Section 5 | Social Events

What better way to kick back and relax, than with your fellow freethinkers? Social events offer group members the opportunity to get to know each other and chat more than other types of meetings. Social activities can be a part of your regular meetings or be more ambitious outside events. Groups of all sizes enjoy informal social gatherings - building a community of like-minded people is one of the most important goals of a student group! Social events can be as simple as an occasional evening out, or can become regular events.

Run of the Mill

• Food / Coffee - Pick a low cost, centrally located place that can handle your group size. Calling ahead never hurts! You can meet at restaurants for planned events (e.g. end of the year dinner) or go out informally after meetings.
• Potlucks - People love to eat! Consider having a potluck or meeting on campus or in a member's home. There are many options from a BBQ to brunch! A fun variation is an ice cream social. Remember that not all of your members will have access to a kitchen. If this is the case, suggest they bring items that don't require preparation (e.g. chips and salsa, beverages, or paper plates).
• Performances - See a play, dance recital, art exposition, poetry reading, musical performance / local band or other event. Make sure to note if advanced tickets are needed and whether the venue is 21 and up! For a more casual atmosphere try a comedy club or a coffee house on open mic night.
• Movie Marathon - Spend an afternoon or evening at a member's apartment, or a dorm common area, with your favorite flicks and a supply of popcorn. Another option is to go out to movie theaters, screenings, or drive-ins.
• Parties - This might not be an official / group-sponsored event but it attracts a different mix of people who may not have been at meetings. To spice things up, try some wild themes!
• Talent Show - Freethought groups spend a lot of time sitting around and talking, but freethinkers have all kinds of other interests and talents. Have members sign up in advance and devote a meeting to letting them show their stuff!
• Craft Night - Bring supplies that will spark your members' creativity and see what possibilities unfold! Craft nights may work better if people are given a starting point / some structure. Get creative! For example, close to winter break you could have an "irreverent ornament / decoration" making night. It could even be turned into a contest.
• Game / Board Game Night - Have members bring in their favorite card, board, or video games (how fun would a skeptic DDR dance off, Wii competition, or other multi-player game be?) In any case, provide several fun choices.
• Active Games - For a variety of games and icebreakers, consult the resource Deep Fun, which was created by the Unitarian Universalist Association for youth programming. It has a variety of activities and community-building strategies, and can be found at [www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/deepfun/index.shtml ], where there is also a link to a printable, PDF format. Or revert to your favorite childhood games!
• Outdoors - If the weather is nice, head to the zoo or a park, go outside for a game of Capture the Flag, or grab some blankets and go stargazing.
• Joint Meetings - Contact a religious student organization and have a formal or informal

  Religious Group Collaboration [www.secularstudents.org/node/2555]

  Service Projects [www.secularstudents.org/node/2543]

  Ask-an-Atheist Panels [www.secularstudents.org/node/2537]

  Local Collaboration Guides [www.secularstudents.org/collaboration]

  Progressive Organizations Mixer [www.secularstudents.org/node/2530]

  joint meeting with them. One of the most effective ways freethinkers can gain respect is through direct interaction with other groups. These events show religious folk that we're friendly, reasonable, honest people who want basically the same things out of life that they do. Another option is to have joint meetings with allied groups on or off campus - either other freethought groups or groups with similar political or service interests.

Seasonal Events

• Apple/fruit picking. See if any local orchards let you pick your own!
• [www.secularstudents.org/node/2545 ]
• Picnic or BBQ, camping trip, hiking
• Beach party, luau, water balloon fight, swimming
• Fun with snow, sledding, snowball fights, skiing
  
• Secular Holidays (see "Freethought Celebrations" section)
• Haunted houses (what better place for skepticism?), Hellstops

There may be a Hellstop or another Christian haunted house near you. Hellstop is a project run by fundamentalist churches that mimics haunted houses by taking visitors on a trip to "hell" that ends with a strong sell for Christianity. These haunted houses are emotionally manipulative and may benefit from having brave student freethinkers ask some provocative questions. However, be aware that by attending Hellstops you are financially supporting them.

For more information about secular holidays, check out [www.secularseasons.org] or check out SSA's list at [www.secularstudents.org/node/2590]. For suggested Secular Holiday Activities consult [www.secularstudents.org/node/2591].

For a breakdown of timing activities based on a model school year, peruse the Sample Year [www.secularstudents/sampleyear].

Superstition Bash:

Instructions from Paul Youk of Individuals for Freethought at Kansas State University: "Superstition Bashes [www.secularstudents.org/node/2531 ] are generally held on Friday the 13th. Essentially, students get together and break widely held superstitions. This is a good way to publicize your group and your anti-superstitious/mystical sentiments in a way that is both light-hearted for the public and fun for you personally."

Break various superstitions:

• Walk under ladders (including "ladder limbo")
• Step on cracks Kiss under umbrellas
• Spill salt
• Break a mirror at 13:13 (military time), or between class periods
• Take pictures of groups of three (the person in the middle is supposed to die first!)
• Give "psychotic readings" if you have anyone that is satirically and theatrically talented in your organization
• Pass out 'misfortunes' (opposed to the fortunes found in fortune cookies.) such as "Ancient Chinese secret: You're screwed." Google "misfortune cookies" for many more examples
  
• Any other superstition you know of that you can break

Wishing Darwin a Happy Birthday!

Road Trips

What's college without a road trip? From visiting your freethought fellows at neighboring campuses, to cultural oddities and national conferences, there are a million excuses to go on a road trip. Wherever you go, don't forget a camera!

There are around ten national freethought organizations that have annual conferences and some offer free admission or travel grants to students. Odds are your school might offer some travel money as well. Conferences are a fantastic way to get to know other freethinkers from all generations.

Small groups in particular really benefit from regional networking. Groups can take road trips to events on nearby campuses, thus pooling resources instead of trying to hold many of their own events. There are also occasionally large freethought demonstrations. The biggest one in recent memory (and perhaps ever) was the Godless Americans' March on Washington, organized by American Atheists. It was in November of 2002 in Washington, D.C. on the mall. It was estimated that as many as 2,000 freethinkers attended. The SSA helps to keep its affiliates informed about events like this.

James Madison University Freethinkers pose at the Godless Americans March on Washington.

There are also many goofy, fun social activities that make a good road trip excuse! Going camping, skiing, or to the beach, as well as attending music and other festivals are all fun community building experiences. Another option is to go "see the sights" in your region or state. For low cost housing options, try looking at local youth hostels and campgrounds before staying in a hotel. Or get in touch with another SSA group in the area to see if you can couch surf!