2011 Camp Lions of Illinois

Youth Schedule

 

Come join the fun games, sports, campfires,

& make friends and memories to last a lifetime!

 

 

June 26 - July 2, 2011-

for Deaf/HoH and Blind/Low Vision Youth (age 7-17)

Reynoldswood Retreat Center, Dixon, IL

 

July 10 - 16, 2011-

for Deaf/HoH and Blind/Low Vision Youth (age 7-17)

DuBois Center, DuBois, IL

 

July 17 - 23, 2011

for Deaf/HoH and Blind/Low Vision Youth (age 7-17)

East Bay Camp, Hudson, IL (near Bloomington)

 

July 24 - 30, 2011 - "Vision Week"

for Blind/Low Vision Youth (age 7-17)

East Bay Camp, Hudson, IL (near Bloomington)

 

July 31 - August 6, 2011-

for Deaf/HoH and Blind/Low Vision Youth (age 7-17)

Reynoldswood Retreat Center, Dixon, IL

 

Click here to view and print an applicaton to attend Camp Lions for Youth.

 

Looking for Camp Lions Helen Keller Camp for Adults? Click here for the info you need.

 

Session Descriptions of Camp Lions of Illinois
for Blind/Low Vision and or Deaf/Hard of Hearing Youth

 

Most importantly, Camp Lions creates a safe environment to make new friends, with other peers who have similar abilities, outside of the educational or therapeutic arenas. Camp Lions is recreational in setting and does not teach any curriculum to campers. Activities are guided by Camp Counselors trained with special emphasis on safety & positive role-modeling, providing an enriching experience for every youth attending. Counselor to camper ratio is 1:4 during most activities.

 

Camp Lions of Illinois for Youth is held in three locations - in northern Illinois at Reynoldswood Center in Dixon, in central Illinois at East Bay Camp near Hudson, and in southern Illinois at DuBois Center in DuBois. Sleeping accommodations is in cabins or a dormitory style Manor House equipped with modern bathrooms with showers.

All Camp Lions sites have access to swimming, canoeing, fishing, horses, sports, crafts, & many other opportunities.

 

*Sorry, C.L.A.W.S. - Not scheduled for 2011 *

Camp Lions "Vision Week" is a one week session designed especially for youth who are Blind or have Low Vision. While many activities are identical to our other camps, this session highlights activities that accommodate vision needs. Our daily schedules, posted in large print and in braille, might list many of the following choices: crafts such as painting, beading, building small handmade items, or molding clay, to sports like beeper baseball, horse riding on trails, pontoon boat rides and beeper archery.

 

A beach party, dance, talent show, cookouts, songs around the campfire, pool swims, braille bingo & cards plus a wide assortment of tactile games, described videos, and more fun fill the week.

 

Camp Lions "Vision Week" is held in central Illinois just 10 miles northeast of Bloomington on the grounds of East Bay Camps. The Woodscamp Area is our home base. Located near the pool, baseball diamond, and gymnasium it is a great spot to have fun in the sun! This area also has a large fire ring encircled with benches for late night story telling, an air-conditioned Hall used on days when the weather is less than perfect, and a screened activity building nestled among the tall trees for craft activities. The campgrounds have wide walking paths with varied, but distinct, cover for ease of identifying the pathway.

 

Sleeping accommodations while at Camp Lions "Vision Week" are in cabins with eight bunks to a room. Every cabin is one level and has a modern bathroom with a shower. Our Counselor to camper ratio is 1:4 to make Camp Lions a positive and safe experience. A Camp Health Officer will be on site 24/7 to assist in medications and provide basic health care.

 

Camp Lions "Vision Week" is a chance to meet other youth who all have vision loss, each a peer and hopefully a camp friend! The facilities are equipped to handle 50 campers, so the session fills quickly. Don't miss the fun - get your application in early!

GENERAL INFORMATION:

 

 

Camp Lions of Illinois goals and mission are for the overall growth of the individual camper in self-confidence, knowledge, independence, leadership, and creativity through a recreational experience geared to individual needs, from the beginning camper to the return veteran. There is a 1:4 counselor to camper ratio to assure safety and provide positive role modeling.

 

 

SPONSORS:

The LIF is proud to say Camp Lions for Youth is our gift to youth who have vision or hearing loss in Illinois. Since 1957 Camp Lions for youth has been able to be offered FREE to eligible campers because of donations & support of our member Lion, Lioness, & Leo Clubs, plus private donors who have become "Friends of Camp Lions". However, all campers are required to submit a $15 "store deposit" with application forms. This deposit sets up an account for campers to use for personal purchases, to buy a group photo if desired, or to buy supplies left at home. The balance of the account is refunded to the camper at close of session upon request.

 

Camp Lions welcomes eligible youth of any economic status. Because this program is FREE, many have made the misconception that we accept only youth of low income families. This could be no farther from the truth. Camp Lions will always be a safe haven of fun and friendship for children of all income levels who are either Blind/Low Vision and or Deaf/Hard of Hearing.

ELIGIBILITY FOR YOUTH CAMPERS:
To be eligible to attend Camp Lions youth program, campers must be:

1). between the ages of 7-17 years old;

2). either be Blind or have low vision and/or be Deaf or hard of hearing;

3). campers must be independent in all personal/hygiene care.

One-to-one care is NOT provided by Camp Counselors or Staff;

4). independently ambulatory around the campsite and activity areas;

5). Cognitively capable of understanding and following instructions from staff.

 

For Camp Lions purposes only:

Campers who are Blind or have Low Vision are described as a person with a visual acuity within the range of total blindness & 20/70 vision in both eyes after best correction.

Deaf or Hard of hearing campers are described as a person having an auditory loss which requires daily usage of communication alternatives such as sign language, lip reading, or hearing device such as a hearing aid or cochlear implant.

HEALTH & SAFETY AT CAMP LIONS:
Safety is the rule at Camp Lions. All sessions have health staff on duty around the clock and Counselors are trained & certified by the American Red Cross in Basic First Aid, Rescue Breathing, and CPR. Emergency medical help is available nearby. A majority of Counselors are fluent in Sign Language, some having skills in hand-in-hand communication techniques. All activities at Camp are closely supervised by qualified staff.

 

NO CHILD WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND CAMP unless a physical exam form is completed by a licensed physician and received by the Camp Lions Registrar on or before the application deadline of March 1, 2011. THIS IS REQUIRED BY LAW. The physical exam form is provided as a part of every application packet and is the only form accepted. No form is accepted if dated over 12 months prior to the March 1, 2011 deadline.

 

BEHAVIOR:
Campers at Camp Lions for Youth are usually great, but camp officials reserve the right to have parents/guardians pick up children immediately if the child violates the rights of others and/or does not follow camp rules.