Tag Archives: fun

Wisconsin County Fairs

22 Thursday Aug 2019

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midway ferris wheel during nighttime

Photo by Zachary DeBottis on Pexels.com

Does anyone happen to know where summer went? It seems like only yesterday we were anxiously awaiting Memorial Day Weekend, and now we’re hot on the heels of Labor Day. We guess it’s true what they say, time flies when you’re having fun (enjoying the beautiful summer weather.)

We think any proud Wisconsinite would agree that one of the best parts of summer is all of the county fairs. Is there anything better than walking around admiring the prized livestock, hearing the sounds of children in the distance while indulging in the sweet, sugary taste of a funnel cake? If you haven’t had a chance to experience a Wisconsin county fair, there still may be an opportunity. There are a few fairs taking place from now until Labor Day. We’ve compiled a list for you to check out:

Waupaca County

The Waupaca County Fair kicked off yesterday at 3 pm. Attendees saw entertainment from Wayne the Wizard, Pleasure Valley Pig and Duck Races and a 3 of a Kind Concert. The fun continues all weekend long. Highlights include a large and small animal market sale, pedal pull competition, wood carving auction and Hollywood Motorsports Demolition Derby. One-day family admission is $10. See the entire fair schedule.

Shawano County

The Shawano County Fair will take place next Wednesday, August 28, to Monday, September 2. Over the course of five days, fair attendees can view dozens of exhibits, participate in auctions and watch lots of compelling competitions including rooster crowing, chicken flying and human crowing. There will also be musical entertainment and bingo games happening all weekend long. Daily gate admission is $5 for adults and children ages 12 and up; Senior Citizen Day is Friday from 12 pm to 5 pm, those 62 and older can receive $2 admission. View the complete schedule of fair activities.

Sheboygan County

The Sheboygan County Fair begins on Thursday, August 29, and will run until Monday, September 2. Fair attendees can visit the Ag-Venture Tent, a free educational space for children ages 3-10 to learn about the agriculture and dairy industry. Other fair activities include Granpa Cratchet, DockDogs shows, IRA Sprint Car Races (featuring Tony Stewart and PDTP 360 Sprints,) extreme bull riding and barrel racing. You can purchase a daily pass for adults at $6, children 10-14 at $2 and kids under 9 are free. See the daily entertainment schedule.

Calumet County

The Calumet County Fair, also known as the Biggest Little Fair in Wisconsin, is happening in Chilton from Friday, August 30, to Monday, September 2. While at the fair, you can catch great music and showcase exhibits, plus exciting competitions including the Skid Steer Olympics, Catch a Pig Contest, Horse Promoters Speed Show and Rib Grill-Off. General admission ranges from $4 to $6. Don’t miss out on the entertainment!

Summer may be quickly winding down, but there’s still time to take advantage of the summer fun that Wisconsin has to offer. How do you plan to spend the rest of the season?

Enjoy the last vestiges of summer,
Lions Pride Staff & Board

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The History of Father’s Day

14 Thursday Jun 2018

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Fathers Day GiftsThink about the last show you watched on TV. Do you remember any of the commercials? More than likely, it was something related to home improvements, gadgets or men’s clothing, which can only mean Father’s Day is near. This week, we thought we’d celebrate dear old dad with a short history lesson and a few popular gift ideas, so let’s get started!

Believe it or not, the inspiration for the Father’s Day was Mother’s Day. A common story recounts that the creator of the event was named Sonora Smart Dodd. One Sunday morning, the young woman was listening to a church sermon about Mother’s Day when we thought that her father was equally deserving of a day filled with praise.

Her father, William Smart was a Civil War veteran and widower. Sadly, his wife died while giving birth to their sixth child. William went on to raise his children on a small family farm in Washington. Sonora wanted to show her appreciation for William love and support with a day dedicated for him and other dads around the world. The first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910.

For the next half-century, Father’s Day was celebrated at a local level in communities around the United States. In 1966, Lyndon B. Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as the official Father’s Day, but it was officially recognized as a national holiday until the Nixon administration in 1972.

Today, children all around the world celebrate their dad with fun gift ideas. The most common presents are as follows (courtesy of MarketWatch):

  1. A special outing such as dinner or a sporting event
  2. An electronic gadget
  3. Clothing
  4. A gift card or gift certificate
  5. Home improvement and gardening tools

With Father’s Day only three days away, there isn’t much time to find the perfect gift! If you are still searching for a thoughtful, meaningful gift, consider donating to Lions Pride in honor or memory of your father. Your gift will work to help preserve, protect and provide for Wisconsin Lions Camp and all WLF statewide projects.

Happy Father’s Day!

The Start of the 2018 Camping Season

31 Thursday May 2018

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Pack your bags, grab the sunscreen and let’s get ready to camp! We are officially less lions-pride_sunset-at-campthan ten days away from the start of the 2018 camping season at Wisconsin Lions Camp, and we couldn’t be more excited. For the past 60+ years, nearly 1300 campers with vision, hearing, mild cognitive disabilities and Type 1 and 2 diabetes travel to Rosholt for the adventure of a lifetime.

Below you will find the 2018 schedule:

Block One

June 10-15                       Adults who are Blind or Visually Impaired

June 17-22                       Children with Type I & II Diabetes

June 24-29                       Children with Type I & II Diabetes

July 1-6                             Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Educational Autism

July 8-13                           Children with Intellectual Disabilities or Educational Autism

July 15-20                         Staff Transition Week

 

Block Two

July 22-27                          Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

July 29-August 3               Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

August 5-10                       Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired

August 12-17                     Adults 18-25 with Intellectual Disabilities or Educational Autism (by invitation only)

August 20-24                     Adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (July 20)

During their week away, campers have the chance to create a comprehensive program built around their interests. Overnight camping, canoeing, hiking, swimming, sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, archery and crafts make up the daily activities that take place at camp.

The goals of camp are to assist each child in the areas of self-confidence, interdependence, environmental awareness, but above all, to have a fun, safe experience combined with camaraderie and friendship.

What do our campers and Lions Pride have in common? We both look forward to the camping season all year long. Did you know that when the Wisconsin Lions Camp was first opened, it was funded primarily by Lions Club donations? In the last decade or so, however, expenses for camp and all other WLF statewide projects have increased drastically.

Many might be surprised to learn that combatting rising costs was the primary reason for the birth of our organization. Read the whole story here. Today, the Wisconsin Lions Camp is one of the statewide WLF projects that receive financial support from the Lions Pride Endowment Fund. We’re proud to work alongside both donors to help create lifetime camp experiences for both now and future generations.  We sincerely appreciate your support as we continue on to preserve, protect and provide.

 

Unique May Holidays Worth Celebrating

27 Thursday Apr 2017

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Although it may be hard to believe, May Chalkboard WritingMay is already right around the corner! By this time next week, we will be a few days into the fifth month of the year. While we are well aware of the traditional holidays such as Mother’s Day and Memorial Day, there are several other official and unofficial fun holidays worth celebrating:

May 1 – May Day

Considered the first unofficial day of summer in many countries around the world, May Day allows friends to get out and celebrate the new season. Learn more about the origins of the holiday.

May 4 – Star Wars Day

A relatively recent holiday created specifically for a play on words, “May the Force (4th) be with you!” Star Wars Day is the perfect excuse to bring out the original trilogy.

May 5 – Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is commonly mistaken for the celebration of Mexican independence (September 16), but in actuality, is the recognized holiday to acknowledge the day when the Mexican army defeated the French army at the Battle of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo has come to signify Hispanic and Mexican pride as well as a time to celebrate the rich heritage.

May 9 – National Teachers Day

May 9 is the day to celebrate the hardworking, patient and kind people who choose to be teachers. We don’t have to tell you the impact that teachers have on children from kindergarten through college.

May 12 – International Nurses Day

International Nurses Day happens on the last day of National Nurses Week and provides a day to recognize nurses for their commitment to quality healthcare. May 12 was selected as the official date because it’s the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birthday.

May 12 – Military Spouses Day

A day to recognize and honor the backbone of the armed forces, Military Spouses Day gives civilians an opportunity to say “thank you” for their sacrifice.

May 13 – Birth Mother’s Day

Birth Mother’s Day is a day to recognize the birth mothers of adopted children. Birth mothers create the holiday to educate, remember and cope.

May 14 – Mother’s Day

May 15 – Police Officer’s Memorial Day (An excellent time to thank your area police officers for a job well done.)

May 16 – Wear Purple for Peace Day

May 18 – International Museum Day

May 19 – National Bike to Work Day (Don’t forget to wear a helmet!)

May 20 – National Armed Forces Day

National Armed Forces Day is a day to celebrate all branches of the United States military, which protects our country and us. Up until 1949, each branch had their own day of celebration.

May 26 – Sally Ride Day

Sally Ride Day honors the first American woman who went into space. On June 18, 1983, Dr. Ride accomplished this challenge aboard STS-7, the second flight of the Space Shuttle “Challenger.” Celebrate her success by learning more about the United States space program.

May 27 – Sunscreen Protection Day

Summertime is almost here – you know what that means? We’ll be seeing our old friend, The Sun, more frequently than we have in recent months. Don’t forget to protect yourself and your loved ones from harmful UV rays with sunscreen on May 27 and every day! Read more about why you should make applying sunscreen part of your daily routine.

May 29 – Memorial Day

Memorial Day, not to be confused with Veteran’s Day, is celebrated on the last Monday of May and commemorates the men and women who lost their lives while serving in the military. Learn more about this important holiday.

As you can see, there’s a lot to celebrate next month! What holiday will you add to your calendar?

Happy May from Lions Pride!

The 2016 USA/Canada Leadership Forum

15 Thursday Sep 2016

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It’s that time again; time for the USA/Canada Leadership Forum. lions-100th-anniversaryLast fall, we were fortunate to attend the 2015 Forum in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and, we are attending again this year, in Omaha, Nebraska.

For the past 39 years, Lions from all over North America come together to participate in the largest and greatest Lions Club Leadership Training Event. Over the course of the next three days, Lions will have the opportunity to take part in dozens of leadership seminars, browse the expansive exhibitor hall, listen to inspiring speakers and (re)connect with friends.

The 2016 Forum will be slightly different than the past conferences because there will be a primary focus on preparing for the Lions Club 100th Anniversary. If you recall, to celebrate our milestone anniversary, we, as Lions, have been challenged in accomplishing 100 million acts of service. In addition to participating in several of the 60+ seminars, Forum Participants are invited to partake in three service projects representing four service campaigns:

Engaging Our Youth

Sharing the Vision

Relieving the Hunger

Protecting the Environment

We can’t wait to participate in another weekend of learning and fun with the arguably the greatest company – thousands of Lions!

On behalf of Lions Pride, we’d like to wish all of our traveling friends, safe travels, and we’re looking forward to seeing you at the forum.

Wisconsin Weekend Summer Events

28 Thursday Jul 2016

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Is there any better time to live in Wisconsin than in the summer? We think that our state has the makes of the perfect summer season – sun, fun and plenty of activities to keep the whole family busy. Here’s what’s happening this weekend:

EAA AirVenture 2016

AirVenture is back in Oshkosh! Each year, aircraft enthusiasts from all over the world come together for the world’s largest aviation celebration. For seven days, visitors have the chance to watch outstanding aerobatic displays, listen in on information-rich programs and participate in hands-on workshops. If you’ve never visited Oshkosh during AirVenture, it’s definitely an event worth adding to your bucket list. We were so thrilled to provide our UWSP intern tickets to Friday’s show and the day off to experience the spirit of flight. (We wanted to show her a day of fun in appreciation for all of her hard work!)

Door County Antique Show

The 39th Annual Door County Antique Show, Sister Bay Lions Clubsponsored by the Sister Bay Lions Club, is also taking place this weekend. The three-day show starts today from 10 am to 6 pm in the Gibraltar High School gymnasium. Thirty-five exhibitors will be selling fine art, choice primitives, ornate Victorian pieces, jewelry, furniture and more. There will also be Crystal and China Repair on site. Admission is $5 and is good for all three days. Proceeds will benefit Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Lumberjack World Championships

Hayward is once again hosting the Lumberjack World Championships over the weekend. The event began in 1960 as a way to recognize the country’s rich logging history. Today, the event showcases more than 21 unique competitions for both men and women. Activities include logrolling, chopping and pole climbs. All participants are competing for more than $50,000 in prize money.

Taste of Lake Country & Fine Arts

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of great food, music and art in Pewaukee. Visitors will be able to sample the best the best of the area in all in one place. The celebration will be held on both Friday and Saturday.

How do you plan to spend Saturday and Sunday? Whether you plan to be out and about or just take some time to relax, all of us at Lions Pride wish you a good weekend!

How to Say “Thank You” This Memorial Day

26 Thursday May 2016

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Never Forgotten Flight CWA

Photo Credit to Stevens Point Journal

We don’t have to tell you that this Monday is Memorial Day. We’ve all been counting the days to a three-day weekend, probably since we flipped the calendar month. Your Memorial Day will likely include a day filled with barbecues, family and fun. We’re also excited for the holiday, but is it just us, or does the reason behind Memorial Day seem to get overshadowed with furniture sales, outdoor activities and other thoughts of summer?

Memorial Day, first known as Decoration Day, was created as a day to remember the men and women who died serving the United States of America. While there are no possible ways to repay them for their sacrifice, there are ways to say “thank you” to all past and current veterans. We’ve compiled a few ways to get started:

  1. Write a Thank You Letter

    Express your gratitude to the current veterans in your life, or one you’ve never met with a handwritten note. A Million Thanks is an organization that makes it easy to send a letter.

    “Feeling gratitude, but not expressing it is like a wrapping a present, but not giving it.” –William Arthur Ward

  2. Nominate a Veteran to Participate in an Honor Flight

    Honor Flight is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing veterans with honor and closure. They transport our heroes to Washington D.C. to visit memorials in their honor. There are currently 130 Honor Flight Hubs in 44 states. On May 16, 98 Korea and Vietnam War veterans boarded the Never Forgotten Honor Flight at Central Wisconsin Airport in Central Wisconsin (shown above).

  3. Visit a Veteran’s Cemetery

    One of the more traditional ways to celebrate Memorial Day is to plan a trip to visit a veteran’s cemetery to reflect. At present, the Department of Veteran’s Affairs maintains 134 national cemeteries in 40 states, and 33 soldier’s lots and memorial sites. In Wisconsin, there are three cemeteries and five soldier’s lots.

  4. Participate in the National Moment of Remembrance

    In December 2000, the “National Moment of Remembrance” was passed asking all Americans to “voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of Remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Taps’” at 3 pm local time.

These are only four of many possible ways to celebrate Veterans this holiday. How do you plan to say “thank you”?

Happy Memorial Day from Lions Pride!

The 2016 Wisconsin Lions State Convention

19 Thursday May 2016

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We-Are-Lions

How does that old saying go? “We’ll see likely see “lions, tigers and bears… oh my!” Technically, we’re only going to be seeing Lions, Lionesses and Leos this weekend, but we know that it’s going to be filled with fun at the upcoming Wisconsin Lions State Convention in Appleton.

Unlike many of our conventions, the activities actually start today at the State Golf Tournament to be held at Royal St. Patrick’s Golf Links from 10 am to 4 pm. Convention goers are invited to get out and enjoy the beautiful weathers while watching the pros perfect their golf game; followed by the opportunity to learn more about the Appleton area with tours of the History Museum at the Castle and the Fox Valley Tech Public Safety Training Center.

The fun officially begins the next morning at 8 am with the Strides Walk in the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel lobby, immediately followed by informative breakout sessions, which will take place on both Friday and Saturday. The theme at this year’s convention appears to focus on the magic involved in Lions. (We don’t think it’s a coincidence that we’re also hearing a lot about Harry Houdini who identified Appleton as his hometown!) We’re going to hear from experts about the future of Lions, the state of art technology involved in different programs such as vision screening and organ/tissue donations as well as the importance of staying up-to-date with changing technology to continuously recruit new members.

Of course, we’ll also have the opportunity to take part in more light-hearted presentations such as the Houdini Magical Experience and Beer 101 – Micro Breweries and Home Brewing.

We are most looking forward to the story of Bradley Wagner. He will be sharing his experiences with us about his time as a camper at the Wisconsin Lions Camp and enrolling in Lakeshore Technical College as a high school senior. Bradley is also a four-year varsity letter winner in cross country and has been diagnosed with a severe Autism, but he’s not done yet! We’re excited to hear about his plans for the future. See the descriptions of this weekend’s seminars.

In between, we’ll get to participate in district meetings, hear from keynote speakers and so much more. We can’t wait to spend another weekend filled with learning and friendship. We may be a little biased, but there’s no other group of people that we’d rather than spend our time with than with a group full of Lions.

Be sure and stop by the vendor and display booths, say hello to the folks from Lions Pride and pick up informational brochures.

Are you headed to the Wisconsin Lions State Convention this weekend? If so, which activity are you most excited for?

From all of us here, we hope you have a fun and educational weekend. See you in Appleton!

Deadline for Thrivent Choice® Dollars Soon Approaching

03 Thursday Mar 2016

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LPEF LogoFinances seem to be on everyone’s mind this time of year. Every day, we get a little closer to April 15. If you have not already filed your 2015 taxes, you are probably busy getting all of your documents in order, to bring to your accountant but don’t let this important date distract you from other nearing deadlines such as one happening on March 31 for Thrivent Financial members. The last day of the month marks the end of the 2015 year to for members to direct their Choice Dollars to qualifying organizations.

If you aren’t already familiar with Thrivent Financial, they are a not-for-profit organization that helps Christians be wise with their money and live generously. In addition to offering life insurance, annuities and mutual funds, they offer several opportunities for their members to make a difference in their communities.

One such program is called Thrivent Choice® where eligible members are designated Choice Dollars that can be directed to enrolled organizations. Last year, 1699 churches and organizations in the South Wisconsin region received over $3.7 million in Choice Dollars charitable grant funds.

Of course, there is a deadline for any program, and this particular one is only 28 days away on March 31, 2016. If you have unused Thrivent Choice Dollars, we would be honored if you chose to support the Lions Pride Endowment Fund. Your Choice Dollars will help preserve, provide and protect all Wisconsin Lions Foundation projects. Our largest project, the Wisconsin Lions Camp, is dedicated to a week of summer fun for children who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, cognitively disabled and children with type I or type II diabetes. The goal of Lions Camp is to assist every child in the development of self-confidence, interdependence, social skills, outdoor recreational skills and environmental awareness, but most importantly to for the child to have a fun, memorable experience.

Thanks to the support of our donors, 140 children will benefit from the life altering experience one week at Lions Camp affords them. With your help, we can continue helping children with special needs have the experience of a lifetime.

Thrivent Choice

The 2016 A2 District Convention

18 Thursday Feb 2016

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A2 ConventionWelcome to the third week of February. If you are an active Lions Pride blog reader, you know that we are smack dabbed in the middle of our convention season. This weekend, we will continue our trek across the state in Oconomowoc for the Broadway-themed 27-A2 District Convention at the Olympia Resort and Spa.

The conference will kick-off with a Friday night fish, raffle drawings and a fun social where all attendees are to dress as their favorite Broadway musical character.

Saturday will start off on a high note with meetings and gatherings as well as presentations from a few Wisconsin Lions partners. We’ll hear from the Hope House, Leader Dogs, our very own Executive Director Geri Schlender, sharing information on the Lions Pride Endowment Fund and more. Throughout the day, participants will be able to visit the Lions Hall of Awareness and Pin Traders.

Saturday night, everyone is in for a great treat as we have the opportunity to enjoy the “Broadway Musical Review” courtesy of the Hartford Union High School Concert Choir, during the banquet awards.

We’re excited to see all of our friends at the upcoming District 27-A2 Convention and looking forward to another exciting weekend full of learning and fun. Are you planning on attending the conference?

From all of us here at Lions Pride, we hope you enjoy your weekend, no matter how you plan to spend it!