Tag Archives: preserve

Plant a Tree This Arbor Day

23 Thursday Apr 2020

Posted by in Lions Camp, Special Events

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Lions Lake in Fall

Photo Credit to Wisconsin Lions Camp

Friday marks the observance of Arbor Day, a holiday dedicated to celebrating the beneficial role that trees play in our lives. Of course, this year’s celebration will be different we’ve seen in years past due to the novel coronavirus and extended “Safer to Home” Orders.

Two years ago, we developed tips on planning a tree planting project with a group, but we know that these points may not be especially pertinent to life in 2020 since none of us can predict when it will be considered safe to gather in groups. However, we think it’s important to bear in mind that planting a tree doesn’t necessarily require a group; instead, it may be a memorable outing for families wanting to make a positive impact on the environment.

Since the ground is no longer frozen (that is here in Central Wisconsin,) now is a fantastic time to plant a tree. By planting in the spring, you allow the tree an opportunity to grow all summer long then prepare for the cold winter months. Nonetheless, there are a few challenges that you will likely need to address. With the help of BHG, we’ve compiled a few tips to improve your chances of a successful tree planting:

  1. Safety first! Before even picking up the shovel, please be sure there will be no utility lines down below. Call the Diggers Hotline (811) before planning to dig. The dispatcher will ask you questions about your project and will need to reach out to local public utilities, which can take some time. The best time to call is two to three days before digging your hole.
  2. When you are ready to plant, dig a hole two to three times as wide as the root ball of your tree to allow for sufficient backfill soil.
  3. As you place the root ball within the hole, be sure to handle carefully to keep it all intact.
  4. Once the root ball is in your ideal location, surround it with lightly packed soil. Loose soil will help the roots grow easily.
  5. The biggest obstacle to planting in the spring is that the tree will need to make new roots and new leaves at the same time, which requires a lot of sugar and water. Be sure to give the tree a large drink of water just after planting and every day for weeks after. Adding mulch to the base of the tree will help keep the weeds out and reduce water loss.

If you are a Lion or Lioness, and plan to plant one or more trees in observance of Arbor Day, we invite you to share your numbers with Multiple District’s Environmental Chair, Lion Anita LeCleir at tia1937@yahoo.com.

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

Instead of thinking of Arbor Day as just a one-day celebration, perhaps we can consider it as an opportunity to continually come up with new ways to improve the world around us. Remember that small steps, like planting a tree, can have a positive effect on our environment as well as generations to come.

Thank you for continuing to protect Planet Earth!

 

Wisconsin Lions Camp Summer 2019

30 Thursday May 2019

Posted by in Lions Camp, News, Special Events

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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.

Lions Pride Presents Check to WLF

30 Thursday Mar 2017

Posted by in Lions Camp, News, Special Events

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Thousands of people throughout Wisconsin haveSam Kochel pro tem supported the Lions free service programs by participating in local fundraisers and activities, but over the course of the last two decades, expenses for Lions Camp and all WLF statewide projects have risen dramatically. Lions Pride was created to counteract these increasing costs by working to preserve, protect and provide for the future of Lions Camp and all WLF projects. Read the entire story here.

Each year Lions Pride makes two disbursements of funds to the Wisconsin Lions Foundation from the Lions Pride Endowment Fund based on the interest. The amounts are based on market values and ultimately determined by the LPEF Board of Directors.

Last week, we were happy to deliver our first gift of 2017. Our president pro tem, PCC Sam Kochel, presented a check for $40,000 to WLF President, Tom Mueller, at the March 25th WLF board meeting.

We are proud to report that all WLF projects received funds with this donation. The lions share was designated for Lions Camp, and the remainder went to the eyeglass recycling center, the hearing project, children & adult vision screening and diabetes education.

With this single donation, Lions Pride is providing 48 kids a week at Lions Camp this summer. Wow! We could not do it without our generous donors.

We will be making the second disbursement of additional funds in September. Consider donating to Lions Pride to help us create a sustainable future for the Lions Camp and all WLF statewide projects. If there is a project that holds a special place in your heart, be sure to designate it! All designated donations are guaranteed to go towards the project of choice.

We can’t thank our donors enough for their continued support.

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day

21 Thursday Apr 2016

Posted by in Fundraising, News, Special Events

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Wisconsin Lions Camp

Grab your party hat and a pair of work gloves because tomorrow is Mother Nature’s birthday! The 22nd of every April marks Earth Day, the chance for all of us to appreciate the world that we live in and rethink the way we treat our home.

We have a lot of admiration for organizations that are continuously celebrating the planet all year-round. We’ve seen many large organizations, such as General Mills and Starbucks; adopt more sustainable and eco-friendly business practices. As we were brainstorming green organizations, another organization also immediately came to mind; one that is a little more local and very close to our hearts, the Wisconsin Lions Camp.

As many of you already know the camp is situated on 440 acres of land centered around Lions Lake. The camp is home to hundreds of weekly campers throughout the summer months. During their week away, campers and staff spend a vast majority of their time outdoors so it should come as no surprise they have a great respect for Mother Nature.

In addition to assisting children with self-confidence and interdependence, the Wisconsin Lions Camp staff focuses on providing campers with a strong environmental awareness. The kids are encouraged to sign up for programs to learn more about certain areas of the environment. Activities include participating in nature hikes, learning about the many animals living in the forest by learning about tracks and taking part in water study. They also get to hear lots of nature’s stories and play animal trivia. The biggest takeaway for kids is to leave nature in better condition than what you found it in.

As individuals, we can learn a lot from Lions Camp by treating every day like Earth Day. Go green by implementing one (or more) of the Earth-friendly tips:

  1. Plant a tree. You’ve probably heard the saying, “The best day to plant a tree, the second best day is today.” Clean the air and provide oxygen for everyone to enjoy. Did you know that in one year an acre of mature trees can provide enough oxygen for 18 people?
  2. Go paperless. There are many ways for bills to be delivered. Save paper by exploring a paperless option.
  3. Walk to work or school. If it’s not possible to get from Point A to Point B with just your two feet, consider carpooling.
  4. Create a recycling plan for you and your family. Decrease the amount of waste in your household by devising a weekly plan. Check with your local municipality to learn what can and cannot be recycled.
  5. Invest in a refillable water bottle. Studies show that United States landfills are overflowing with over 2 million plastic water bottles. Help keep plastic out of landfills by refilling your own bottle.
  6. Organize a group cleanup day to keep your community looking its very best. With enough help, the work will be completed in no time at all.

P.S. You can make even more of an impact by planning environmental projects for your entire community!

At Lions Pride Endowment Fund, 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.

Making small changes in our lifestyles can make a big difference to the world we live in. Let’s all work together to preserve, protect and provide for Mother Nature. Let’s all start celebrating Earth Day, every day!

 

4 Reasons Why We Love Our Donors

11 Thursday Feb 2016

Posted by in Holidays, Lions Camp, Special Events

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Ahh, l’amour. If you’ve visited a supermarket in theValentines Day Lion last few weeks or have watched a TV show during primetime, you know that Valentine’s Day is upon us. The increased usage of the pink and red color combination, as well as the frequent jewelry and flower commercials, tell us that there’s no better time to show our adoration for our loved ones than on Cupid’s Birthday. However, we also thought it would also be the perfect time to show our appreciation for our favorite people – our donors.

Read through these four (of many!) reasons why we think we have the best donors. We love our donors for their…

  1. Kindness

    As you may or may not know, the Lions Pride staff consists of only one full-time and one part time employee, meaning that it’s not always easy to complete large tasks on our own. Whenever we are in need of additional support such as stuffing mailers or working a fundraising event, we can always count on the kindness of Lions and our donors to come to our aid.

  2. Loyalty

    The Lions Pride Endowment Fund was first introduced in 2006 when it became evident that the rising costs of the camp operating expenses were no longer being sustained by club donations alone. We are proud to say that many of our donors have been with us since the very beginning and others continue to stick with us, year after year, supporting us as we continue to work to be “today’s help, tomorrow’s hope.”

  3. Warmth

    Although campers may only stay at Lions Camp during June, July and August, it takes nine months of preparation to make sure our campers have the week of their lives. The weather may be cold outside, but we always have summer on our mind, thanks to our warm and giving hearts of our donors.

  4. Caring Attitudes

    It never ceases to amaze us how much our donors care about our campers and all the WLF service projects. They truly want us to succeed as much as we do, and we understand that that kind of attitude isn’t found just anywhere.

At Lions Pride, our mission is to preserve, protect and provide for Lions Camp and all other WLF statewide projects. None of this would be possible without our donor’s continued support. We feel so lucky to have the greatest donors.

Happy Valentine’s Day from Lions Pride!

The Kwanzaa Celebration

18 Thursday Dec 2014

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Kwanzaa PrinciplesLast week, we explored the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah, in an effort to learn more about the different holidays being celebrated during the month of December. Today, we move on to the next holiday called Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa is quite different from both Christmas and Hanukkah because it doesn’t have a religious background; instead it is a celebration of culture.

California State University professor, Dr. Maulana Karenga, created the holiday is 1966 to encourage the indispensable need to “preserve, protect, continually revitalize and promote African American culture.” (The first part sounds awfully familiar to us.)

Kwanzaa takes place from December 26 to January 1 each year. The names comes from the Swahili phrase, “matunda ya kwanzaa” which means “first fruits.” The first-fruits was a celebration that date back to societies in ancient Egypt and Nubia. Everyone would come together in reverence to commemorate, recommit and celebrate their culture.

The celebration is built on 7 principles:

  • Unity (Umoja) – to strive for and maintain unity in family, community, nation and race.
  • Self-Determination (Kujichagulia) – to define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves
  • Collective Work and Responsibility (Ujima) – to build and maintain our community together and to make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together
  • Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa) – to build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together
  • Purpose (Nia) – to make own collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to traditional greatness
  • Greatness (Kuumba) – to do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it
  • Faith (Imani) – to believe with our heart in our people, our parents, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle

Throughout the week of Kwanzaa, African Americans come together to celebrate with a profound respect for its values, symbols and practices. They dress up in festive clothing, decorate with beautiful art and cloths and feast on fresh fruits and vegetables.

As we were learning more about Kwanzaa, we couldn’t help but notice the similarities between the celebration and our own organization as well as an importance of culture.

The Lions Pride Endowment Fund‘s efforts to preserve, protect, continually revitalize and promote the Lions of Wisconsin’s culture of serving others through Lions Camp and the WLF projects.

Certainly we can all agree that these are special projects that we can be proud of and want to ensure we can continue to provide for future generations.   The Lions Pride Endowment Fund is “Today’s Help, Tomorrow’s Hope” for all those served by Lions Camp and all WLF statewide projects.

This holiday season, we hope that you keep your own culture in mind and be inspired to preserve, protect and provide for others though a donation to Lions Pride.

Happy Holidays from Lions Pride!

Source:

http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml