Chronological Order of WLF and WLC History
- 1956: Resolution passed to purchase the Camp with 240 acres purchased for $18,000
- – Opening session for youth who are Blind or Visually Impaired– 26 attended
- 1957: Formal dedication of Camp
- – Dining Hall built
- – Maples, Birches, Oakes, Traders, Explorers, Frontiers, Lakewoods, and Pioneers cabins built
- 1959: Elms and Trailblazers cabins built
- 1960: Property Manager’s house and garage built
- 1961: Memorial Building built
- 1964: First year of adults who are Blind or Visually Impaired
- – 40 acres purchased on the south side
- – Director’s cabin built
- 1966: First year of youth with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism
- – Totem Pole #1 installed
- 1967: Boys’ and girls’ bathhouses built
- 1969: First year of youth who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- – 20 acres purchased on north side
- – Health Lodge and Crafts buildings built
- – Hemlocks and Pines cabins built
- 1971: Willows, Hodags, Pathfinders, and Ravens cabins built
- – 100 acres added to the north and west of main Camp
- 1974: Tamaracks cabin built
- 1976: Off camp trip program
- 1977: Rental program
- 1978: New Recreation/Storage Building built
- 1979: Environmental Education program added
- – Swimming Pier purchased for $17,000
- 1980: Program began for Danish Counselors
- – Lumberjacks Cabin used as 11th Boys’ Cabin
- 1981: Indian Hollow developed by campers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- – Leadership program developed
- – Renovation of Health Lodge and Crafts building
- – Additional boys’ bathhouse built
- – Hodge House built
- – Foundation Celebrates 25th Year Anniversary
- 1983: Nature Center built
- – Totem Pole #2 installed (“NA-WAK-WA”)
- 1984: Dry storage building built
- 1986: Pinewood Lodge built
- 1987: Swimming area expanded
- – Ropes Course program added
- – Trading Post built
- – Dining Hall expanded
- 1988: Pinewood Lodge lower level completed
- – New main entrance gate built
- 1989: Phase 1 Lions Lake dredging
- – Nature Center expanded
- 1991: Memorial Building Office renovated
- 1992: Memorial Building bathrooms renovated
- – Wood shed built
- 1994: 40 acres purchased on the south side
- 1995: Regional Eyeglass Recycling Center built
- 1997: First and Second of nine year-round Duplex Cabins built
- 1998: Third and Fourth of nine year-round Duplex Cabins built
- 1999: Climbing Tower built
- – Friends and Honor Garden built
- – Fifth and Sixth of nine year-round Duplex Cabins built
- – Trading Post expanded
- 2000: New Rope Swing installed
- – Seventh and Eighth of nine year-round Duplex Cabins built
- – First year of youth with Diabetes
- – Maintenance Shop/Storage built
- 2001: Ninth of Nine year-round Duplex Cabins built
- – Totem Pole #3 installed
- 2002: Wisconsin Lions Foundation, Inc. Offices move to expanded Eyeglass Recycling Center
- 2003: Sturm Memorial Dining Hall renovated
- – Dry Storage building removed
- 2004: High & Low Challenge Course renovated
- 2005: New Low Rope Elements added
- 2006: Rope Swing replaced
- – Foundation Celebrate 50th Year Anniversary
- – Performing Arts program added
- – Health Lodge resolution passed, construction began
- 2007: Health Lodge built in time for summer season
- 2008: New elements added to both High and Low Ropes Course
- 2009: Indian Hollow project completed – electricity and handrail added
- 2010: Memorial roof project – flat roof removal and re-shingling
- 2011: Totem Pole #3 removed due to deterioration
- 2012: Storage shed rebuilt – destroyed by windstorm
- – Temporary 18 ft. Totem Pole installed (“MISCH-KEE-KEE”)
- 2014: Totem Pole #4 installed
- – Sensory Wall built
- 2015: Storage Shed rebuilt – destroyed by fire
- 2017: Gaga Pit installed
- 2018: Adventure Course & Sun High Ropes built
- – Friends & Honors Garden Addition started
- 2019: Friends & Honors Garden Addition completed
- – First year of Youth with Epilepsy or Seizure disorders
- 2021: 9-Square in the Air installed
- – Disc Golf Course complete
- 2022: Solar panels installed on Duplex Cabin 1
- – Staircase in boys’ area redone
- – Trail around lake resurfaced
- 2023: Adventure Course shelter built
- – Horseshoe Pits redone
- – Disc Golf Open to the public
- – Rentals Office opened
- – Shade structures complete in swimming & boating areas
- – Dining Hall Ramp entrance redone
- – Circle around Trading Post redone
- – Multipurpose Court started
WLF Past Presidents
PRESIDENTS | TERM |
LUCARELLI, V.J. | 1956-59 |
LEWIS, FRED | 1959-62 |
STURM, CLARENCE | 1962-63 |
METCALF, VERN | 1963-64 |
JOHNSON, HAROLD | 1964-66 |
SCOTT, HUGH | 1966-68 |
VOLZ, VERN | 1968-70 |
THRALL, CLIFFORD | 1970-71 |
JOHNSON, WILLIAM | 1971-73 |
ROSHELL, J. EUGENE | 1973-74 |
HEIMKE, HOWARD | 1974-75 |
MERRIMAN, HARRY | 1975-76 |
ROSENKRANZ, DR. ALTON | 1976-77 |
SCHOONENBERG, JOHN | 1977-78 |
HOFFMANN, GEORGE | 1978-79 |
STEVENS, DANIEL | 1979-80 |
ENDER, GENE | 1980-81 |
VALLETT, WILLIS | 1981-82 |
MEYER, PETER J. | 1982-83 |
LECY, HELMER N. | 1983-84 |
PETERSON, ROBERT G. | 1984-85 |
HELWIG, HAL | 1985-86 |
CARL, DUWAYNE | 1986-87 |
RABBACH, GERALD H. | 1987-88 |
RYAN, IVAN | 1988-89 |
TYREE, WAYNE | 1989-90 |
HUSBY, RONALD | 1990-91 |
WELCH, ROBERT | 1991-92 |
SCHNEIDER, HERB | 1992-93 |
DUFFE, RON | 1993-94 |
KOHLWEY, ALFRED | 1994-95 |
AHLER, ROBERT | 1995-96 |
POGRANT, DAVID | 1996-97 |
PAVLAT, DON | 1997-98 |
JOHNSON, DON | 1998-99 |
HANDRICK, TED | 1999-2000 |
KORANDA, DENNIS | 2000-01 |
MCMEEKEN, MIKE | 2001-02 |
ZAIS, JERRY | 2002-03 |
SCHROEDER, DALE | 2003-04 |
KJENDALEN, CURT | 2004-05 |
OSINSKI, MARTIN | 2005-06 |
ENDER, ERIC | 2006-07 |
PRYOR, GREG | 2007-08 |
CLAUSEN, TOM | 2008-09 |
MOEGENBURG, GLEN | 2009-10 |
KAISER, DAVID | 2010-11 |
DEINHAMMER, ANDREW | 2011-12 |
HOLTHAUS, ERIC | 2012-13 |
DAVID HEMPEL | 2013-14 |
VRIEZE, LEE | 2014-15 |
REINDL, JACK | 2015-16 |
MUELLER, TOM | 2016-17 |
DICKSON, JOHN | 2017-18 |
MARSON, JO | 2018-19 |
JANOWITZ, TAL | 2019-20 |
VRIEZE, MARY | 2020-21 |
BLANK, DARREL | 2021-22 |
TESTA, LARRY | 2022-23 |