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
- 1991: Memorial Building Office renovated
- 1992: Memorial Building bathrooms renovated
- 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
- 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 |
| BEHRENS, BRAD |
2023-24 |
