Ages 6-9 and part of ages 10-13 will have a chance to go to the planetarium while the other half of the 10-13 year olds and the 14-17 year olds attend Session 5
The secod half of the 10-13 year olds and the 14-17 year olds have will have a planetarium session while the 6-9 year olds and the "planetarium session 1" 10-13 year olds have Session 6
Learn about some of nature's lesser-known creatures. We're expecting snakes, lizards, turtles and more, learning about their importance to the environment and the world. There will also be a chance for interaction.
(ages 6-9)
Karen and Chelsea from the NJAGC are back this year with new games that will test kids' ability to think creatively and solve problems. This was very active last year!
(ages 6-9, 10-13)
Taekwondo isn't merely physical. It also teaches focus and improves concentration off the mat. Vinny has taught this mind-muscle connection for years and will share it today.
(ages 6-9, 14-17)
This isn't about where to put your salad fork and dinner fork. Kim Schwartz focuses on social confidence: reading a room,
joining a conversation, introducing yourself, making others
feel included, handling awkward moments. We all find some situations challenging and Kim is here to help!
Young MensanTanvi returns in 2025! After presenting at the RG and AG, Tanvi is back with another subject related to quantum computing: quantum teleportation. Learn how to cut your commute by 99%! There will be a fun activity involved.
(ages 10-13, 14-17)
Have you ever thought a train looks like a snake or how someone thought of Velcro? Fellow Young Mensan Amogh will share some examples of how some of our best designs come from nature (ages 6-9)
The world is full of tiny changes and those changes can have huge ripple effects. We've all heard about the butterfly effect and Amogh will show how something that appears chaotic might be more orderly underneath (ages 10-13).
Keith will lead a session using AI to predict the likely workplace of the future. Things are changing faster than ever. Career paths are morphing and required skill sets are shifting. Can we glean something from the future today?
(ages 14-17, parents)
We shift our view to the present, where Joe Sweet works in the AI realm. He brings a wealth of knowledge on what's happening in the AI world now. We're all surrounded by it so it's good to take a moment to see where we are.
(Ages 14-17, parents)
Lynne Henwood, who heads the Flex School virtual cloud campus, is back for 2026! Lynne's presentation, "Understanding the Gifted Child" was very informative last year. Lynne is very accomplished in the field with extensive experience in 2e education, and was president of the NJAGC in the past. Her accomplishments as educator, author and leader are too long to list here but can be found in the link below.
(parents)
Dr. Matt also returns in 2026! He's an energetic speaker who uses unique approaches to help parents navigate the growth years for gifted children. Dr. Matt is accomplished writer of both journal articles and books and is a sought after speaker. Like Lynne he has too many accomplishments for a small space, but you can read much more about him on the site below.
Dr. Manente founded the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services, which has grown to the one of the most highly respected centers in the world. He doesn't only specialize in adults however, but also has extensive experience supporting students with ASD. He is also an author of journal articles and book chapters in addition to being a highly-regarded speaker. He's joined by Keya Pai, an assistant coordinator for the RCAAS College Support Program and a key member of the staff.
We're bringing the stars back this year! It'll be a new program this year, and we're trying to get two sessions to assure nobody misses out. It was really fun and informative last year.
If you would like to register more attendees for any category, contact [email protected].
IGNYTE! wouldn't be possible without volunteers. Please consider helping out and being part of our success.
Friday night icebreaker from 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Pizza party and astronomy show at County College of Morris ($20/person)
Give kids and parents a chance to become acquainted before the full Saturday program. We will have pizza and board games followed by an astronomy lecture/demonstration in a fun and friendly Mensa atmosphere.
Sunday closing event (assuming the government stays open this year)
We wil be visiting the Thomas Edison National Historical Park ($15/person)
211 Main Street, West Orange NJ 07052
Take a trip back in time where America's most storied inventor changed our world forever!
We will meet at 12:00 at the entrance and the tour shoul take approximately an hour and a half
Keep in mind! The site has no food options, please eat either beforehand or afterward. West Orange (and South Orange) have a number of great restaurants.
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NNJ Mensa is a safe and inclusive community for NNJ Mensa members and guests, whether in-person or online. Our community respects and supports people regardless of disability, physical appearance, race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, gender identity and expression, age, or religion. Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated at this event. Unacceptable physical or verbal (whether written or oral) behavior includes, but is not limited to, intimidation, harassment, abuse, discrimination, disruption of the event, inappropriate physical contact, and demeaning or derogatory conduct or materials.
We expect our members and guests to be considerate and respectful of others, and to help us create a safe and positive experience for everyone.
If you encounter inappropriate behavior, please report it to a member of the RG committee or to a NNJ Mensa Board member immediately. Consequences of behavior deemed to be unacceptable may result in removal from the event, denial of access to future events, and possible further action.
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