Expand options for age-based audiences
When posting an activity, a key field is the " Activity Audiences & Affinity Groups" field. It defaults to "Adults" though it can be set to any number of affinity groups or audiences. Two of the audiences are age-based: 20-30 somethings and Retired Rovers (55+). This idea is based on those age-based audiences.
Age-based audiences are unique in that the shared identity is that we're obviously around the same age but a side-effect is that we may also be experiencing the same parts of life around the same time. This can create a shared connection that may not otherwise be available. A regular piece of feedback I've received when leading age-based activities is that the participants appreciate the fact that they can partake in an activity with other people around their age. I've also seen more new members or prospective members than I've seen in any other activities I've lead. It seems apparent that there is a benefit to these groups.
This opens up some questions, why are those in the 40-54 age range not part of any age-based group? Why can't there be age-based groups that overlap (e.g. 20-30 somethings and 30-40 somethings) so that people can transition into age based groups with others they know? The intent here is not to partition the Mountaineers into multiple age groups but to provide more opportunities for an apparent unmet demand. This can improve the inclusiveness of the Mountaineers by demonstrating that we have activities associated with their age group. It can also improve psychological safety (e.g. since they will be around people who may be going through experiences similar to them).
Joshua Stein
shared this idea
This idea is completed! We have added additional age groups so leaders now have the follow age-focused audience options:
- 20-30 Somethings
- 30-40 Somethings
- 40-50 Somethings
- Age 55+
If anyone has a specific age-range they were looking for that is not included above, please reach out to devinl@mountaineers.org.
Big thanks to Josh Stein for helping our team with communications around this update by writing an incredible blog about the benefits of age-based activities! Find the blog here.
For more information about Affinity Groups, please check-out this resource.
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Joshua Stein
commented
Venkatesh, you bring up a great point. I want to address a few aspects of it since I agree with where you're going on this:
1. Age happens to be a proxy for life stage (for better or worse). It is by no means perfect and I'm not sure I would know how to specify life stages. I'm all ears if you have ideas!
2. The activities are not restricted to only those in the age group. While that age range may be the focus, the idea is that if you think it's a group you'd like to join in a hike, then sign up!I happen to touch on both of these in the blog post I wrote.
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Venkatesh Natarajan
commented
I'm in this weird situation where I'm in my 40s and childless. Which has me in a weird situation where people in my age (and sometimes even younger) and up all have kids -- and then the conversation tends to all be kid-oriented which makes it hard for me to really fit in the conversation.
And then the ones that are in the younger group... well I'm now aged out of. I guess you can say I have a younger lifestyle but am not actually in that age group.
So, maybe we can have affinity groups also based on "life stage" rather than numerical age? idk.
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Basia Godecki
commented
This is important for me as a single gal wanting to connect with others. It’s beneficial to prevent isolation especially with smaller, more similar demographic groups to increase connections. Some groups have hikes with families however not everyone has children or necessarily wants to hike with a younger crowd :)
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Patricia Neighbor
commented
This is really important. One of most people's key needs is to have some social time with folks at our developmental and life stage. This facilitates that in the outdoors. I recommended keeping activities for all age groups, as also mixing across ages and learning from people outside of our developmental stage (younger and older) is also important-- and activities such as CHS and standard hikes are an opportunity for that. Based on the extreme popularity of hikes for age-based groups outside of the Mountaineers, there's a demand that this will tap into and could garner additional membership. While I personally enjoy advising people in their 20s and 30s, and spending advisory time with folks in their 60s - 90s, I particularly crave spending time with people my age-- who at this moment in history are working far too many hours and caring for aging children/parents/family members--- and struggling to find enough time with other people their age. I would participate and possibly lead in hikes organized for people in their 40s and 50s. I believe that age-based groups would generate greater interest in The Mountaineers from folks in the 30s - 50s age bracket.