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Lions Pride Endowment Fund of Wisconsin

Tag Archives: blind

Wisconsin Lions Camp Summer 2020 Updates

28 Thursday May 2020

Posted by lionspridewi in Lions Camp, News, Special Events

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2020, adults, age requirements, application, autism, blind, business, camper, compassion, concerns, coronavirus, covid-19, events, health, intellectual disabilities, kids, kindness, lions pride, modifications, patience, programming, questions, schedule, shelter in place, staff training, summer, vision impaired, wisconsin, wisconsin lions camp

2020 Lions Lake

Photo Credit to Wisconsin Lions Camp

Although the shelter-in-place orders have been lifted and businesses are starting to open up again in Wisconsin and all over the country, there’s no denying that coronavirus remains on everyone’s minds. Since we have already seen major summer events either canceled or postponed, you may be wondering, “Will Lions Camp be open during the summer of 2020?”

We are happy to inform you that the answer is yes, but modifications have been made in light of the pandemic. As you know, we learn new information every day, so not all programming has been finalized. At this time, the Block One Programs have been scheduled, but you’ll notice many limitations that have never been seen before. Unfortunately, the biggest change relates to the camper age requirements. All Block One Programs happening from June 28 to July 15, will only allow campers between the ages of 16 and 17 years old. Below you will find the updated schedule (as of May 18, 2020):

June 8 – June 18
Staff Training (Required for those working the full summer and block one)

Block One

June 21 – June 26
Adults who are Blind or Visually Impaired (Cancelled)

June 28 – July 3
Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism – Limited to ages 16 and 17 campers only

July 5 – July 10
Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Limited to ages 16 and 17 campers only

July 12 – July 15
Mini Camp Program: Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism (Cancelled)

The application deadline has recently passed for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Blind or visually impaired children with epilepsy programs. The Adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing application will be available until July 17. The staff hopes to have the Block Two Program Schedule by Monday, June 22. See the entire schedule here.

The staff continues to evaluate the situation as additional information becomes available. Stay tuned for updates. For questions or concerns regarding the coronavirus update, please contact Andrea Yenter, Camp Director, at ayenter@wisconsinlionscamp.com or Evett Hartvig, Executive Director, at ehartvig@wlf.info.

Life may feel may normal than it has in quite some time, but coronavirus continues to have an impact on businesses and organizations all over the country. We believe it’s worth mentioning that we are all learning how to navigate the world post-COVID. Be sure to practice patience and compassion as you go about your day. It’s been said dozens of ways, but remember that we’re all in this together.

From all of us at Lions Pride, be kind and stay healthy!

The Father of Wisconsin Lions Camp

15 Thursday Jun 2017

Posted by lionspridewi in Holidays, Lions Camp, Special Events

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blind, camp, camping, celebrate, children, dad, development, district governors, experience, fathers day, hospital, lions pride, lives, men, monday, poy sippi, ray hempel, rosholt, special needs, story, summer, wisconsin lions camp

Roll out the barbecue – it’s time to celebrate Dad!

Lion Ray Hempel

Sunday marks the day to honor the men in our lives with a day dedicated just to him. With Father’s Day right around the corner, we thought it would be the perfect excuse to honor an exceptional man in the Wisconsin Lions community – Ray Hempel, the father and originator of Wisconsin Lions Camp.

You may have already heard this story a time or two, but it’s one that we think can always be retold. The year was 1952; Lion Ray Hempel was visiting with two 12-year old boys at an area hospital. He asked them if they had ever attended a camp. One boy replied, “Blind kids can’t go to outdoor camp and stuff like that.”

Others may have just acknowledged the response, apologized and changed the subject, but Lion Ray was not that man. Instead, he took those words to heart and began visualizing a camp that would provide an outdoor experience for those two boys and others like them.

His background in Lions and Boy Scouts, as well as his love of camping told him exactly what he needed to do. He needed to persuade the Wisconsin Lions to start a camp for blind children.

A few years later, Lion Ray and the Poy Sippi Lions petitioned the District Governors for a permanent camp location at the 1955 Wisconsin State Convention. At the 1956 convention, a 240-acre property was purchased in Rosholt, and the Wisconsin Lions Camp was born. Lion Ray served as the first camp director and was proud to be an integral part of its development

Today, the camp has expanded to serve even more children with special needs, including vision and hearing impairments, mild cognitive disabilities and Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, all at no cost to their families.

With the first week of summer camp starting on Monday, we think there’s no better time to reflect on the man who started it all. Who knew a chance comment would lead to such big change. Since its inception Lions Camp has offered the week of a lifetime to nearly 70,000 campers. There’s no question in our minds that Ray Hempel was the epitome of a Wisconsin Lion.

Happy Father’s Day from Lions Pride!

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