This is where you'll find info about the exciting opportunities ECOM has already enjoyed with the Gifted Children's group. Gifted Children events are open to all members of Mensa, and their guest, regardless of age. Use your best judgment in determining if your child is mature enough to enjoy or contribute to certain events. 

Body Worlds 2 - Anatomical Exhibit of Real Human Bodies

June 18th, 2005
This controversial exhibit at the Great Lakes Science Center featured preserved human bodies and body parts, with the stated goal of educating people about our bodies' inner workings to improve health awareness. This was an Ohio-wide event open to Mensa members of any generation, hosted by GenX SIG of Cleveland, The Gifted & Talented Children’s Group of ECOM & Gifted Children’s Group of CAM.

The Connecting Touch Take-Apart

April 23rd, 2005
     A great time was had by all at the take-apart session in Cuyahoga Falls. We owe a HUGE 'thank you' to Jack Hayes, for allowing us the use of Connecting Touch's wonderful community room and making us feel so welcome. Jack, you're a prince.
     About one dozen children and an equal number of adults spent an afternoon dismantling everything from a defunct neon laser to decommissioned surgical cuff inflation systems to telephones to vacuum cleaners to a very old typewriter.
     Jeffrey and Freda Meade treated everybody to pizza and chips. Thanks Jeff and Freda! We also need to thank Katie Hayes for being such a gracious hostess throughout the event.
     The group decided to meet again in May, at the Cleveland Zoo Rainforest. Go to the Gifted Children's page for more details.

The Cleveland Zoo

January 8th, 2005
     Ten children and five adults enjoyed the day at the Cleveland Zoo Rainforest. Being January, the rainforest was not crowded.  We spent a long time with the orangutans. The orangutans did antics to get the humans to respond. Two volunteers were playing with a red LED laser, drawing with markers, and blowing soap bubbles to keep them happy. It was delightful to watch two grown women volunteers playing like ten year olds; scampering on all fours and talking baby sounds.  This was worthwhile time well spent.
     Scientists like to explain the orangutan’s unique approach to problem solving with this example: If a chimp is given an oddly shaped peg and several different holes to try to put it in, the chimp will immediately try shoving the peg in various holes until it finds the hole that the peg fits in.  But an orang will approach the challenge quite differently.  It will stare off into space, or even scratch itself with the peg. Then, after a while, it will offhandedly stick the peg into the correct hole while looking at something else that has caught its interest!
     At the zoo, we adults had a short conversation about planning the 2005 Mensa G/T events.  Expect two more trips to this zoo in 2005.  Would more of us attend, if we worked out a one-day low-cost admission price? The zoo will require prepayment to get a low rate.
     NASA Glenn has a small hands-on exhibit building, open all year, with free admission.  The best day to see this is the forth of July when it isn’t crowded. We will tour all of NASA, when they have their next open house. They will have hands-on activities for young children and teens. That day every building will be very crowded, but we will see things that are usually restricted access.  One parent is going to arrange these two visits.
     There are several farms in NE Ohio that allow tours, so we will go there and do that.
     It is important that parents step forward and host one G/T event each year. You can do this and Jeffrey will help.