Lions Bear Lake Camp3409 N. Five Lakes Road

Lapeer, MI 48446810-245-0726

w w w. b e a r l a k e c a m p. o r g

A greAt plAce to grow

Mark Your Calender

for our annual

Golf Outing Event

at

Metamora Golf and

Country ClubMay 21, 2017

Camp Wish List *8 Foot Tables $200 Challenge Course*Camper Shirts $700 *Chest Harness (3) $135*Art Center Supplies $200 *Hula Hoops (set) $20*Case of Copy Paper $40 *Books $20*Office Supplies $200 *Blindfolds (10) $65

*Health Center Supplies $500 Visually Impaired & Blind*Large & Small Totes w/lids $75 * Magic Texture Paper (3) $420

Maintenance Supplies *Beep Kickball $155

*Drill Bits & Impact $300 *Goal Ball and Pads $140*Power Miter Saw $500 *Full set of Bases(goal ball) $300*Portable Table Saw $500 *Blindfolds (12) $80Deaf and Hard of Hearing Nature Center $50*Books for DHH Camp $350 *Garden Bird Bath $50*Go Pro Camera $260 *Tripod Deer Feeder $150*Go Pro Head Strap $9 *Display Cases (S.M.L) $500*Karoke Machine & CD’s $250 *Case of Newsprint $40 Waterfront *Small Display Bug Containers $50

*Accessible Dock Section $3000 (includes your name imprinted on dock)

Lions Club Gold Sponsors ($1000+)

*Algonac Lions

*Almont Lions

*Armada Lions

*Bellaire Lions

*Berville Lions

*Birmingham Lions

*Bretton Woods Lions

*Center Line Lions

*Charlotte Lions

*Chesaning Lions

*Clarkston Lions

*Clawson Lions

*Dearborn Heights Lions

*Eastpointe Lions

*Emmett Lions

*Fenton Lions

*Fraser Lions

*Frankenmuth Lions

*Grand Rapids Lions

*Grosse Point Lions

*Harper Woods &

Grosse Pointe Woods Lions

*Lake Orion Lions

*Lathrup Village Lions

*Livonia Hi-Nooners Lions

*Madison Heights Area Lions

*Macomb Twp. Lions

*Mount Clemens Lions

*Muskegon Northside Lions

*Novi Lions

*Ortonville Lions

*Plymouth Lions

*Port Huron South Park Lions

*Rochester Lions

*Rochester Hills Lions

*Romeo Lions

*Royal Oak Lions

*Shelby Twp Lions

*Sterling Heights Lions

*Stockbridge Lions

*Trenton Lions

*Utica Lions

*Waterford Twp Lions

*Westland Lions

*Wixom Walled Lake Lions

Our Contributors 2015In recognition of the many organizations and individuals that make

it possible for us to provide unique outdoor experiences for

special needs youth and adults.

Lions Club

Silver Sponsors ($500-$999)

*Ann Arbor Host Lions

*Bedford Area Lions

*Boyne Valley Lions

*Cass City Lions

*Charlevoix Lions

*Clinton Valley Lions

*Durand Lions

*Elk Rapids Lions

*Garden City Lions

*Grand Ledge Lions

*Hale Lions

*Hanover-Horton Lions

*Harsens Is land Lions

*Hazel Park Lions

*Holt Lions

*Lapeer Lions

*Linden Lions

*Memphis Lions

*Metamora Lions

*Michigan Center Lions

*Midland Lions

*North Branch Lions

*Oscoda Lions

*Pontiac Lions

*Ray Township Lions

*Roscommon/Higgins Lake Lions

*Rose City Lions

*Traverse City Lions

*Troy Community Lions

*Walker Lions

*Washington Lions

*Yale Lions

Lioness Clubs Gold Sponsors ($1000+)

*Armada Lioness

*Delta Lioness

*Lake Orion Lioness

*Sterl ing Heights Lioness

Lioness Clubs Silver Sponsors ($500-$999)

*Macomb Township Lioness

*Metamora Lioness

Camper Sponsors *Algonac Lioness/Lions

*Almont Lions

*Galencher Nagy Foundation

*Holiday Shores Lions

*Jackson Eyeopeners Lions

*Lake Orion Lioness

*Lapeer Lions

*Lewiston Lioness Lions

*Madison Heights Area Lions

*Mayvil le Lions

*Metamora Lions

*Northport Lions

*Pontiac Lions

*Redford Union Oral Program

*Sandusky Lions

*St. Charles Lions

*Sterl ing Heights Lioness

*Taylor Rotary Club

*Thai Summit America

Memorials*Blanche Tasior Oscoda Lions Club*Stephen Messina Florence Messina

Dale & Karen Niedzwiecki

Ann Dylewski

Judy Young

Mr. & Mrs. Joe Strizic

Knights Corporation

Paul Hemeryck

James Timpa

Gigi & Adib Bader

Lake Orion Lions Club

Scalawags Golf Course

*Jean Ice Sterling Heights Lioness Club *Sharon Reynolds Sterling Heights Lioness Club*James Leach Sr. Lion Ron Holler, PDG

Lions of Michigan Foundation

James & Ardis Pearce

Gary Carlson

Richard, Shaun Hedderick

Constance Lumbert

Joanne Van Tassel

Steve & Candi Paviscak

James & Louraine Pettinato

Gerald & Charlotte Knotts

Paul Hemeryck

Larry & Bonnie Termarch

Al & Desiree Lindsey

Lake Orion Lioness Club

Lions of Michigan State Office

Lester & Janelee McClure

Real Estate Gives Corporation

Romeo Lions

Blanchettes L.L.C.

Daniel & Annie Williams

Eldon Kukuk

Gary Carlson

Paul & Marylin Grake

Patton Family

*Doug Thorpe Carolyn Riley Charles Kaul Paul Hemeryck Mr. & Mrs. H.G. Hyde Chrsitine Burnard Jim & Sherry Gavin Al & Desiree Lindsey June Hopaluk Jeff & Mary Hicks Connie O’Malley Eldon Kukuk Larry & Judith Kukuk Joe Stevens Crittenton Hospital Patient Accts.*Jeffery Morgan Matthew & Sue Luck*Mark Ketko The Turkowski Family*Rick Snitgen James & Ardis Pearce*Jean Davis Lions of Michigan State Office*Steven Orlowsky Patrick O’Neil*Samuel Pirrone Richmond Lions Club *Doug Lasley Lake Orion Lions Club*Robert Millerwise Sebewaing Lions Club*Jerry Wylin Judith Roosen*Mary Albee Al & Desiree Lindsey*Moncita Colton Al & Desiree Lindsey *Jim Bone Jr. Lake Orion Lions Club

Honorarium*PDG Tom Hill Roseville Lions Club

Wixom-Walled Lake Lions Club

*DG Jim Leach Jr. Roseville Lions Club *Allen Lindsey Maria Krumm

*DG Pam Schroeder Midland Lions Club*Jack Becher Marcie & Marlene Garland *Dan Gibbons Marsha Brown

Individual Giving($500+)*Beulah Gray

*Dolores Charles

*Wolverine Chapter Clinton Township

*Matthew & Sue Luck

*Annette Luck

*Wesley Wagester

*Terry & Becky Walters

*Central Processing Services

*Whitey Simon

FoundationsAllstate Foundation

Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund

The Gerstacker Foundation

The King’s Daughters & Sons

Filmer Memorial Charitable Trust

The Whiting Foundation

FirstMerit-Loeb Foundation

Danto Family Foundation

Knabusch Charitable Trust #2

Lloyd & Mabel Johnson Foundation

Lapeer County Community Foundation

Four County Community Foundation

Charles J. Strosacker Foundation

The Jury Foundation

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Mitchell Royal Foundation

First Merit-Jeffers Foundation

Helen I. Kay Charitable Trust

The Buhr Foundation

The Carls Foundation

Community Foundation St. Clair County

Serra Family Foundation.

Lions Club Gold Sponsors ($1000+)

*Algonac Lions

*Armada Lions

*Ann Arbor Host Lions

*Bellaire Lions

*Berville Lions

*Birmingham Lions

*Center Line Lions

*Chesaning Lions

*Clarkston Lions

*Clinton Valley Lions

*Clawson Lions

*Dearborn Heights Lions

*Eastpointe Lions

*Emmett Lions

*Fenton Lions

*Fraser Lions

*Grand Rapids Lions

*Grosse Point Lions

*Lake Orion Lions

*Laingsburg Lions

*Lapeer Lions

*Lathrup Village Lions

*Mount Clemens Lions

*Muskegon Northside Lions

*Novi Lions

*Ortonville Lions

*Plymouth Lions

*Port Huron South Park Lions

*Rochester Lions

*Rochester Hills Lions

*Romeo Lions

*Shelby Township Lions

*Sterling Heights Lions

*Trenton Lions

*Utica Lions

*Warren Lions

*Wixom-Walled Lake Lions

Our Contributors 2016In recognition of the many organizations and individuals that make

it possible for us to provide unique outdoor experiences for

special needs youth and adults.

Lions Club

Silver Sponsors ($500-$999)

*Beaverton Lions

*Beverly Hil ls Lions

*Boyne Valley Lions

*Cass City Lions

*Central Lake Lions

*Chesaning Lions

*Charlevoix Lions

*Durand Lions

*Elk Rapids Lions

*Garden City Lions

*Hale Lions

*Harper Woods &

Grosse Pointe Woods Lions

*Harsens Is land Lions

*Hazel Park Lions

*Holt Lions

*Imlay City Lions

*Laingsburg Lions

*Marine City Lions

*Linden Lions

*Memphis Lions

*Metamora Lions

*Michigan Center Lions

*Midland Lions

*North Branch Lions

*Oscoda Lions

*Roscommon Higgins Lake Lions

*Saline Lions

*Sebewaing Lions

*Stockbrige Lions

*Rose City Lions

*Troy Community Lions

*Washington Lions

*Waterford Township Lions

*Westland Lions

*Yale Lions

Lioness Clubs Gold Sponsors ($1000+)

*Armada Lioness

*Delta Lioness

*Lake Orion Lioness

Lioness Clubs Silver Sponsors ($500-$999)

*Macomb Township Lioness

*Sterl ing Heights Lioness

Camper Sponsors *Aid the Silent

*Algonac Lioness/Lions

*Almont Lions

*Alpena Lions

*Bay Arenac Lions

*Behavioral Health

*Bellaire Lions

*Chessaning Lions

*Exchange Club of Port Huron

*Lake Orion Lioness

*Lapeer Lions

*Mayvil le Lions

*Michigan Center Lions

*North Branch Lions

*Northport Lions

*Redford Union Oral Program

*Romeo Lions

*Sandusky Lions

*Trenton Public Schools

*Scott & Diane Hodgin

*Brenda Zilka

*Will ie Pfeiffer

Memorials*Anthony Mastro Allen & Desiree Lindsay*Donna Koehn Lions of Michigan Foundation Blanchettes LLC Council of Governors Joseph Wilson Karol Leach*Gerald Knotts William Beal David & Amy Denise Dick Hedderich Gina Hollweg Jeanine & Terry Brennan Jill Hunt Madeline Fornarola*Jerry Wylin Judith Roosen*Judith Vollmer Sebewaing Lions*Donald Kitch Sebewaing Lions*Jean Davis Lions Clubs of Michigan*Lorette Pawloski Lake Orion Lions*Mark Anthony Ketko The Turkowski, Rod, Oudeh & Lindsay Families*Rick Snitgen James & Ardis Pearce

Honorarium*PDP Peggy Clark

Au Gres Lioness Club

*PDG Pam Schroeder

Fremont Lions Club

*IPDG Jim Leach Jr.

Wixom Walled Lake Lions Club

Esther LaMothe

*Jack Becher

Marcia Garland

Individual Giving($500+)*Beulah Gray

*DaVita

*Matthew & Sue Luck

*Sundance Chevrolet

*Paula Pilotti

*Associated Community Services

*Donna Kremer

*Kevin Richardson

*Annette Luck

*Terry & Becky Walters

*Terance Treppa

*Al & Desiree Lindsay

*Jack & Jean Becher

*Chuck & Phyllis Blackburn

FoundationsMichigan Braille Transcribing Fund

Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation

The King’s Daughters & Sons

The Whiting Foundation

John Michael Jeffers Memorial Fund

Lloyd & Mabel Johnson Foundation

Lapeer County Community Foundation Marvin and Betty Danto Famliy Foundation

Stella and Frederick Loeb Charitable Trust

Knabush Charitable Trust

Four County Community Foundation

The Helen L. Kay Charitable Trust

The Jury Foundation

May Mitchell Royal Foundation

The Buhr Foundation

Community Foundation St. Clair County

Serra Family Foundation

Louise Tuller Miller Trust

Lula Wilson Trust

Child Welfare Society of Flint

A l K a s s i nJ a c k B e c h e r

P h y l l i s B l a c k b u r nA l L i n d s e y

R i c k F l e m i n gJ i m L e a c h J r .N i c k C o c c i a

C h a r l e s B l a c k b u r nP h i l K r a u s e

W e s W a g e s t e rD a v i d W i n e m a nD e n n i s K o t e n k o

J i m P e t t i n a t oJ i m L y k i n s

T e r a n c e T r e p p aJ a k e D a s h o

J u s t i n F a b e rT r a c i T r i b l l e y

A d a m S c h l u s l e rR i c h P f e i f f e r

C h a n g e s a r e C o m i n g ! !At Lions Bear Lake Camp, we con-tinually strive to improve the qual-ity of the experience for our special children. That is why we are embark-ing on a two year project to improve the watercraft area. The physical area has not changed much over the past 15 years. In the meantime, we have added boats and offered the activities to a more diverse population. Accord-ing to Director Dennis Tomkins, “The boating area has always been a popu-lar area for kids to go, however, over the years we are struggling to provide the activity in a safe, and accommo-

dating way. These improvements will help make the area more enjoyable and universally accessible for all!”

The project will: increase the physical size of the storage area; increase the size of the boat landing area; improve accessibility by providing accessible hard surfaced walk ways to and in the watercraft area; secure the area with a new fence. The major addition of a universally accessible dock and boat launching area will significantly enhance our ability to provide service to persons in a wheelchair. The project

will cost $72,000 to complete. We hope to raise these funds through do-nations over the next two years. Work on the area will take place as the funds become available.

Two year project to improve watercraft area will:

• Improve security of area

• Add space for boat storage and launch-ing

• Improve universal access to area via dock/boat launch-ing area and hard surfaced walkways

• Need to raise $72,000 to complete project

N e w G a t o rI f you have been to camp you more than l ike ly have seen employees dr iv ing a new UTV. The camp was fortunate to co l lect enough monetary donat ions to buy a Gator . A GoFundMe account set up by Chal lenge Course s taf f and a generous donat ion by the Warren L ions Club brought th i s much needed transportat ion to camp. Every-thing f rom campers to suppl ies has been transported around camp. I t has made l i fe so much eas ier for the Chal lenge Course s taf f . One example i s , we have been able to transport a large ladder to the back sec-t ion of the course . The ladder i s needed for sett ing up e lements for the phys ical ly chal-lenged populat ion. I t has a l so made emer-gency runs to the restroom safer and faster .We have been able to move fac i l i tators to

where they need to be along with their sup-pl ies in a more ef f ic ient manner . Thank you to al l who made th i s poss ib le .

Picture to the left: Section of new dock that will allow person in wheelchairs to indepen-dently enter Kayaks and Canoes.

mBTFe n d o w m e n T F u n d

T h e M i c h i g a n B r a i l l e T r a n -s c r i b e r s E n d o w m e n t F u n d e x i s t s t o s u p p o r t v i s u a l l y i m p a i r e d & b l i n d p r o g r a m s a t L i o n s B e a r L a k e C a m p . W h e n t h e e n d o w m e n t b e c o m e s f u l l y e n d o w e d , i t w i l l p r o v i d e c o n s i s t e n t a n n u a l o p e r a t i n g i n c o m e f o r o u r v i s u a l l y i m p a i r e d & b l i n d p r o g r a m s . A s y o u k n o w , w e o n l y c h a r g e a s m a l l c o m m i t m e n t f e e f o r o u r p r o g r a m s . I n o r d e r t o c o n t i n u e o u r s e r v i c e t o t h e c o m m u n i t y w e n e e d t o p r o v i d e a c o n s i s t e n t s o u r c e o f f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t .T h e r e a r e m a n y w a y s y o u c a n g i v e t o t h e E n d o w m e n t F u n d , w h i c h i n c l u d e g i f t s o f c a s h , s t o c k s , e s t a t e s , w i l l s a n d r e a l e s t a t e . N o m a t t e r h o w g r e a t o r s m a l l y o u r g i f t , w e n e e d y o u r s u p p o r t n o w t o g r o w t h e f u n d . T h i s w i l l h e l p t o p r o v i d e a q u a l i t y e d u c a -t i o n a l o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e v i s u a l l y i m p a i r e d & b l i n d y o u t h a t L i o n s B e a r L a k e C a m p f o r y e a r s t o c o m e .

T h e C h a l l e n g e C o u r s e h a d a n o t h e r g r e a t y e a r o f t e a m b u i l d i n g a n d c l i m b -i n g . T h i s y e a r w e w e r e a b l e t o a d d t h r e e n e w f u n a n d c h a l l e n g i n g a c t i v i t i e s t o t h e L o w R o p e s c o u r s e . U s -i n g r e t i r e d c l i m b i n g r o p e f r o m t h e t o w e r , w e w e r e a b l e t o e x p a n d t h e u s e o f o u r P u l l e y W a l k c a b l e ( a c u r r e n t L o w R o p e s e l e -m e n t ) . A M o h a w k W a l k a n d a T e n s i o n T r a v e r s e w e r e a d d e d . T h e n e w e s t a d d i t i o n t o t h e L o w R o p e s C o u r s e i s a C a r g o N e t . T h e n e t w a s d o n a t e d b y E x p e -r i e n t i a l S y s t e m s , I n c . S i n c e t h e C a r g o N e t w a s a l a t e a d d i t i o n t o t h e c o u r s e i n 2 0 1 5 , 2 1 0 6 c a m p e r ’ s w i l l h a v e a n e w e l e m e n t t o e x -p e r i e n c e .

T h e z i p l i n e n o w h a s a r e -m o t e c o n t r o l f o r t h e h y -d r a u l i c s y s t e m . T h e r e m o t e a l l o w s t h e f a c i l i t a t o r r u n -n i n g t h e z i p l i n e h y d r a u l i c s t o a l s o t a k e o n t h e r e s p o n -s i b i l i t y o f d i s c o n n e c t i n g t h e p a r t i c i p a n t f r o m t h e z i p l a n y a r d . C l i m b i n g h a r n e s s e s a n d a s p o o l o f n e w r o p e , t o r e -p l a c e t h e r e t i r e d r o p e , w e r e d o n a t e d t o t h e c h a l -l e n g e c o u r s e i n 2 0 1 5 . T h e C h a l l e n g e C o u r s e s t a f f s t r i v e s t o k e e p t h e C l i m b -i n g T o w e r e q u i p m e n t u p t o d a t e a n d i n p r o p e r w o r k i n g o r d e r . T h r o u g h t h e g e n e r -o s i t y o f d o n o r s , t h e c o u r s e c o n t i n u e s t o b e a b l e t o p r o v i d e f a v o r i t e a c t i v i t i e s t h a t a r e c h a l l e n g i n g a n d s a f e f o r o u r c a m p e r s .

Don’t Miss This one!!Buffalo & Boar

Wild Game Dinnerat

Bear Lake CampSaturday, April 1, 2017

There will be gun raffles, silent auction, prizes, good food,

beer and wine available.$25.00 per person

Gun Raffle tickets only

$25.00All proceeds to support

Bear Lake Camp programs.

Tickets available for purchase on our website-

www.bearlakecamp.org.

Volume 5 2015/2016

C a m p N e w s

What Does it Mean to be a Staff Member

Lions Bear Lake Camp will always hold a special place in my heart. This is the place where I met those who have made the biggest impact on my life and I truly care for. Ev-ery year camp is very unique in its own ways. This past year, we had a full load of campers come in and it was one of the best experiences. You could feel the energy in every activ-ity we did and all our songs we sang. By the end of the week, the camp-ers, including the new ones, were able to start songs on their own. This is a feeling that is indescribable. To watch the young campers take the time to learn the words of a brand new song they’ve never heard be-fore, practice it, and then to be con-fident enough in themselves to start it in front of the entire camp. Not only do campers build their confi-dence, but they challenge themselves in many ways throughout the week. They are given the opportunity to participate in the low ropes course where they work on team building and learning how to trust one an-other and take on the role of lead-

ership. Each individual steps out of their comfort zone at their own pace and they learn so many qualities from exchanging ideas and thoughts. It is truly rewarding watching them over the course of the week, whether it’s them learning new vocabulary or making friendships that, without a doubt, will last a lifetime. Bear Lake Camp is a place where one can go and be a part of a family no mat-ter where you come from. Everyone understands the challenges each one of us go through. It’s almost like saying “what” and repeating sentences takes no effort because we’ve all been there. We’ve all experienced where others will reject us by simply saying “never mind” or “it’s not important.” At camp, you don’t feel different from those around you because they’re at camp for the same reason you are: to be a normal kid for a week. This past summer I was given the opportunity to be a team leader. A team leader has the responsibility of overlooking and supporting the counselors and staff members each week in mak-

ing sure that their needs were met. I was able to learn how to present creative ideas and confidently lead a group to complete a task or activity. I quickly managed to determine the best approach to use with different campers to ensure that everyone had a good experience. It was this op-portunity at Lions Bear Lake Camp where my passion for audiology, as a career, blossomed and strengthened. I was able to bring out my inner child and more importantly I found myself surrounded by people who bring out the best in me. In simple words, camp changed me and my life forever in a positive way. I found my passion to help those who share the same challenge as me succeeds.

Contributed by Alexis Nye