Need Ideas: Fun Group Activities for us

[Gritches]

Hello all,

To make a long story short, I've been asked to join a Democratic Party committee aimed at uniting the fractious but sizable and ever-growing population of autistic adults in my county. The way we're going to try to do that is to host group events - tough part is, our target isn't the already socially active Aspies in the area; rather, we're going after the more reclusive demographic.

I've been tasked with the ever-so-tiny task of determining what kinds of group activities would not only be fun for Aspies (probably not a cocktail party), but would also be attractive to first-time event-goers who might be less than enthusiastic about the prospect of a social gathering.

Now, I have some ideas, but I'd really like to farm this out to as many Aspies as I can possibly reach, because you've all got some great ideas and I'd love to hear them.

So the question(s) is/are: What kinds of group activities do you think would be fun? What kinds of activities would you like to do with other Aspies? Have you done any fun group activities in the past that you'd like to do again?

There's going to be more to it than just what's fun, but those questions are the raw data I need. Of course, I've defined the situation above, and if you have any input at all I would love to hear it.

Thanks!

 

[wadorama]

Dude. You get what an Aspie is, right?

Sorry, no help here, but the Ramones rock.

 

[Gritches]

Dude. You get what an Aspie is, right?

Sorry, no help here, but the Ramones rock.

Yeah, I know. But this is what we've got, if a political party gives a damn about us for whatever reason I've got to at least try to play ball by their rules, and this is what they want to do.

 

[kay]

Outside with hiding places, no loud music, food but not placed in a way that forces a person to get into a clump of people. Political sign painting party where you can drag stuff off into corners to work. Lecture, lectures, lectures!!! I love a good, quiet, intellectual lecture event. I went to a great talk about Kennewick Man by THE expert on the subject, and got hear Doris Kearns Goodwin speak. Oh, and a lecture about the history of baseball. No party atmospheres, just someone talking. Anyways, I will go see documentaries, talks at the art museum, ect... That's all the suggestion I can think of right now. It's the sorta thing that works ok for me. Goodluck! Hope you guys have a successful event. I'll assume you are not in SW Missouri. If you are PM me and I'd love to help, too. Or at least attend an event. But no way would that sorta thing happen around here.

 

[Gritches]

@kay Lectures, awesome! I would've never thought of that, but that actually sounds divine, personally. That actually fills in a lot of blanks in just the right way, thank you! That's a big help, and that's why I'm doing this.

 

[Sid Delicious]

Oh, hell yeah, lectures are awesome! I was the sad-act in university that always tried to sneak into lectures on other people's degree subjects! For fun! Lectures (or presentations of some sort) are great as they have a set structure normally, people know what to expect, they aren't forced to talk to other people for most of it, and if they want to talk afterwards then there is already an obvious topic of conversation. Tech meet ups with pizza are always fun for me too! Anything involving tech - gaming, computers, VR, etc. I go to various hackathons, which attract lots of 'aspie types'. There are mini talks by people, projects to work on solo or in teams, and a specific topic that people can discuss if they want. Or you can just hang out and watch.

 

[Katleya]

Maybe some kind of quiz? I'm not sure what the topic could be, but you know, something like a mini trivia game where people can form a small team if they wish to (can serve as a way to mingle a bit), and most things knowledge-related seem to attract many of us like moth to light (only, less deadly, ya know).

 

[Bolletje]

I'd agree with @Katleya and suggest something like pub trivia. It's literally my favorite social activity. I also like laser tag, but that might be less suitable.

I once went on an outdoor gps treasure hunt as a work outing, that was pretty successful (and fun!) too. We were dropped in the woods in four groups with one gps device per group and 7 treasures to find. Game ended when all treasures were found or time had passed. The success was increased by the fact that the "treasures" were light alcoholic beverages.

 

[Gritches]

Pub trivia, I like it, thanks @Katleya and @Bolletje

 

[SusanLR]

I always liked something like Socrate's Cafe.
Small group, one subject, taking turns on opinions of the subject, each builds on or counteracts on what another says until many ideas and facts have been shared.
At the end, the subject for discussion has pretty well been dissected to every possible interpretation there of.

 

[The Midge]

Board Games Café.

Just watch out for spacing and noise levels.

 

[Esa]

Maybe some kind of quiz? I'm not sure what the topic could be, but you know, something like a mini trivia game where people can form a small team if they wish to (can serve as a way to mingle a bit), and most things knowledge-related seem to attract many of us like moth to light (only, less deadly, ya know).

First thing I thought of, also

 

[Chance]

Cool ASD and NT games (maybe/maybe not)?

Hide and seek ... The adult ASD version - if we cant find a place to hide, we just hide inside ourselves...

Maybe have ASD tent - no sensory zone

Then have NT tent- with outrageous noise lights and smells, uneven floors, wobbly mirrors, to let them understand what its like to be ASD

Oh and a NT screening test - kind of the opposite of an ASD test... : )
I could build a good NT test, but I'm not real sure that people would like how blunt it might sound???

How often do you lie? All the time some of the time rarely never
How often do you make fun of other people?
How often do you stab others in the back?
How often do you say one thing meaning another?

Yep I could get in lots of trouble really, really fast, but it would be fun for a few minutes anyway.

 

[Chance]

I'd agree with @Katleya and suggest something like pub trivia. It's literally my favorite social activity. I also like laser tag, but that might be less suitable.

I once went on an outdoor gps treasure hunt as a work outing, that was pretty successful (and fun!) too. We were dropped in the woods in four groups with one gps device per group and 7 treasures to find. Game ended when all treasures were found or time had passed. The success was increased by the fact that the "treasures" were light alcoholic beverages.

Have you ever played GEO CACHE? Its a blast and its mostly everywhere (I think).

Theres and app for it. There isn't so much here in my part of Texas... (I have planted a few), but when I'm in SanDiego or Dallas and I'm bored, or borderline upset I grab my phone jump in the truck and I'm off digging and replacing... Its fun. Its a blast actually and its pointless but its still fun to pickup what a stranger left for you to find, and leave something else.

In SD once I found a nice watch at the one by Target... I didn't need it so I left it for the next person and added a lottery ticket. Its just really fun.

 

[Bolletje]

Have you ever played GEO CACHE? Its a blast and its mostly everywhere (I think).

Theres and app for it. There isn't so much here in my part of Texas... (I have planted a few), but when I'm in SanDiego or Dallas and I'm bored, or borderline upset I grab my phone jump in the truck and I'm off digging and replacing... Its fun. Its a blast actually and its pointless but its still fun to pickup what a stranger left for you to find, and leave something else.

In SD once I found a nice watch at the one by Target... I didn't need it so I left it for the next person and added a lottery ticket. Its just really fun.

Yes! Geochaching is so much fun