CAMP LIONS MISSION
Our mission is for the overall growth of the individual camper in self-confidence, knowledge, independence, leadership, and creativity through a recreational experience geared to individual abilities, from the beginning camper to the returning veteran.
Camp Lions is recreational & does not teach any curriculum to campers. A ratio of 4 campers to 1 Counselor is maintained to assure safety and provide positive role modeling. Older Teen campers who are Counselors-In-Training provide extra hands to make the camp flow smoothly.
Campers enjoy swimming, canoeing, team sports, archery, fishing, cookouts, crafts, artwork and nature programs. Every session offers new opportunities to explore new skills. All for free!
Camp Lions of Illinois for Blind and Deaf Youth offers eligible Illinois residents a week of fun, challenging activities and an opportunity to make new friends with peers of similar abilities at our over-night camp.
Camp Lions “Vision Week”
While many activities are identical to our other camps, this session highlights activities that accommodate youth who are Blind or have low vision. Our daily schedules, posted in large print and in braille, might list many of the following choices: swimming, beeper baseball, pontoon boat rides, archery, and crafts such as painting, beading, or small handmade items. Every day is different and perfect for the creative spirit. 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.
Sleeping accommodations at Camp Lions “Vision Week” are in air-conditioned cabins with eight bunks to a room. Every cabin is one level and has a modern bathroom with a walk-in shower. Our Counselor to camper ratio is 1:4 to make Camp Lions a positive and safe experience. A Camp Nurse/Camp Health Officer will be on site 24/7 to assist in medications and provide basic health care.
Counselor In Training Week (C.I.T.) – Attendance Invitation only!
2025-CIT Training Days: June 15th to June 21st
CIT Training Days are Invitation Only.
Every year, Camp Lions hosts a training for selected campers, age 15 and older, based on Counselor observations of the nominee’s personal strengths. The CITs attend training with Camp Lions Counselors and get a taste of all the ins and outs of being a Camp Lions Counselor. Topics range from learning how to lead small groups to instruction on safety, positive role modeling, teamwork, and other day-to-day tasks needed to make the Camp run smoothly.
The CITs are obligated to attend a second camp session of their choice (space providing) to use their new skills working alongside a Camp Lions Counselor. They will assist the Camp Counselor and the campers assigned to that Counselor in a wide variety of duties. Camp Lions’ hope is that with positive guided experiences, offering each CIT to assume leadership and responsibility roles, these teens will return home more self-assured & ready to take on more responsibility in their daily lives. The ultimate goal is to perhaps have them return to work with Camp Lions of Illinois as Counselors for younger blind & deaf campers.
CIT candidates will be notified by e-mail from the LIF Camp Lions Registrar!
Additional Opportunity: Leader Dogs for the Blind Summer Experience Camp
Leader Dog offers a camp for blind/low vision youth age 16 and 17. Click for more information.
All Star Campers
Our campers are wonderful people who go on to do amazing things later in life!
- Joyce E. Strother, Supervisor of Children’s Service at St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired, told us her story of how Camp Lions shaped her student teaching experience.
- David Uzzell, previously a camper from 1999 to 2001, now works at a five-star Washington D.C. restaurant, Marcel’s. Read more about David’s incredible work ethic from NPR.
Kyle Schulze: “The Deaf Ninja”
Kyle Schulze the first deaf competitor on the American Ninja Warrior show.
Kyle first came to know of the Lions of Illinois Foundation as a camper in the Camp Lions Summer Camp Program, a Free summer camp for children with vision and hearing needs. Kyle attended for 6 years and then at age 18 he decided to become a Camp Counselor, where he stayed for 2 more years. Kyle contributes his success and level of confidence, in part, to the Camp Lions Summer Camps he attended. At camp he was able to be himself as he attended one of the HoH/Deaf Camps that were offered by the Lions of Illinois Foundation and it’s many Lions members. He was not considered “different” at Camp Lions and he developed many friendships and overcame some of the obstacles in his life.
Kyle Schulze continues to overcoming obstacles. Literally, as he is an obstacle athlete, best known on the show NBC show America Ninja Warrior. He goes by the nickname ‘Deaf Ninja’. Kyle started his obstacle training at age 22. His hard work paid off when he made it to “American Ninja Warrior” competition.
Kyle continues to compete and spread hearing loss awareness through attending events and camps for deaf and hard of hearing children in Illinois and Indiana. He also works as a Coach at the Chicago Ninja Warrior Gym in West Chicago. Kyle spreads his positive attitude about achieving your goals regardless of the challenges you may face.
Kyle’s experience at Camp Lions
Click here for his video Camp Lions 2019 on YouTube
Kyle on American Ninja Warrior
Click Here for the video American Ninja Warrior on YouTube
