Category Archives: Lions Camp

Celebrating Friendship with A.A. Milne

16 Thursday Jan 2020

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 “We didn’t realize that we were making memories. We just knew we were having fun.” -Winnie the Pooh

We know that some time may have passed since you’ve thought about Christopher Robin. However, if you are a parent or grandparent, there’s no doubt that you are familiar with the name.

Saturday, January 18, is fondly known as Winnie the Pooh Day, the anniversary of A.A. Milne’s birthday. The author was best known for creating a collection of stories surrounding his son, Christopher Robin, and his honey-loving teddy bear.

Within these stories, Milne sent Christopher on wonderful adventures with Pooh, Piglet and the other characters from the Hundred Acre Wood. Each story always brought a lot of fun, as well as an important life lesson. It should come as no wonder that over 50 million copies have been sold worldwide, over the last 90+ years.

All of this discussion about growth and adventure makes us think of another place where friendships are made, a little closer to home.

The Wisconsin Lions Camp provides an experience for children and adults with special needs to come together for a week of joy. The goals are to assist in the development of self-confidence, interdependence, social skills, outdoor recreational skills and environmental awareness, but most importantly, to have a fun, safe, memorable adventure – all at no cost to their families.

Do you know a child or adult that would benefit from this experience? Please encourage them to apply! As of today, online and paper applications are now available. See the complete 2020 schedule below: 

Block One

 

June 7 – June 12                     Adults who are Blind or Visually Impaired

June 14 – June 19                   Children with Type 1 & 11 Diabetes

June 21 – June 26                   Children with Type 1 & 11 Diabetes

June 28 – July 3                       Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism

July 5 – July 10                         Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism

July 12 – July 15                      Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism

 

Block Two

July 19 – July 24                      Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

July 25 – July 31                      Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

August 2 – August 7                Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired and Epilepsy

August 9 – August 13              Adults 18-25 with Intellectual Disabilities or Educational Autism (by invitation only)

August 17 – August 21            Adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

 

There’s nothing more valuable in life than being in the company of friends. Consider celebrating the unofficial occasion finding a copy of one of A.A. Milne’s classics.

Happy Winnie the Pooh Day!

Lions Pride Year in Review

26 Thursday Dec 2019

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Lions Lake Totem PoleChristmas is officially behind us. Can you believe it? With Thanksgiving falling late in November, we all had less time to prepare for the busiest season of the year, but we all managed to survive! Now, with the year quickly winding down, we hope you have some time to reflect on the past 360 days.

In 2019, we were proud to accomplish the following milestones:

  • Helped send over 1200 Wisconsin children to Lions Camp, where they were able to learn lifelong skills that will serve them well beyond their childhoods. Campers were able to participate in several outdoor activities, build lasting friendships and enjoy being kids in a fun, safe environment.
  • Collected and recycled eyeglasses to share with people in need all around the world. Each year our Eyeglass Recycling Center receives an average of 800,000 pairs of used glasses each year.
  • Screened the eyes of thousands of children from all around the state from ages 6 months to teenage. With early detection, we’re able to help preserve and protect a child’s gift of sight.
  • Provided local communities with essential diabetes education. Did you know that diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people aged 20 to 74, as well as a significant cause of other serious health complications? Our goal is to help reduce the number of blindness cases through education, early detection and treatment.

Of course, none of these accomplishments would be possible without the continued support of our gracious donors. We would not be “Today’s help, tomorrow’s hope” without you. We are incredibly thankful to have you by our side.

As we wrap up the year, we’d ask you to consider Lions Pride in your year-end giving plans. We are excited to announce our determined efforts to reach $10 million by the Wisconsin Lions State Convention in 2021. Attaining this goal will provide more than $300,000 in perpetuity to the Wisconsin Lions Foundation, promoting the Wisconsin Lions Camp and all statewide WLF projects. Let’s come together in support.

The Lions Pride Office will be closed for the remainder of the week. Happy Holidays to you and your family!

Lions Pride 2019 Annual Meeting

18 Thursday Jul 2019

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Screen Shot 2019-07-17 at 6.04.27 AMHappy (Lionistic) New Year! We’re not sure how it happened, but July has arrived once more. If you’re familiar with Lions Club International, you know that they finish out the organization’s fiscal year with the International Convention. Lions Pride follows a similar tradition by also hosting an important event. Our annual meeting will take place this Friday, July 20, at the Lions Pride Office. The meeting starts at 1:30 pm.

Our board members are stationed all over the state; they get together four times a year but do not usually have the chance to meet with the general public. Annual meetings are an incredible opportunity to talk with members outside of the organization about the current financial standing of Lions Pride.

The annual meeting will directly follow the third board meeting of the year. The agenda will include a discussion of the year’s activities, fundraising efforts and overall financial position. We’ll also hear a statement from LPEF President Sam Kochel and have the chance to thank our donors in person.

If you already have plans and are unable to attend, you can still request a copy of the annual report, which will be available next week. You can send your request for an electronic or printed version (please note supplies are limited) by emailing us at prideoffice@lionspride.org.

As we continue to prepare for this week’s meeting, we can’t help but look back on the previous year with fond memories. It was another year filled with success and gratitude. We feel fortunate to be able to work with such a generous group of people. Thank you for helping us carry out our mission to preserve, provide and protect for the Wisconsin Lions Camp and all WLF statewide projects. We know there are lots of outstanding organizations out there to support, and we feel so grateful that you continue to choose ours.

Thoughtful Father’s Day Gift Ideas

13 Thursday Jun 2019

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He showed you how to ride your first back, taught you how to change a tire and how to take pride in your work. Of course, he did more than teach you essential life skills, he also provided for his family and gave endless amounts of support as you transformed from a young child to a responsible adult. This Sunday, June 16, is Father’s Day. How will you honor dear ole dad?

Without giving it much thought, you know that there are a few gifts that have become Father’s Day staples; gifts like power tools, ties and wild socks (that will likely take up permanent residence in his drawer.) Rather than relying on one of the traditional presents, consider giving dad an out-of-the-box gift that we know he’ll love:

  • A helping hand: Unfortunately, adulthood typically includes responsibilities that we aren’t always pleasant. For dad, it may be mowing the grass or cleaning up the basement. Help lighten the load by offering to pitch in. You know what they say, “Many hands make for light work,” and we can bet that he’ll love the company.
  • A day together: Do you recall the last time you spent quality time with your father? If you have to think too hard, that means it’s been too long! Allow dad to spend Sunday with the activity of his choice. He might want to get out on the lake, hit the back nine or just soak in the sun for a lazy afternoon together. We know that life can get busy, so keep in mind that a raincheck is always an option.
  • A gift that gives back: If there is an organization close to dad’s heart, think about giving a donation in his honor. As you likely already know, nonprofits wouldn’t get very far without the help of their supporters, as donations as the lifeblood of the organization. It’s not too late to make an honorarium donation to Lions Pride. Your donation will help us continue to preserve, provide and protect the Wisconsin Lions Camp and all WLF statewide projects. Learn more about memorial/honorarium donations.

Remember, the best presents in life don’t come wrapped in ribbons and bows.  Show your appreciation for dad with a gift from the heart.

Happy Father’s Day from Lions Pride!

The 12th Annual Lions Pride Shoot

06 Thursday Jun 2019

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Screen Shot 2019-06-05 at 7.21.07 PM3, 2, 1… Shoot! We know that it may be hard to believe, but we are only days away from our biggest event of the year. Each year for the past 12 years, we’ve held the Lions Pride Shoot at Milford Hills in Johnson Creek.

Our sporting clays fundraiser has become our most popular event that takes place on the second weekend in June. Both Lions and non-Lions come together to enjoy a day out in the beautiful rolling hills of Southern Wisconsin to support Lions Pride.

The day begins with an early lunch, followed by a challenging course with games and door prizes. After shooters have finished the course, they wind down from their action-packed day with cold beer, a live auction and delicious dinner. The Pride Shoot is one of the most, unique and successful fundraisers that take place for the Lions Pride Endowment Fund.

Although the Lions Pride Shoot is a one-day event, the staff has actually been planning for months. A lot of tiny details go into the overall preparation of the fundraiser, including recruiting participants, finding sponsors, collecting both door prizes and auction items, coordinating all of the day’s events with the Milford Hills staff and recruiting volunteers. Now, like the blink of an eye, the final week is upon us.

We’re continually being reminded of Dewey Carl’s spirit, but it’s even more present in the day leading up to the shoot because it was an event that he always looked forward to attending. In honor of our late chairman, we have always challenged ourselves to make each year’s fundraiser even better than the last.

As we diligently work to finish up the last details of the event, we’d like to take a moment to thank our donors, sponsors, shooters and volunteers. We know first-hand that it takes a village of people to create an enjoyable event, and we don’t know where we’d be without their support.

See you on Saturday!

Wisconsin Lions Camp Summer 2019

30 Thursday May 2019

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Lions Lake

Photo Credit to Wisconsin Lions Camp

It’s time to start packing your bags because kickoff to camp begins now! The summer staff has now reported for duty, and we are only 10 days away from the start of the 2019 camping season. Each year, nearly 1300 special campers with vision, hearing, intellectual disabilities and Type 1 and Type II Diabetes travel to Rosholt, Wisconsin, for a week of camaraderie, adventure and fun.

See the 2019 schedule below:

Block One

June 9 – June 14                     Adults who are Blind or Visually Impaired

June 16 – June 21                   Children with Type 1 & 11 Diabetes

June 23 – June 28                   Children with Type 1 & 11 Diabetes

June 30 – July 5                       Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Educational Autism

July 7 – July 12                        Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Educational Autism

July 14 – July 20                      No campers at camp; staff transition week

July 18 – July 19                      All staff teambuilding & training

Block Two

July 21 – July 26                      Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

July 28 – August 2                   Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

August 4 – August 9                Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired

August 11 – August 15            Adults 18-25 with Intellectual Disabilities or Educational Autism (by invitation only)

August 19 – August 23            Adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

The Wisconsin Lions Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association. The property is 440 acres in size and includes a 45-acre private lake, which is the center of several camping activities. During the summer months, Lions Camp employs approximately 48 counselors, so the camp can maintain a staff to camper ratio of 1:6.

The goals of Lions Camp are to assist each camper in development of self-confidence, interdependence, social skills, outdoor recreational skills and environmental awareness, but most importantly, to provide the space for the child to have a fun, safe and memorable experience. Wisconsin Lions Camp is proud to give special children the resources, skills and knowledge that will serve them long beyond their childhoods.

Many people may be surprised to learn that when the camp was first debuted, it was funded primarily by Lions Club donations. Sadly, in the last decade or so, expenses for Lions Camp and all other WLF statewide projects have increased exponentially. Annual club contributions remain essential but now account for less than half of all yearly WLF operating expenses. Combatting rising costs was actually the primary reason for the creation of our organization. Read the entire story here.

Today, Lions Pride is proud to support the Wisconsin Lions Camp maintain and expand their operations. We work alongside generous Lions and non-Lions alike as it is the power of individual and organization gift commitments that will preserve the projects of WLF for current and future generations.  Last year interest earned from your donations covered the cost of one week of camp.

To all of our donors, we’d like to express our sincere gratitude. Like all of the campers, we too look forward to the start of summer. We feel so lucky to have the opportunity to help create positive change in our world and couldn’t do it without your ongoing support. Thank you for allowing us to continue on in our mission to preserve, protect and provide for Wisconsin Lions Camp and all statewide WLF projects.

Easy Ways to Celebrate the Planet

25 Thursday Apr 2019

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Photo Credit to Wisconsin Lions Camp

We’ve had Mother Nature on our minds this week. On Monday, we celebrated Earth Day, and tomorrow marks the 147th annual Arbor Day. With so many unofficial planet-related holidays, the month of April gives us a fantastic opportunity to think about our role as living creatures on Planet Earth.

We have great admiration for organizations who choose to make Mother Nature a primary focus in their everyday operations. In the past few years, we’ve witnessed the birth of successful eco-conscious startups, as well as many large companies (such as McDonald’s and SC Johnson), adopt more sustainable business practices. As we began brainstorming green organizations, another one immediately came to mind; an organization that is a little more local and very close to our hearts. We’re talking about the Wisconsin Lions Camp, of course!

As you likely already know, Lions Camp is located on 440 acres of land centered around Lions Lake in Rosholt, Wisconsin. During the summer months, the camp acts as the temporary home of weekly campers. During their week away, attendees spend the majority of their time outdoors, so it probably isn’t surprising to learn that they have a grand respect for Mother Nature.

While assisting the children with self-confidence, interdependence and social skills, the Wisconsin Lions Camp staff focuses on providing campers with strong environmental awareness. Campers are strongly encouraged to sign up for programs to learn about different areas of the environment. A few of the activities include nature hikes, animal tracking and water studies. They also have the opportunity to hear nature’s stories, first-hand, and play animal trivia. The ultimate goal is to teach the children to leave the environment in better condition than it was found.

As individuals, we can learn a lot from these organizations like Lions Camp by finding ways to show our respect for Planet Earth. Here are a few easy ways to “go green” at home:

  1. Plant a tree
  2. Opt-in to paperless billing options
  3. Dry your laundry on a clothesline
  4. Unplug appliances and charges when not in use
  5. Combine errands into one trip
  6. Use reusable bags instead of plastic
  7. Shop at your local farmer’s market
  8. Fix leaky faucets
  9. Collect rainwater for your houseplants and the garden
  10. Reuse scrap paper

At Lions Pride, our job is to preserve, protect and provide for Lions Camp and all other WLF projects. We think those three words can also apply to our responsibility as conscious citizens.

By taking small steps towards greener living, we can all make a big difference to the world we live in. Let’s work together to celebrate the planet every day.

Shining Light on Autism Spectrum Disorder

11 Thursday Apr 2019

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Did you know that autism is now prevalent in one in every 59 children in America? Over the course of the past 50 years, its occurrence has grown by nearly 35 times. To help bring knowledge to the growing and greatly misunderstood disorder, April has been marked as National Autism Awareness Month.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Autism is a complex, cognitive disorder that impacts a person’s ability to communicate and engage with others. It can be present right away at birth but can also form early on in a child’s life (typically within three years.) At this time, there is no one known cause to the disability.

As its name states, Autism is a broad spectrum disorder. It’s essential for us to note that no two people will have an exact set of symptoms, but there are common characteristics, which include:

  • Trouble interacting with other people
  • Difficulties expressing empathy
  • A dislike of physical contact
  • Adverse to sudden changes in their environment
  • Struggle with speech

Autism is a lifelong disability, but thankfully, it is treatable. Studies have shown that early detection can change the lives of both the individual and family. You can learn more about development milestones by visiting the CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early” site.

Since ASD has become much more common, chances are you know someone who is impacted by the disability. Fortunately, with more occurrences comes more opportunities to serve. Today, there are thousands of resources available to help families manage autism. In fact, the Wisconsin Lions Camp, debuted a new program for children with autism. Campers have an opportunity for a comprehensive program designed to help a child in the development of self-confidence, interdependence, social skills, outdoor recreational skills and environmental awareness. Thanks to the generous support of donors, summer camp participation is free of charge. Your gift to Lions Pride, designated for Lions Camp will have a lasting impact on future generations of children.

The Wisconsin Lions Camp is holding a New Camper Open House on Sunday, May 12, 2019, from 9 am to 3 pm. The program was designed to introduce new or potential campers to camp before the summer season. Attendees can try camp activities, enjoy lunch and take tours of the building (weather permitting.) If you know a special child who might enjoy a fun-filled week at camp, consider submitting a registration form today.

As we continue to make our way through the month of April, we encourage you to learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorder. The more knowledge we have, the more we can pass on to others. Together, we can help create a more empathetic and supportive environment for people with autism.

Happy Birthday Geri

14 Thursday Feb 2019

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There are several events taking place in February. Of course, today is 33298584_10156156990905999_7597001671436140544_n.jpgValentine’s Day, which is then followed by President’s Day and the start of the Winter Olympics. But, arguably, the most important event taking place is the 34th Anniversary of Geri Schlender’s 39th Birthday, happening on Sunday, February 17.

To celebrate Geri’s date of birth, we thought it would be fun to learn a bit more about our executive director with random interview questions:

  1. What is your favorite color? Blue
  2. Would you rather have the ability to fly or become invisible? Fly
  3. What do you bring with you everywhere you go? My American Express Card. I don’t leave home without it.
  4. Do you have any pets? One dog, a Shih Tzu named Ming LI
  5. Are you more of an early bird or a night owl? Night Owl
  6. Where did you last travel to? Toronto
  7. If you could only have one meal for the rest of your life, what would you choose? Pizza
  8. What does your perfect weekend consist of? Antiquing
  9. Do you prefer movies or books? Movies
  10. What do you feel is the best invention in the past 50 years? Cell Phone
  11. What do you wish you had more time for? Family
  12. Where is the most beautiful place you have ever visited? Greece
  13. What is your favorite time of the year? Fall
  14. If you could go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go? Italy
  15. What three words best describe you? Funny, trustworthy, loyal
  16. What personal goals do you have? Become a Certified Trainer for Lions Clubs International
  17. Why did you decide to join Lions Pride? I saw the passion in Pride Chairman Dewey Carl and knew I wanted to be a part of his dream.
  18. What do you like best about your job? Observing the generous hearts of Lions and non-Lions alike who share our vision. Also, the Lions Pride Shoot that is held every second Saturday in June.

There you have it! Eighteen fun facts about Executive Director Geri Schlender. Now, here’s one fact that you already know: Lions Pride would not be the organization it is today with her  continued leadership and dedication. We appreciate all of her efforts in preserving, protecting and providing for Wisconsin Lions Camp and all WLF statewide projects.

Please join us in wishing Geri a very happy birthday!

 

National Trivia Day: Lions Pride Edition

03 Thursday Jan 2019

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Are you interested in sharing and exchanging little-known facts? If so, then you’ll love tomorrow’s unofficial holiday, National Trivia Day.458432_10150689723660999_1376996678_o.jpg

Although the exact origin of Trivia Day is unknown, many people credit the game, Trivial Pursuit as the start. The creators of the game, Chris Haney and Scott Abbott, wanted to play Scrabble but were disappointed to learn several of their board games’ pieces had gone missing. Rather than dwell on their misfortune, they decided to create their own game. The concept of Trivial Pursuit was conceived in a matter of hours.

In honor of National Trivia Day, we’d thought we’d celebrate with fun facts inspired by our favorite WLF service projects:

  • The Wisconsin Lions Camp was the dream of which well-known Lion? Ray Hempel.
  • How large is the camp in acreage? 440.
  • What is the ratio of staff to campers? 1:6
  • How tall is the famous Totem Pole Na-Wak-Wa? 38 feet.
  • Louie the Lion, the guardian of the Wisconsin Lions Camp, is made out of what materials? Concrete and old gun barrels.
  • The Eyeglass Recycling Center in Rosholt is one of how many worldwide facilities? 18.
  • At any given point, how many pairs of eyeglasses are available at the ERC? 125,000.
  • How many Americans are affected by hearing loss? An estimated 48 million.
  • What percentage of a child’s learning is related to sight? 80%.
  • Vision problems affect one ins how many school-aged children? 4.
  • How many children are adequately screened for vision problems in the US? Less than 20%.

Finally, did you know that your donation to Lions Pride helps us to preserve, protect and provide for all of these projects and more? What’s more, you have the ability to designate your gift to the project of your choice.

Together, we have the opportunity to reach, touch and improve lives all over the state; and we are so appreciative of your continued support.

Happy National Trivia Day!