Sample Men's Activity Calendar

February 2022 Men's Activity Calendar

Find fun activity ideas in the calendar below for the men in your senior facility that you can easily add to your facility's activity calendar.

TIP: Click on the links in the calendar box below to see more information about each activity.

Fun Men's Activity Ideas for February
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
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TIP: Use the following monthly themes as inspiration for activity ideas.

February is ...

TIP: Click on the following days of the month to see activity ideas for that specific day.

TIP: Find activities that are classified to help you easily find the types of activity ideas that you need for your calendar.

Each day contains four types of activities:

TIP: Click on the highlighted links below to get more information (instructions, recipes, or pictures) to assist with completing the activity.

1

Tactile: Chopstick Transfer

On this day of the Chinese New Year, invite the men to play a chopstick transfer game. For the game, supply each of the men with a pair of chopsticks, an empty bowl, and a bowl filled with cotton balls to see who will be first at transferring all their cotton balls to the empty bowl.

One-on-One: Mahjongg Solitaire

Borrow a tablet to teach your resident how to play a solitaire version of the popular Chinese game Mahjongg on this day of the Chinese New Year.

Discussion: Should We Limit Freedom?

For this National Freedom Day, host a debate among the men about freedom and whether freedom should be limited. Afterwards, ask the men to list a few pros and cons of the freedom of speech.

Special Event: Playing Dou Dizhu

Teach the men how to play a game of Chinese poker (Dou Dizhu) on this day of the Chinese New Year.

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2

Tactile: Shadow Sculptures

Provide the men with aluminum foil and craft wire to make their own sculptures to create shadows on paper on this Groundhog Day. For the activity, have the men bend craft wire to resemble a person before wrapping the wire with aluminum foil. Then have the men place their sculptures on paper and shine a light so that they can fill in the shadow on their paper.

One-on-One: 1940s Pop Culture Quiz

Use your phone to quiz your resident about 1940s pop culture on this birthday of pop-culture icon Farrah Fawcett.

Discussion: Groundhog Day Trivia

Chit chat with the men about Groundhog Day trivia on this day of the observance.

Special Event: Name the School Team Names

For this National Signing Day in college football, read off the names of the colleges and universities in your area for the men to identify their team names.

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3

Tactile: Bean Animals

Help the men create animal bean mosaics on this day of the Bean-Throwing Festival in Japan. Before the activity, use food dye to dye beans for the men to use. Then during the activity, have the men trace animals onto cardboard before gluing the beans onto the cardboard.

One-on-One: Norman Rockwell Chalk Art

In recognition of this birthday of artist Norman Rockwell, show your resident how to create chalk art that is similar to Norman Rockwell's painting.

Discussion: Should the Voting Age Be Lowered?

On this day of the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting everyone the right to vote, host a discussion about voting with the men. Ask the men whether the voting age should be lowered.

Special Event: Fact or Fiction

Encourage the men to play the Fact or Fiction game on this World Read Aloud Day. To play, first have the men write down 10 true facts about themselves and 10 false statements about themselves. Then divide the men into pairs, and have each read off their list for their partner to state whether it is a fact or fiction.

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4

Tactile: Clay Medals

Assist the men with making clay medals on this first day of the Winter Olympics in China. Save the finished medals for your upcoming Winter Olympic activities.

One-on-One: Guess the Airline by the Tail

Borrow a tablet to see how well your resident does at guessing the airline based on the airplanes' tails on this birthday of aviator Charles Lindbergh.

Discussion: Peaceful Protests

Start a debate among the men about peaceful protests on this birthday of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks. Ask the men whether nonviolent peaceful protests work.

Special Event: Airport Trivia

Quiz the men with airport trivia on this birthday of aviator Charles Lindbergh.

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5

Tactile: Cutting Papel Picado

For this Constitution Day in Mexico, assist the men with cutting Mexican papel picado to hang as decoration.

One-on-One: Skating Rink

On this second day of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, assist your resident with assembling an ice skating rink using a tin, paper, a paper clip, and a strong magnet.

Discussion: Banning Books

Invite the men to debate book banning on this Take Your Child to the Library Day. Ask the men to name the top pros and cons of banning books.

Special Event: Name the State

In recognition of this Move Hollywood & Broadway to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Day, name a city, and quiz the men to see if they know in which state the city is located.

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6

Tactile: Sun Weaves

Help the men create colorful sun weaves using colorful yarn and cereal boxes on this birthday of cereal commercial voice artist Thurl Ravenscroft.

One-on-One: Cereal Slogan Challenge

See how well your resident does at identifying cereal slogans on this birthday of cereal commercial voice artist Thurl Ravenscroft.

Discussion: Should Term Limits Be Revised?

On this birthday of President Ronald Reagan, start a discussion with the men about presidential term limits. Ask the men whether term limits should be revised for American presidents.

Special Event: Baseball Poker

Teach the men how to play Baseball Poker on this birthday of Baseball Hall of Famer Babe Ruth.

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7

Tactile: World Flag Stained Glass

Assist the men with making world flag stained glass on this Independence Day in Grenada using colored tissue paper, black cardstock, and contact paper. During the activity, use your phone to find easy-to-replicate world flags for the men to copy. (To make the flags, cut "windows" out of black cardstock (so that you have a black rectangle border) and use contact paper to cover one side. Then cut colored tissue paper that matches a world flag and stick the tissue paper to the contact paper.)

One-on-One: Snowflake Ballerinas

Recruit your resident to assemble snowflake ballerinas on this day that ballet was introduced to the United States. To make the snowflakes, cut paper into six-pointed snowflakes before taping a ballerina template to the middle of the snowflake.

Discussion: Extracurricular Activities

Host a fun discussion with the men about extracurricular activities for kids on this day that ballet was introduced to the United States. Ask the men to recall the activities that they participated in outside of school. Then ask whether extracurricular activities should be mandatory for school children.

Special Event: Where Is It?

Quiz the men to see if they can identify the location of world cities on this Independence Day in Grenada.

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8

Tactile: Clay Roses

Invite the men to assemble clay roses on this day that the "City of Roses" Portland, Oregon was incorporated.

One-on-One: Sharing Jokes

Share a few funny jokes with your resident on this first day of Love May Make the World Go 'Round, But Laughter Keeps Us From Getting Dizzy Week.

Discussion: Pros and Cons of Acting

Chit chat with the men about acting on this birthday of American actor Jack Lemmon. Ask the men to brainstorm the pros and cons of working as an actor.

Special Event: Likes and Dislikes

In recognition of this day that the Boy Scouts of America was founded, invite the men to play the fun group game of Likes and Dislikes, in which everyone writes down one thing that they like (e.g., ice cream, kittens, etc.) and one thing that they don't like (e.g., paying taxes, going to the doctor, etc.), and then have everyone else try to guess who wrote it.

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9

Tactile: Mini Fruit Pizzas

Assist the men with assembling mini fruit pizzas on this National Pizza Pie Day.

One-on-One: Bean Bag Boot Toss

Challenge your resident to a Bean Bag Boot Toss on this birthday of country and western singer Ernest Tubb. To play, set out a pair of cowboy boots for you and your resident to try to toss bean bags into.

Discussion: Unexpected Things Found on a Cruise

In recognition of this first day of the Vancouver International Boat Show in Canada, chit chat with the men about going cruising. Share a list of unexpected things people could find on a cruise today.

Special Event: Playing Texas Hold'em Poker

Play a few hands of Texas Hold'em poker with the men on this birthday of country and western singer Ernest Tubb.

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10

Tactile: Winter Animal Collages

Pass out newspaper to the men to assemble winter animal collages on this day that The New York Times slogan "All the News That's Fit to Print" first appeared on its front page. Use the newspaper, white cardstock, cream-colored paper, paint, scissors, and a few elements from nature (e.g., twigs, acorns, pine cones) for the craft.

One-on-One: True or False

On this day that The New York Times slogan "All the News That's Fit to Print" first appeared on its front page, quiz your resident who reads the day's newspaper by asking him true or false questions based on the articles and headlines in today's newspaper.

Discussion: Are Movies Reflecting Real Life?

Start a discussion with the men about movies on this first day of the Berlin International Film Festival in Germany. For the activity, ask the men whether movies help us escape reality for a bit or if they actually reflect real life.

Special Event: Chess Party

Set out your facility's chess games, and invite the men to play one another on this day that a computer first beat a human in a chess game.

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11

Tactile: Craft Stick Chain Reaction

Recruit the men to use craft sticks to make a craft stick chain reaction in recognition of this International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

One-on-One: Wrongful Convictions

Share a list of several wrongful conviction cases with your resident on this day that anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela was freed from prison after serving 27 years for being convicted of trying to overthrow the South African government.

Discussion: Should We Create More Green-Collar Jobs?

In recognition of this White Shirt Day, honoring the union strike by blue-collar workers at General Motors factories in 1937, start a debate among the men about environmental jobs. Ask the men whether more of these green-collared jobs and careers should be created.

Special Event: What's the Difference?

Test the men on their cooking knowledge on this birthday of French chef Paul Bocuse by reading a few similar cooking terms to see if the men can tell the differences among them.

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12

Tactile: Hot Cocoa Science

For this International Darwin Day, invite the men to use different candies, like marshmallows, Hershey's Kisses, Whoppers malted milk balls, and peppermints, to see which ones float in hot cocoa.

One-on-One: Let's Make a Batch!

On this National Plum Pudding Day, recruit your resident to help you bake a plum pudding.

Discussion: Civil Liberties vs. Security

In recognition of this day that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded, host a discussion with the men about civil liberties. Ask the men whether civil liberties are more important than security.

Special Event: Lincoln Trivia

Quiz the men with President Abraham Lincoln trivia on this day that the 16th American president was born.

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13

Tactile: Football Knock Down

Use white paint to decorate brown plastic cups as footballs for the men to play a Football Knock Down game on this Super Bowl Sunday. To play, have men toss a foam football to knock down the pyramid of cups.

One-on-One: Super Bowl Prediction Pool

Recruit your resident to make a few predictions for the upcoming Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles, California.

Discussion: You Be the Judge

Start a fun discussion with the men about court cases on this Employee Legal Awareness Day. Read a few cases, like a neighbor case and a slip and fall case, for the men to discuss.

Special Event: Football Donuts on a String

Invite the men to play a game of Football Donuts on a String on this day of Super Bowl LVI, in which the men try to eat their donut without using their hands. For the activity, use chocolate donuts and pipe vanilla frosting on each donut to resemble football laces.

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14

Tactile: Heart Magnets

Encourage the men to use air-dry clay to make heart magnets that can be used on their refrigerator doors on this Valentine's Day. To make the craft, simply shape the clay into heart shapes before painting and gluing on mini magnets.

One-on-One: Kissing Booth

Recruit your resident to join you in setting up a kissing booth in your facility, in which the two of you pass out Hershey's Kisses candy on this Valentine's Day.

Discussion: Should Valentine's Day Be a Holiday?

On this Valentine's Day, host a fun debate among the men about the observance. Ask the men whether Valentine's Day should be a holiday, giving workers a day off.

Special Event: Valentine Pictionary

Play a fun game of Valentine Pictionary with the men, in which a member of each team draws a valentine phrase for his teammates to guess.

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15

Tactile: Pinwheel Necklaces

Provide the men with wooden discs, paint, and twine to make pinwheel necklaces to give to their grandchildren on this birthday of American jeweler Charles Lewis Tiffany.

One-on-One: String Maple Art

On this day that Canada's maple leaf flag was adopted, recruit your resident to assist you with making string maple leaf art using colorful yarn, the leaf template, cardstock paper, craft foam, and plastic needles.

Discussion: Some Really Bad Inventions

In recognition of this birthday of inventor Cyrus McCormick, chit chat with the men about the inventions that they are most thankful for. Afterwards, share a list of the worst inventions to see if the men agree.

Special Event: Gumdrop Game

Celebrate this National Gumdrop Day with the men by playing the Gumdrop Game. To play, supply each of the men with 20 toothpicks and 10 gumdrops to create triangles for a gumdrop structure. Afterwards, see how solid each of the men's structures are by seeing if each one can hold the weight of a book.

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16

Tactile: Sailboat Contest

Invite the men to compete to see who can create the best designed boat by making watercolor paper boats on this first day of the Grand Rapids Boat Show in Grand Rapids, Michigan. First, show the men how to fold white paper to resemble sailboats before having them use watercolors to decorate their boats.

One-on-One: Balloon Yarn Snowman

Encourage your resident to assist you with making a balloon yarn snowman to use as decoration on this day of the Full Snow Moon. To make the snowman, first inflate a large and a smaller balloon before taping the two together to form the snowman's body. Then dip yarn in a paste of glue and water to wrap around the balloons. Next, allow the wet yarn to dry before popping the balloons. Then decorate the snowman's face and body using paper and clay.

Discussion: Making Up Snow Days

Host a fun discussion with the men about snow days in school on this day of the Full Snow Moon. Ask the men whether students should have to make up snow days, those days they received off from school due to the weather.

Special Event: Snow Castle Contest

On this day of the Full Snow Moon, see which of the men can make the best mini snow castle using snow foam (shaving cream and baking soda). Supply the men with plastic containers (cups and small buckets) to create their castles.

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17

Tactile: God's Eye

Invite the men to use craft sticks and colorful yarn to create God's eye crafts, a popular Latin American craft, on this day that the League of Latin American Citizens was founded.

One-on-One: Kindness Online Word Search

For this Random Acts of Kindness Day, borrow a tablet and invite your resident to solve a kindness word search puzzle online.

Discussion: Is Stealing on the Internet Really That Bad?

In recognition of this day that the American broadcast stations were forced to switch from analog to digital format, start a debate among the men about the Internet. Ask the men whether stealing from the Internet, like downloading images, copying facts, etc., is really a bad thing. Afterwards, encourage the men to brainstorm the pros and cons of sharing music online.

Special Event: Baseball Trivia

Celebrate this birthday of baseball broadcaster "Red" Barber by quizzing the men with baseball trivia.

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18

Tactile: Highlighter Stained Glass Art

In recognition of this birthday of stained glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany, assist the men with assembling stained glass suncatchers using ink-jet transparencies, highlighters, a black Sharpie marker, black construction paper, and double-sided tape.

One-on-One: Drawing a Cardinal

Teach your resident how to draw cardinals on this first day of the Great Backyard Bird Count. (Printable)

Discussion: Early Birds vs. Night Owls

Chit chat with the men about whether they are early birds or night owls on this first day of the Great Backyard Bird Count. Afterwards, share a list of the pros and cons of each.

Special Event: Red or White Wine?

On this National Drink Wine Day, blindfold the men and have them sip different types of red and white wines to see if they can correctly guess the type of wine they are sampling.

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19

Tactile: Sweater Cookie Contest

On this day of the premiere of the children's television show Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, featuring Mister Rogers in his famous red sweater, bake a batch of sweater sugar cookies with the men before decorating with icing. (If you do not have sweater cookie cutters, then use aluminum foil to make your own.)

One-on-One: The Battle for Iwo Jima

Chit chat with your resident about the Battle of Iwo Jima on this day that American troops landed on Iwo Jima.

Discussion: Feminism Debate

Share a few fun facts about feminism to start a discussion with the men about women's rights on this day that the feminist book The Feminine Mystique written by Betty Friedan was published.

Special Event: Animal Trivia

For this World Pangolin Day, honoring the endangered scaly anteater, quiz the men with animal trivia.

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20

Tactile: Pipe Cleaner Animals

Recognize this National Love Your Pet Day with the men by showing them how to make pipe cleaner animals.

One-on-One: Can You Spot the Differences?

Borrow a table to play a game of Spot the Difference online with your resident on this birthday of photographer Ansel Adams.

Discussion: Dog Trivia

For this National Love Your Pet Day, begin a discussion with the men about their past dogs. Afterwards, quiz the men with a few dog trivia questions.

Special Event: Geography Trivia

In recognition of this Northern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day, quiz the men with geography trivia.

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21

Tactile: Log Cabin Contest

On this Presidents' Day, invite the men to compete to see who can build the best pretzel log cabin using pretzel rods, Wheat Thins crackers, egg whites, and powdered sugar.

One-on-One: Presidential Peg Dolls

Recruit your resident to assist you with painting peg dolls to look like a few former presidents on this Presidents' Day. Use pipe cleaners for the hair for the painted peg dolls.

Discussion: First Lady Trivia

See how well the men know former First Ladies on this Presidents' Day by asking them several questions about the First Ladies.

Special Event: Presidents' Word Search

Invite the men to compete to see who can complete a presidential word search puzzle on this Presidents' Day. (Printable)

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22

Tactile: Laser Focus

Help the men focus on this Single-Tasking Day by teaching them how to use chopsticks to pick up and eat grapes.

One-on-One: Movie Trivia

Quiz your resident with movie trivia on this day that the romantic comedy film It Happened One Night was released.

Discussion: Should the Internet Be Free?

For this Digital Learning Day, begin a debate with the men about the Internet. Ask the men whether they believe that the Internet should be free before asking them to share a few pros and cons of having free access.

Special Event: Playing Dominoes

On this day that the United States acquired Florida from Spain, set out the popular Southern Florida men's game of Dominoes for the men to play.

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23

Tactile: Stringing Beads

Provide the men with jewelry cording and purple, gold, and green beads to string Mardi Gras beads on this first day of the Carnival de Ponce in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Use the finished beads for your facility's upcoming Mardi Gras activities.

One-on-One: Mini Notebooks

Assist your resident with assembling mini notebooks on this birthday of diarist Samuel Pepys. Use paper, cereal box cardboard, and thread and needle for the activity.

Discussion: Should Helmets Be Worn?

Begin a debate among the men about skiing and whether helmets should be worn on this first day of the American Birkebeiner Cross-Country Ski Race/Birkie Week in Wisconsin. Afterwards, ask the men to discuss their favorite winter sports.

Special Event: Curling – Hardwood Floor Version

Celebrate this Curling Is Cool Day with the men by having them play a fun curling game on one of your hardwood floors. To play, use masking tape to create a square target on the floor. Then have the men slide an inverted plastic Frisbee on the floor so that it lands in the target box.

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24

Tactile: Teaching Bartending

Teach the men how to make a few mocktail recipes on this World Bartender Day.

One-on-One: Draw It!

Borrow a tablet to have your resident play an online drawing game on this birthday of illustrator Winslow Homer.

Discussion: Is There a Bias Against Females in Science?

Host a discussion among the men about females in science on this Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. Ask the men whether they believe that there is a bias against females in science.

Special Event: At the Bar, My Buddy Ordered a... Memory Game

On this World Bartender Day, invite the men to play the fun memory game "At the Bar, My Buddy Ordered a..." To play, have the first person mention a drink that their buddy ordered, and then have the next person repeat the first drink and add a new drink (e.g., "At the bar, my buddy ordered a Mai Tai." Then the next person adds a new drink: "At the bar, my buddy ordered a Mai Tai and a Margarita.") and so on.

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25

Tactile: Penny Stack

In recognition of this day that the first national bank was chartered by Congress, supply the men with pennies to see who is first to stack 25 pennies using one hand.

One-on-One: State Capital Map

Borrow a tablet to test your resident's knowledge of state capitals on this first day of the Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting in New York City.

Discussion: Old Banking Practices

Begin a discussion with the men about banks on this day that the first national bank was chartered by Congress. Share a bit of bank history for the men to comment upon.

Special Event: Guess the Variety Show

Test the men's knowledge of old variety shows on this day that Your Show of Shows premiered with hosts Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca by reading a description of a popular variety show for the men to try to identify.

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26

Tactile: Mix and Match Stone Snowmen

Supply the men with rocks and paint to create mix-and-match stone snowmen for the season.

One-on-One: Where's the College?

Quiz your resident about college locations on this first day of CAMEX, the annual national conference and trade exhibit for collegiate retailers in Louisville, Kentucky. For the activity, name the college, and ask your resident to tell you where it is located.

Discussion: Is College Too Expensive?

Organize a debate among the men about college on this first day of CAMEX, the annual national conference and trade exhibit for collegiate retailers in Louisville, Kentucky. Ask the men whether they believe that college is too expensive, and if it's worth the cost.

Special Event: Opposite-Hand Dodge Ball

Celebrate this Carpe Diem Day, encouraging people to "seize the day" and live life fully, with the men by playing a game of Opposite-Hand Dodge Ball, in which the seated men use their non-dominant hand to toss a small foam ball to hit one of the staff members who are standing in the circle.

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27

Tactile: What Can You Make With a Strawberry?

Supply the men with plastic knives and strawberries and a few other pieces of fruit, like cut bananas and oranges, to see what they can create on this National Strawberry Day. Share a few photos (e.g., people and animals) for inspiration.

One-on-One: Polar Bear Balloons

Recruit your resident to help you inflate polar bear balloons to pass out to passersby on this International Polar Bear Day. For the activity, use white balloons, double-sided tape, and the polar bear template.

Discussion: Prehistorical Burial Sites

Host a debate among the men about burial sites on this day that the African Burial Ground National Monument was established in New York City. Ask the men whether prehistorical burial sites should be allowed to be discovered by archaeologists.

Special Event: Kahlúa and Cards

Whip up a chocolate Kahlúa cake for the men to enjoy on this National Kahlúa Day as you teach them the fun card game Guts.

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28

Tactile: Twig Cross Ornaments

On this Shrove Monday, the Monday before Ash Wednesday, invite the men to use hot glue, ribbon, and twigs to make twig cross ornaments to use as decoration for your upcoming Easter festivities.

One-on-One: D.I.Y. Circus Kit

Create a fun circus kit with your resident for one of his grandchildren on this birthday of acrobat Charles Blondin. Use wine corks, polystyrene balls, toothpicks, white tissue and PVA glue for the craft.

Discussion: Ending Gang Violence

Begin a discussion with the men about gangs on this birthday of gangster Bugsy Siegel. Ask the men whether jail is a good solution to deter gang violence.

Special Event: Floral Sugar Cookie Contest

For this Floral Design Day, see which of the men can decorate the best sugar cookie flowers. For the activity, provide the men with plain sugar cookies and plastic bags that are filled with the crusted buttercream recipe (butter, shortening, powdered sugar, vanilla, milk) from the sugar cookie flower website.

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