It was during the meeting that the woman next to me leaned over and ruined my life. Well, almost. She asked me if I would speak to a very large group of youth in a couple of weeks about creative dating ideas, especially for groups.
I looked at her dubiously. My one date in high school certainly does not make me qualified, nor does the fact that I never even dated Jamie here in Denver so I have no idea what kids do for fun these days. At least not the legal activities.
When I told her I didn't think I would be adept at this assignment, she assured me, "Oh, you're such a great speaker and will make it fun for the kids. Plus, you're a reporter so will be able drum up some great information."
A reporter? Yeah, for a freakin' MOMMY BLOG.
SOOOOOOOOO, I am looking for your creative, cheap dating ideas. Did you do any fun group dates growing up? Do you have any sites or books you can suggest? HALPPPPPPP!
On another note, I will be updating my long-neglected blogroll in the next few weeks. So, if you are a regular and I have overlooked you, please include your URL and blog name in the comments. It's nothing personal.
Most likely.
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34 Comments:
I'm sure you have lots of great short hike ideas where kids can take a short hike and eat a picnic lunch.
How about going ice skating together at someplace free, or cheap followed by hot chocolate from a thermos and donuts. We're still cold here :)
I'll keep thinking - I know there are obvious date ideas like bowling and dinner, but it's nice to find the more obscure things.
Are you addressing how to ask a date out creatively too?
I'll have to file this in my mind about your great speaking abilities, in case I should ever need a great speaker :0)
Dude, I LOVE this site:
http://www.coolestdates.com/
It has been a great resource for me to give my nieces and nephews dating tips. The group and inexpensive categories have some really fun ideas.
The favourites from my younger days (which didn't involve a one-on-one date till I was...mmm...20?) were laser tag, a "transit vacation" (i.e. take the bus to the skytrain, take the skytrain to the sea bus, take the sea bus across the inlet to the farmer's market and wander around eating yummy food), capture the flag (in the dark and with flashlights), water gun fights, sand sculpture contests, dancing on the beach (bbq to start/follow), hiking local trails, ummm...that's all I remember. If I hadn't been so shy I would've had soooo much fun back then... ~sigh~
Thanks for your tips, everyone. Keep 'em coming!
And Kari - I don't mind public speaking. Just so long as I have a clue of what I am speaking about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One of those camp leaders, huh? J/K I actually loved Girls' Camp, year after year.
I'm not an expert on creative dating, but one of the funnest dates I had in high school was a progressive dinner where we got a bunch of "courses" from various fast food restaurants. Like a biscuit course from KFC and a taco course from Taco Bell. It was goofy, but good memories.
One thing that was kind of fun (had I not been horribly sick that night) was a "mystery dinner." They tell you who your character is, and you show up dressed like this person, and have dinner and are supposed "act" like your character. Kind of like "Clue." I guess if your super creative you could write your own, but my friend found one on the internet. I think she had to pay for it, but I'm not sure.
A cooking group date can be fun. Like: pizza party, where "host" house makes/buys dough balls and gets drinks, and everyone else brings one pizza topping (assign someone cheese and someone sauce). Then make personal pizzas and bake and eat all night long.
Or a dessert one, similar, with everyone bringing a favorite ice cream or topping to make sundaes.
I don't know if I'm on your blogroll or not but would be happy to be added if you're so inclined.
I have organized a "Bigger, Better, More" contest for group dates. The kids (I get to call them that, despite the fact the their ages go up to 23) had never done this before, so it was an interesting event. The premise is that each team is given a small item for example, a match stick or a bobby-pin and their goal is to trade their small item for something, bigger, better or more. They all have one hour to scour the neighbourhood to find the biggest item.(now with older dating couples, you can use cars...this becomes even more interesting) We have had people arrive back with a loaded semi-truck (they had to feed the driver while the truck sat outside). We have had people arrive back with a bag of elephant poo ( available at the zoo...since one can not exactly bring the elephant). It always proves to be interesting. I have put at caveat on the contest though: any item you bring, must be disposed of by the team.
The other idea is doing a car rally scavenger hunt. And while it requires a bit of prep, even the folks that make up the lists, get into the fun by simply riding along and watching the mayhem ensue.
Good luck!!!
My idea of dating is taking my dog for a walk... okay so it's been more than a while:)
I took a sabatical from spaces and just returned sooo thought I would pop in to say hello. My word the bubliciouslittle one has grown!
Glad to see your well
Barb
Oh boy, I have been out of the dating scene way to long.
I'm sure you can tell them all great ideas of where they can hike, have picnics and do all the outdoorsey kind of stuff.
You are the bomb diggidy so you can do it!!
Spending my last two years of highschool in Rexburg, ID I went on several "creative" group dates. The only ones I enjoyed were the ones that were well planned and prepared for and the ones where everyone was in the mood to have fun. And there should always be a "normal" plan B ready to go in case you find you are with "uncreative" people or if your plans aren't working.
Fun: Kite flying, 3 legged hide and seek, hiking with a picinic lunch, going to a thrift store and creating a bizaar outfit for your date
Somewhere in the depths of our boxes, lurks this book. It has TONS of great dating ideas -- and quite a few funny stories of dates-gone-bad, too.
Good luck!I'm sure you'll be fabulous.
I have no books or sites to recommend. I do remember (just barely) when my Papa would let me out of the house long enough to have a date, we would go to the drive in theaters. It was loads of fun and it would be about 6-8 of us.
Here are some of my ideas. Some may work as youth activities, but they are all perfect for group dates (I apologize if they are repeats of others'):
ice blocking competition
sound scavenger hunt
service scavenger hunt
watching a movie in the mountains (note: truck and generator needed)
watching a movie whilst in a swimming pool (trust me this works.)
Buying new toys and delvering them to a children's hospital.
singing at a nursing home
hiking and a picnic (works everytime)
nightgames (kick the can, capture the flag)
improv freeze-frame
Golly. I have others. But my brain is tired.
Add me to the roll!
Happy Meets Crazy (www dot cherylthoughts dot blogspot dot com)
Oops I forgot to give you might URL
http:// quiskaeyaskorner dot blogspot dot com
Hm. Fun dating ideas. Well, when Hubby and I were dating, he took me for a picnic lunch at a park which happened to be a "historic area" (which we loved because we met at a Civil War Reenactment. No lie!) Lots of towns have these little historic areas- houses that were built ages ago, places where something exciting happened. These places are usually free or inexpensive.
Oh what I would give to watch you with those thoroughly annoyed, out-of-shape, sleep-deprived girls. Yes that perkiness should really piss them off. heeeheee. You could charge people to watch the show. heehee.
Speaking of shows... When it comes to the group dating, what about movies? Plays? That sort of thing?
Or Ice skating? Roller skating?
OH and scavenger hunts? Or treasure hunts? Trivia nights?
Sounds like the speech will come together, no doubt.
Here in Italy the "kids" date by going out for a passeggiata (or a walk). I know it sounds oversimplified, but they go out in pairs or groups and meet up with others who have also done this. Then they all go have ice cream or have dinner. The best places for the passeggiatas are at the beach or in downtown, but literally every neighborhood has a place one could go.
Have fun with those whiney gals.
Not sure if I am on your blogroll, but I am http://my-bella-vita.blogspot.com.
I was going to say car rally scavengar hunts: we did them with polaroid cameras (now you could use camera phones). One of the items was always road kill (grossiest gets extra points). We lived in the country-forgive us.
I also always enjoyed bonfires (great for talking, and light-chaparoned group date)
We did the progressive dinners alot (esp. for dances instead of going to fancy restaurants).
I would also recommend to host their own "dunderlympics." Like from the office where you make your own silly olympic events.
Hope these help. btw. I really enjoy your blog (just stumbled onto it this week!)
one more thing: with a car rally you can do a super market sweep thing: put clues to your next place to go. Ie: I burn for an aussie steak...they would have to go get a match book from Outback. This takes a lot more planning.
I don't "know" you, but you seem to be a perfect pick for the hike. Perkiness is great for those girls!
Someone mentioned a play for the group date. I don't know if Denver has a melodrama, and I have never been on a date to one. BUT I went as a kid and LOVED them. It is fun to get into the play and boo and cheer. I took my girls to one a few years back and they liked it to.
I'm a fondue girl, and a fondue date is super fun. I have recipes for doing it yourself.
I'm sure the book recommendations will be helpful. I am certainly out of the dating loop, but my oldest will be dating in a year :( and so this is a good topic to be thinking about. Have fun! Tell us about it.
Wow, what a fantastic bunch of ideas. When you get your talk written, post it, we may need it in other wards.
Sandi
www.wizardofcreativity.blogspot.com
I'm sorry I'm all out of the good dating ideas, but you do need to encourage them to actually date. There seems to be a problem with people just "hanging out" or just texting each other and not actually knowing how to talk.
There's always a wealth of free concerts or plays on college campuses, do you have one of those close by?
Play baseball, laser tag, frisbee, golf, frisbee golf, you get the idea. Miniature golf was always a favorite of mine, as is bowling.
And I would love to be on your blogroll, if you are updating. get it? "Up-dating" Oh, I crack myself up.
that would be a great talk to give because i think teens have a hard time finding things to do on dates.
my 17 year old son is always asking, "what can we (he & his gf) do tonight?" they do the same old things... movies, bowling, putt putt golf. i suggest ice skating out here at southlands, but he doesn't want to do that. so let us know what else you come up with.
i think i'm a [somewhat] regular. url: http://www.sunshine-on-my-shoulders.blogspot.com/
Hey Amber, I just sent your interview questions to your email....if you are still interested in doing the interview that is. If not, just let me know.
Thanks!
Michelle.
www.fabricatedgoddess.com
hi amber,
you cracked me up when you said, "at least not the legal activities." you are a riot.
date idea. take somebody's baby sisters/brothers to a kid movie. treat them. gives the teens a chance to kinda act like parents. they might have fun. and they will definitely make the little ones' day brighter.
take care darlin,
kathleen
oh yeah, my url is
sogratefultobemormon.wordpress.com
my friend went on a fun date to MCDonalds. Her date asked her out and told her to dress nicely, then they went to McD and he had a friend come and serenade them with his violin, then they went to the park and walked around.
Glow in the dark putt putt and bowling are fun options.
going to the zoo
going geo cacheing
group dates: play sardines, sound scavengerhunt, flash light tag, photo scavenger hunt, everyone takes a dollar to the grocery store and buys something then the group gets together and eats purchased things and watches a movie or plays rock band or wii
hike
have a cookie decorating with a few couples
swim and smore roasting in the back yard
dessert hopping from restaurant to restaurant
I have no doubt in my mind you'll be great. You are the essence of perkiness and now that my fellow commenters have given you lots of tips I bet you have great ideas.
If they had call me to this, we'd have to move away.
Pronto.
I'm old. My reference of good times skating to the song 'Good Times' at the local rink would probably draw loads of derision and laughter from younguns today.
How about a Dollar Date evening? You could have include a viewing at the dollar movie theater, eating off the dollar menu at a fast food place, and topping it off by buying a few silly things to play with at Target's Dollar Spot.
We used to go the drive in for group dates, but we'd bring sofas and recliners and card tables. Everyone had to bring a food item for dinner. So we'd sit and eat during the movie and just have a good time.
We've also played human foosball(?)using ropes tied across the gym. Everyone needs to line up along a rope and alternate directions. You can only move along the rope, no letting go. And members of the opposite are on the same rope, so good luck. There are 2 goalies and a soft squishy ball for the kicking. Don't use a hard ball (I got a deflated volleyball in the face).
Service scavenger hunts, hayrides, snow sculpture contests (with colored water in squirt bottles for painting in the snow), carnivals/amusement parks, museum scavenger hunts, tandem bike rides, broom hockey in the gym or on the ice...possibilities are endless.
1) Coffee
The most traditional, simple and inexpensive first dating idea. There is nothing like having a warm coffee with the girl you like.
2) High Profile Restaurant
It will allow you to act as a gentleman. The problem is that there is nothing to do but talk.
3) Park
It’s always good to go out in Mother Nature, walk around and have fun.
4) Test Drive
There was some kind of a statistic that when people are in a car. You will get a chance to talk more plus you can get to drive a cool car for free.
5) Moonlight Talk
Moonlight walk on the beach if there is one. This is one of the best ideas.
I read these tips on a blog about dating ideas for singles.
I know there are obvious date ideas like bowling and dinner, but it's nice to find the more obscure things and they will definitely make the little ones' day brighter.
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