and games for youth aged 8-18. The program will be amended according to the number of youth and age groups. If you have a special interest, let us know and it might be possible. HELP US PREPARE!! When registering, PLEASE include in the COMMENT BOX what activities your child wants to join, and their age.

• CHESS (tournament if enough interest)
• ASTRONOMY
• POKER LESSONS
• SCAVENGER HUNT
• DEBATING CONTESTS
• SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS -BUILDING ROVERS
• BUILDING TREBUCHETS – CATAPULTS
• GRAPHIC DESIGN CONTEST
• CASABLANCA MOVIE discussion

There will be at least two organizers at all times. We ask that an adult family member stay with little kids for emotional support, and to admire creative accomplishments. If you have a skill in any of these topics, WE NEED YOU to assist or lead the contest! Please indicate on your registration form, or see the volunteer tab for how to contact us. Debate Contests Maybe your child will become enthralled with the skill of making a logical and persuasive argument, and grow up to be a lawyer, or corporate executive. Here is how it works: It starts with a group of kids and two bowls. One bowl has folded up papers with easy topics. The other bowl has papers that say either for or against. Two kids go to the front and one picks a topic. Example of questions:

• there are intelligent aliens that live on other planets, or
• dogs are better than cats, or
• it is better to eat dessert at the end of a meal.

The other person picks a paper that says for or against. The first person thinks and then makes a little speech saying why the statement is true. The other person then challenges him/her on what he said. Then the second person gives a little speech about why the statement is not true. The first person gets to briefly challenge this. Sometimes the people in the audience get to ask questions too. Finally, the two contestants give a ‘closing argument” of one sentence each. The audience have little paddles that have red and blue sides, and they vote for who they think was the most persuasive. Then there are cheers and prizes, and another couple of people take a turn.

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YAMs

YAMs (Young Adult Mensans age 18-40) do not have a special program, however there will be a Meet & Greet scheduled. Please take note of guest speaker Tyson Geib; National YAM Co-Ordinator.

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MEET & GREETS

Do you want to meet people who share your special interests? There will be a place and times scheduled in the program for these. Please indicate your interests in the COMMENT BOX when you register, to help us schedule or to add a new M&G. M&G Groups so far:

• Music Jammers
• YAMs (Mensans age 18-40)
• Bookclub members
• Video gamers
• Pokemon Traders
• 99.9 Society
• Proctors
• LocSecs
• Mensa editors/ webmasters
• GYG Parents
• LGBTQ
• People living in isolated areas

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NEARBY TOURS

Niagara Falls and the Parks Power Station

From the towering turbine to the tiniest detail, uncover fascinating stories, immersive exhibits, restored artifacts and interactive storytelling. Descend 180 feet in a glass-paneled elevator and explore the 2,200-foot long tunnel, leading to an observation deck at the river’s edge. Includes a self guided tour. $50 / adult.

After the power station tour we will also go to see the falls. We will get there by car-pooling or bus depending upon numbers. It’s half an hour away.

• Getting There by Car: It is a 30 minutes (drive) from Grimsby to Niagara Falls. Parking may run you as much as $35 for the day.
• Getting There by Bus: The GO Bus from Casablanca Blvd. @ QEW Park & Ride to Niagara Falls bus terminal, leaves every hour at 32 minutes past the hour and costs $11.20/adult or $5.60 for seniors each way.
• Once in Niagara Falls: You can take the local WEGO bus from where you parked or the bus terminal to the falls and the Power Station for $13 each for the day.

Complimentary Whiskey Tasting at the Forty Creek Distillery

When visiting the Niagara region, why not stop by the Forty Creek distillery and pull up a seat at our tasting bar. Our whisky experts will guide you through a tasting flight of some of our award-winning blends.

• We will get there by car-pooling, it’s 10 minutes away.

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VOLUNTEERS

We need volunteers to make things run smoothly, and it is a fun way to meet people. Volunteers are needed to introduce/ thank speakers, assist in the Hospitality Games room, assist selling BLING at the Mensa Store table, and assist program organizers. If you volunteer to do two shifts, you will get a complementary volunteer fedora hat. If you have a special skill like chess, debating, astronomy, or teaching yoga, please contact mensamillie@gmail.com .We will talk.