The Wisconsin Lions Foundation is excited to celebrate yet another incredible summer at our Wisconsin Lions Camp! Thanks to the dedication of our campers, staff, volunteers, and donors, we welcomed 924 campers this year. Additionally, Wisconsin Lions Camp Rentals continues to grow, experiencing a very successful first half of the Rentals season.
From cherished traditions to new updates, this summer was truly special, and we’re grateful to everyone who made it possible. Let’s review some notable news from Lions Camp and our Wisconsin Lions Camp Rentals.
Wisconsin Lions Camp News
2024 Who’s Who at Lions Camp
This summer, we hosted a diverse group of campers across 10 weeks of programming. Here’s a breakdown of our Who’s Who camper populations:
| Camper Weeks | Camp Population | Total Attendees |
| June 2-6 | Adults who are Blind or Visually Impaired | 115 |
| June 9-13 | Youth who are Blind or Visually Impaired / Youth with Epilepsy | 44 / 28 |
| June 16-20 | Youth with Diabetes | 83 |
| June 23-27 | Youth with Diabetes | 124 |
| June 30 – July 4 | Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism | 101 |
| July 7-11 | Youth with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism | 105 |
| July 14-18 | Youth with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism | 86 |
| July 21-25 | Youth who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing | 103 |
| July 28 – August 1 | Youth who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing | 77 |
| August 12-16 | Adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing | 58 |
We were delighted to welcome both returning campers and new faces this year, creating lasting memories for everyone involved.
Looking Ahead to 2025
We’re already gearing up for next summer! Below is a sneak peek at our 2025 camp schedule:
| Camper Weeks | Camp Population | Age |
| May 19-23, 27-30 | Staff Training | N/A |
| June 1-5 | Adults who are Blind or Visually Impaired | 18+ |
| June 8-12 | Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism | 18-25 (by invitation only) |
| June 15-19 | Youth with Diabetes | 10-17 |
| June 22-26 | Youth with Diabetes | 10-17 |
| June 29 – July 3 | Youth with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism | 10-17 |
| July 6-10 | Youth with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism | 10-17 |
| July 13-17 | Youth who are Blind or Visually Impaired and Youth with Epilepsy | 6-17 |
| July 20-24 | Youth who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing | 6-17 |
| July 27-31 | Youth who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing | 6-17 |
| August 9 | Hustle S’more & S’more Fun at Lions Camp | All |
| August 11-15 | Adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing | 18+ |
Applications for the 2025 camp season will be available on or around January 20, 2025.
Fundraisers
The 2024 Hustle S’more & S’more Fun at Lions Camp fundraiser on August 10, 2024, was a tremendous success, raising over $23,000! These funds will go directly towards enhancing the camp experience for all of our future campers. We are incredibly grateful for the support from our community.
Staff Updates
Amanda Dehli, new Healthcare Supervisor
This year, we said a heartfelt goodbye to Paula Lauer, our Healthcare Supervisor, who served our camp with dedication over the years.
While we’re sad to see her go, we are thrilled to welcome Amanda Dehli as our new Healthcare Supervisor. Amanda is a registered nurse with 18 years of experience and has worked at the Lions Camp health lodge for 1-2 weeks every summer. Her connection to Camp runs deep, as her sister, Jackie, was a camper from ages 8 to 17.
Amanda shared her excitement about stepping into this new role: “I first fell in love with camp through my sister, Jackie’s eyes. She was a camper from age 8-17 and camp was (and still is) her favorite place in the world! I know what camp has meant for Jackie, and I get so much joy and fulfillment in being part of making that special experience for all of our campers.”
Camp Improvements
This summer, campers enjoyed several exciting improvements to the campgrounds. The archery storage shed received a much-needed update, and last year’s construction projects—including the sports courts, shade structures, swimming area, and driveway—were completed and fully functional. These upgrades made a significant impact on our campers’ experiences, and we look forward to even more improvements in the coming years.
-
- Updated archery storage shed.
-
- New Sports Court
-
- Shade structure and seating in the Swimming Area
-
- New driveway for Camp deliveries
Wisconsin Lions Camp Rentals News
New Events
NASA GLOBE Camp-to-School Partnership: We are proud to now offer school day and overnight experiences where youth (K-12) learn about and conduct real-world data collection that helps contribute to a greater understanding of the world around us in partnership with some fantastic scientists from NASA. We hosted our first NASA GLOBE Camp-to-School events in the spring and they were a hit! To request a NASA GLOBE Camp-to-School event, fill out our request form here: NASA GLOBE Camp-to-School Event Request Form.
Wisconsin Lions Family Weekend: Lions Clubs recently enjoyed a weekend of fun at Wisconsin Lions Camp with their whole family. We provided a space for Lions to gather from throughout the state for our first Wisconsin Lions Family Weekend on September 21-22, 2024. There was a great turnout of 12 families. For a small fee, Lions brought their families to Camp for fun-filled activities, experienced our meal service and lodging, and supported the five statewide projects of the Wisconsin Lions Foundation in the process. We’re proud to have provided this new experience to our Lions Clubs so they can see and feel the magic of Camp. We look forward to evaluating other ways Lions can experience our Camp amenities and support our projects in person.
Sierra Huss, new Rentals Specialist
Staff Updates
We welcomed Sierra Huss as our new full-time Rentals Specialist. Sierra is no stranger to Camp, as she was the Environmental Education Specialist at Camp during 2021 and 2023. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Education and Interpretation. Sierra will be working closely with Rental groups and managing the GLOBE Camp-to-School Partnership with NASA.
Sierra shared, “My plan for stewardship in this role is to make the NASA GLOBE program accessible, equitable, and economical for all students in the state of Wisconsin and to leave rental groups missing camp before they even leave.”
Achievements and Recognitions
We are proud to announce that Wisconsin Lions Camp Rentals was named a Top 3 Finalist for the Best Event Venue in Portage County in the Community Choice Awards – Best of Portage County. This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our Camp and Rentals staff and volunteers. We’re excited to continue growing our Rentals Program to better serve our community with all their event needs.
Anniversary of the Disc Golf Course
This summer also marked the one-year anniversary of the opening of our Wisconsin Lions Camp Disc Golf Course. In celebration, we added new amenities to the course, including a bathroom, water area, and improved signage
to help campers navigate the course with ease. It’s become a popular attraction and we can’t wait to see more campers enjoy the course next year! You can view the current schedule of openings on the Disc Golf Course site.
Wrapping Up
As we reflect on this summer, we’re already looking forward to what’s to come for Camp and Rentals next year!
Whether you’re a Camper, parent, educator, Lion, donor, or supportive community member, we invite you to come out to experience the magic of Camp. Keep an eye out for next year’s Visitor Days and Camper Open Houses, or book a stay with our Rentals team.
You can contribute to the success of Lions Camp by making a donation to the Wisconsin Lions Foundation. Your support helps us continue providing unforgettable experiences to our campers year after year. You can donate at wlf.info/donate.