For some Elks, nature is their natural habitat. Lodges can use CIP grants to ensure that all members of their community can enjoy and benefit from outdoor activities.
San Francisco, Calif., Lodge No. 3 uses its Beacon Grant to educate youth through environmental stewardship activities. Its partner, the Rotary Nature Center Friends, organizes gatherings for students from under-resourced urban areas to engage directly with nature. With the help of Elks volunteers, the students participate in community trash cleanups, science lessons and native plant planting days.
“This project expanded education services to young people,” says Grants Coordinator Katie Noonan. “It brings together diverse members of the community in a common effort to improve the urban environment for people and nature.”
The San Francisco Lodge has completed this project with the Beacon Grant since 2021, with successive classes of students able to participate. While the specific activities vary by year, the consistency of this project has allowed area students to engage with quality environmental education on a yearly basis. This is especially beneficial in the Bay Area, where the big cities of San Francisco and Oakland can overshadow the natural surroundings.
Fort Collins, Colo., Lodge No. 804 used its Gratitude Grant to help people with disabilities access outdoor recreation activities. In partnership with CAST (Catch A Special Thrill), the Lodge put on an adaptive fishing event for those with disabilities and their caretakers.
Ten Elks were present for the event, helping set up, cook breakfast and lunch, present awards, and clean up. Forty attendees with mobility issues and their caretakers were given a chance to take boats onto a local reservoir to fish.
“Our goal is to demonstrate to this population that they are celebrated and valued by our community,” says Grants Coordinator Joyce Bonanno. “This provides a day of fishing, teaches an appreciation of natural resources, increases family interaction, and creates positive interaction with our Elks members.”
Wrangell, Alaska, is located on an island, with the town positioned at the northern edge. According to Dawn Angerman, the Grants Coordinator for Wrangell, Alaska, Lodge No. 1595, drowning is major concern. Wrangell may not be a classic beach town, but its residents spend much of their time on its coast, which means that it is important for youth to learn how to stay safe near the water.
With part of its Beacon Grant, the Wrangell Lodge expanded the youth swimming program at the local rec center, which contains the only pool on the island. Lodge members purchased safety equipment, helped cover the cost for students to enroll, and promoted the importance of the program to the community. Fifty students received swimming lessons and lifeguard skills to help protect their fellow swimmers.
Whether your Lodge’s surroundings are mountains, lakes, or the ocean, now is the perfect time to get out into the great outdoors. With all the benefits that time in nature brings, CIP grants can fill needs that some residents may not even know they have. Take a look at the world around you, and you may just see how to use your next CIP grant.
CIP grant applications opened on April 1. For more information on the grants we offer, check out our Grant Toolkits. The CIP can be reached with any questions at 773/755-4730 or LodgeGrants@elks.org.