Help! Ideas needed for DDs 12th birthday party

[Snowbell]

Bit stuck as DD has just started secondary school so now has a new group of friends plus friends from junior school. She doesn't think she can mix them at a party and seems keen on doing something with her new friends. Thing is she is a very outdoorsy kind of girl and wants to go trekking in some woods for her birthday! This is the end of November Don't know her new friends very well so have told her that this may not go down very well with some of them, etc. She thought of indoor laser game party as well, but they want a minimum of 10. DD is not into big groups, I think she will only want 5 or 6. Have read on here about Lush parties, which I will mention to her tonight. Although she may think that's too girly. Can anyone help with any suggestions please! I'm trying to avoid what happened last year when she couldn't decide on anything and ended up having two friends over for a sleepover (no one else was free as it was so last minute).

cinema?

What about booking a local restaurant for them early doors, and let them go on their own...we did it when dd was 12 for 6 of them, then I just turned up and paid at the end.

They felt very grown up (I cleared it with the restaurant first and they put balloons on chairs etc)

And give them a budget...max 2 drinks in each.
We did cake at home so no need for pudding.

A friend of mine had a murder mystery party for her 12-14th ish parties, with costumes and then sleepover. They were brilliant.

A grown-up "dinner party" with her choice of menu, then sleepover (bring your own sleeping bag, lots of camping mats, lilos etc on the floor, precious little sleep) ?

thanks for all these great ideas. I wish I could talk her into one but she is a very active girl and seems set on having an active party. So we are working on a list of 10 for the laser place. She is thinking of inviting some boys as well now!

Is there an indoor activity centre near you? Rock climbing, ski slope type thing?

Still the adventure, less of the elements in November.

Go Ape? Outdoorsy and active andperfect for a small group.

10 at laser quest sounds good. Or ice skating with a smaller group if there is anywhere near you?

Rock climbing might work too - would be fine for a group of 5/6

dd had a laser quest party yesterday for her 10th birthday - she had a mix of boys and girls, 10 in total.

Having a dd who has turned 12 this school year(and 2 older dc) It is quite normal for parties or celebrations to be much lower key, and just "time spent with friends" once they get to secondary. A couple of friends sleeping over is fine, if that's what she wants, or, other suggestions such as outdoor activities suggested above.
All of my dc(at various times) have had friends round in the garden and built a campfire - the friends have loved it! Let her do what she wants to do.

The laser party for 10 (minimum number), with pizza, chips and squash comes to £180 Is it me or is that a hell of a lot? We have paid just over £100 for climbing parties before and that pays for two instructors. I am tempted to pay it just to have something sorted that she will really enjoy, but DP won't agree. She is now an expert climber as she goes every week to an indoor climbing centre, so it would look like showing off, I think, to have a climbing party now. Anyway, this is still ongoing. Wish me luck! I might suggest ice skating. Thanks for that.

mine was £11.95 per person so £119.50 for 10. They got a buffet snack tray thing and unlimited squash and a cornetto plus 2 games of lazer tag.

could you just book the lazer tag without it being the party plan and then take them out somewhere else for food. If you didnt book the party thing you could then have less than 10 people going.

Wow! Ilovepowerhoop, you are so lucky where you live. I am in rip-off south east England. That's the same thing for £60 less!