Julie Warriner, Gifted Youth Coordinator
Nov 6, 2025
From beach clean-ups to youth leadership, see how Palm Beach Area Mensa’s Gifted Youth Program came back stronger than ever this year.
One Year of Growth, Connection, and Community: Celebrating Our Gifted Youth Program’s First Anniversary!
This month marks one year since we relaunched and reimagined Palm Beach Area Mensa’s Gifted Youth Program — and what an incredible year it’s been!
After a period of quiet, we set out to reignite our local program with new energy, creativity, and purpose. The goal? To create meaningful opportunities for our Young Mensans and their families to connect, learn, and grow together. Thanks to our amazing members, parents, and volunteers, we’ve done just that.
Highlights from Our First Year
🌊 Largest Volunteer Event Yet!
Our October 25 Beach Clean-Up at Gulfstream Park brought together more members and families than any previous volunteer event in our chapter’s history! We partnered with Sea Turtle Adventures, learned about marine life, and even adopted turtle nests — a perfect example of community, service, and teamwork in action. (See the photo gallery here.)
🦉 Wild About Wildlife!
In May, our group enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of Busch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jupiter, where families met rescued animals up close and learned about the incredible work being done to protect Florida’s native wildlife. The event included an interactive presentation with sanctuary experts and a chance to meet some of their permanent residents, from owls to panthers! (Read the full recap here and see the photo gallery here.)
🏛️ Exploring Palm Beach History
Next up, we’re heading to the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum for a group tour on December 6. Families will step back in time to explore the Gilded Age mansion known as Whitehall, discover the legacy of Henry Flagler, and experience one of Palm Beach’s most iconic landmarks together.
📰 Monthly Newsletters Full of Creativity and Connection
Each issue has featured local resources, event recaps, contests, and creative submissions from our youth members — from artwork and stories to book reviews and spotlights on student achievements.
💻 New Ways to Stay Connected
We launched a new website, a WhatsApp parent community, and a youth-managed Instagram account, and continued to grow our parent Facebook group, making it easier than ever for families to stay in the loop, share ideas, and celebrate our members’ accomplishments together.
👕 Building Pride and Belonging
Nothing brings our community together quite like a little Mensa spirit! This year, we introduced two fresh T-shirt designs that quickly became favorites among members — a colorful reminder of the pride and connection that make our group so special.
🌟 Rising Youth Leaders
A heartfelt thank-you to our amazing youth and teen volunteers who have stepped into leadership roles:
Sophia, Newsletter Journalist
Leanza, Lead Youth Volunteer & ExComm Board Member
Isla, Trisha, and Aditya, Volunteer Team Members
Coming Up Next
💻 Parent Forum with American Mensa Chair Jon Gruebele – November 13, 8 PM ET
Parents, don’t miss this special national Zoom session designed just for you! Hear updates, ask questions, and share your thoughts on how Mensa can better serve Young Mensans and their families.
👉 Register here: Parent Forum 2025
📅 Flagler Museum Tour – December 6 at 11:15 AM
If you’ve purchased your ticket, you’re all set! If not, contact me as soon as possible and I’ll check with the museum about expanding our reservation.
🙋♀️ We’re Looking for an Assistant GYC!
If you love connecting families, organizing fun activities, and helping support our youth, join our team as an Assistant Gifted Youth Coordinator — we’d love to have you!
A Note of Thanks
To every family who attended an event, contributed to our newsletter, shared ideas, or lent a helping hand — thank you for helping make this first year such a success. Together, we’ve built something that truly reflects the spirit of Mensa: curiosity, creativity, and community.
Here’s to another amazing year of growth — and to the rising tide of inspiration that’s just beginning. 🌊💛
—
Julie Warriner
Gifted Youth Coordinator
Palm Beach Area Mensa
giftedyouth@palmbeach.us.mensa.org About the Author:
Julie serves as the Gifted Youth Coordinator and Member-at-Large for Palm Beach Area Mensa, where she has led the chapter’s revitalized youth program since 2024. Under her direction, the group has expanded engagement, introduced creative initiatives, and achieved record participation in youth-led service projects.
A data strategist by profession and parent of a Mensa Honor Society student, Julie is passionate about fostering opportunities for gifted youth to lead, learn, and contribute meaningfully — all while keeping balance and joy at the heart of the experience.
Click here to learn more about Julie!