buubug.com

When people come together for the first time, there's usually a period of uneasiness or apprehension.  Therefore it's important that activities be planned for the first group meeting.  These activities should be geared to help them get acquainted and comfortable.  Mixer materials, name games, and other "icebreakers," such as the following can be adapted to groups of any size.

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a visit from a mischievous leprechaun.

Like many fathers, I got involved in the Y-Princess Tribe (formerly known as Indian Princess) organization with my daughter.  How could I not; it's one of those things we're always told our daughters will never forget, from the frost-bitten toes at winter camp (apparently because dad forgot thick socks) to the rolling out of the cot and under the tent into the cold of night (definitely not my fault; at least I dragged her back in before it started pouring).

Beyond the memories it creates, I ended growing as much as my daughter through the experience.  I started off as an over-protective father (nicknamed "Marlin" by the tribe...as in Nemo the movie) who evolved into kind-of a normal dad. Two years into the tribe, we came to an impasse:  we couldn't find a dad that would volunteer to be chief the following year.  As any good marlin would do, I volunteered for chiefdom the next year.