Camp Lions Den

Camp Lions Den is a residential camping program for the visually handicapped of South Carolina. It is sponsored by the Mid-Day Lions Club of Anderson, SC and South Carolina Lions, Inc. The camp is administered by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management of Clemson University.

Camp Lions Den was first held in 1979 and was sponsored by the Mid-Day Lions Club of Anderson, SC. Only 15 campers were registered that first year, and the future of the camp was questionable. However, the enthusiasm of the campers and staff convinced the founding club to continue Lions Den. That decision resulted in consistent growth in service to children and teens with visual problems. Today, more than 744 campers have been served at Lions Den and a capacity registration can be expected each season.

Lion Bob Shoemaker, 32A Camp Lions Den Chairman, addresses an overflow crowd of Lions, conselors, campers, and parents on the last day of this year's very successful week at Camp Lions Den.

Who may enroll:

Any visually handicapped child between the ages of 7 and 17 may attend. The camper must be able to walk, dress and feed himself, take care of personal hygiene, get along with other children, and participate in supervised outdoor activities. Only 40 campers will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants are accepted without regard to race, color, national origin, or sex.

Applications can be obtained by writing:

Camp Lions Den
c/o Deron McFarland
Box 340735
Clemson, SC 29634-0735
Telephone: (864)646-7502 FAX: (864)646-3620
E-mail: dmcfarl@clemson.edu

Camp Activities/Supervision.

Camp activities include but are not limited to, the following: hiking, fishing, canoeing, instructional swimming, boat rides, arts and crafts, outdoor games, campfire programs, overnight camping trips, and cookouts.

The staff of Camp Lions Den has been carefully selected to work with challenged individuals. In addition to counselors and specialists, the camp has a full-time resident nurse. Every camper is assigned to a group of eight campers and lives with, and is supervised by , three full-time staff members.

Campers Come Free.

SC Lions Clubs support Camp Lions Den for the visually challenged as a state project. There is
NO FEE for attendance. Parents are responsible for the cost of the medical exam and transportation, unless other arrangements are made.

District 32A Chairman for Camp Lions Den, Bob Shoemaker, would like to emphasize that without the contributions of individual Lions clubs all over the state, Camp Lions Den would not be possible.