[Deptheads] Fw: Strategicon and a kids' track?

[Strategicon Department Heads]

 Good evening,
This is a follow up email from a conversation that I had with Lili (I also briefly met both of her kids referenced in the email below) while at the con last weekend.
What do you guys think of her idea of a tween track?

Eric
   

 Hi Eric!
It was so nice to meet you at this year's most recent Strategicon! We've been attending for the past 2 years, and it's been a great family experience for us. My kids are now 8 & 10, and we've enjoyed the Board game 101s, Game Library, Artemis, and Party Games. And as you know, my kids entered their first tournament. What we've noticed in the past 2 years is what appears to be a huge growth in the amount of school aged kids participating, particularly in the age group of about 8-13. In this age group, these kids prefer to play more "adult" games than what is offered in the Kids' area, but we've found that it's not always easy to incorporate kids to the regular 101s. Additionally, some people do not prefer to play with kids. Also, when kids are playing a game, parents have to hover around, which does not allow the parents to play their own games.  I definitely love the Family area on the 2nd floor, and I would suggest that the rules be enforced better to be reserved for families with kids OR possibly allow parents who are hovering over kids in the nearby room.  
Here's another suggestion: to have a tween track for kids ages 8-13 (about 3rd - 8th graders) with or without participating parents. This could then be marketed toward families who would like to attend, who are interested in more board games, or perhaps they homeschool. If parents do not participate in the games, it would be ideal to have a nearby room or tables for parents to be able to play games quietly nearby. This is because of your signs and rule that Strategicon volunteers are not responsible for kids (nor should they be responsible for our kids).  There are already some events that might be already part of the track (like the LARP on Sundays at 2pm), or certain party games, Magic 101, some of the video game tournaments. It can all be listed in a section of the schedule (to make it easier to follow) with some additionally 101s and tournaments added. And it wouldn't need to all be necessarily in the same room all the time.  This would probably work well on Saturday and Sunday when the Family Day Pass is available. (By the way, I suggest age 13 as the upper end rather than age 12 that you have on your upper end of a kids' day pass because that is approximately the age for a older middle school aged child. In high school, kids become more independent, but I would probably supervise my own kids more closely until about the age of 13. )  
I believe that with a stronger track and focus on this age group, we will see a continued growth of families participating Strategicon.
Thanks again for listening to my suggestion! 
Best,Lili  
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