WAUSAU, Wis. — Chris Draper says he started the League of Mavericks after noticing a problem many men talk about but rarely address: isolation. Draper, 42, said he began counseling in late spring and started thinking about how difficult it can be for men to build friendships outside work — especially without centering social life on bars and drinking. “I wanted something to … meet other like-minded guys,” Draper said, adding that many men are busy with families, jobs and other responsibilities and “don’t really have a way to connect.” He posted the idea on Facebook and got what he described as a strong positive response. That interest led him to create a Facebook group, The League of Mavericks, a men’s group designed to bring together people from different backgrounds for activities, conversation and support. The group began in the summer with biweekly cookouts at a park, Draper said. Members played games such as bags and ladder golf and, over time, suggested other activities including motorcycle rides, fishing, bowling, laser tag and paintball. Draper said he intentionally made the group collaborative, asking members what they wanted to do. “It’s not a dictatorship,” he said. The focus, he said, is to create a space for men to connect in person and break up the “monotony of the daily grind,” while also supporting mental health and overall well-being. Draper, who said he is a recovering addict and alcoholic, said he wanted to create a group where social connection does not depend on drinking, even though some events may happen at venues that serve alcohol. “It’s not a no-drinking exclusionary type thing,” he said. “But kind of something to take the focus away from just sitting around, getting lit up in a bar.” He said the group has brought together men from a wide range of backgrounds, including gamers, factory workers, entrepreneurs and cashiers. One of the things he values most, Draper said, is seeing members form friendships outside the group’s organized events. “That’s the whole point,” he said. Draper said some members also bring their sons, which he sees as a positive way for younger boys and teens to learn how to interact with other men in a healthy social setting. He said the group includes men from about age 18 to roughly 50. The League of Mavericks also provides a low-pressure environment, he said. New members can simply show up, introduce themselves and participate as much or as little as they want. “You can just show up,” Draper said. “That’s half the battle.” He said informal conversations and icebreakers help members get comfortable, but no one is forced to share personal details. The group’s purpose, he said, is not necessarily deep therapy-style discussion, but an outlet where men can spend time together, relate to each other and be noticed if something seems off. Draper said that kind of accountability can matter. “When you show up or don’t show up and people are like, ‘You OK?’” he said. He also said the group has made a difference for some members dealing with substance use and life stress. Draper said one man recently messaged him to say he was 19 days sober and getting back into the gym. Draper said the group has changed him as well, helping him broaden his perspective and find more joy through connection with others. “It definitely has helped … and opened me up to just more joy,” he said. As the group grows, Draper said he is scaling back from biweekly events to about once a month to make planning more manageable while running two businesses. He said the Facebook group has more than 200 members, including men from across Wisconsin, and that some travel from places such as Appleton, Marshfield and Merrill to attend events. He hopes to see similar groups expand into other areas, including the Fox Valley, and said he welcomes help from members willing to organize events or take on leadership roles. “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” Draper said. “And it’s definitely not by yourself.” Draper said the concept is simple and needed in many communities: give men a place to build friendships, support one another and show up for each other. For men interested in joining, he said they can find the group on Facebook by searching for The League of Mavericks, or contact him directly through Facebook. His message to men who may be hesitant to attend is straightforward: push through the discomfort and take the first step. “Don’t let the stinking thinking win,” Draper said. “Force yourself to reach out.”