Spotting Elks Lodges when you travel is pretty common. There are nearly 60 lodges in Texas and almost 2,000 all over the United States. The organization was first structured in 1868 and has since practiced the four core virtues it was founded on:
- Charity
- Justice
- Brotherly Love
- Fidelity
Texas Elks Children’s Services, Inc.
In Texas, one of the ways Elks Lodges demonstrate these virtues is through their sponsorship of Texas Elks Children’s Services, Inc. (TECSI), which provides support to families of children with disabilities and special circumstances. Such support includes grants to help cover out-of-pocket expenses for things ranging from medical or therapeutic equipment and supplies to transportation to therapy appointments. Another service TECSI sponsors, and perhaps the most fun in the opinion of the young people who attend, is the Texas Elks Camp.
Texas Elks Camp
Built by the Texas Elks State Association in 1946 in Gonzales County, the facility originally operated as a treatment and rehabilitation hospital for children with polio. Once polio was eradicated, the location functioned as a diagnostic testing and therapy center for children with disabilities. In 1987, the facility began operation as the children’s camp it continues to function as today. Throughout its evolution, no child’s family has ever had to pay for any services provided at the center. Today, the Texas Elks Camp serves 240 children, ages 7- to 15-years old, with disabilities or special needs each summer during June and July. They accommodate 40 campers at a time in one-week intervals. Children from all over Texas with conditions and circumstances ranging from vision impairment to physical or developmental delays and those in foster care attend camp each year. There are even budgeted costs included for transportation of families bringing their children from far-away areas of the state. Campers are accepted on a first come, first served basis.
“Our goal is to provide a place where children can come, and their disabilities don’t matter,” said TECSI Executive Director Loretta Shirley. “They just get to be kids. We go fishing, swimming, do archery and everything any other summer camp does.”
Camp During COVID
Unfortunately, COVID-19 took a toll on the 2020 summer camping season, and campers were not able to attend camp in person. However, with a little creativity and ingenuity, a virtual camp was hosted instead.
All campers were sent care packages, complete with craft supplies, a t-shirt and all the things they would have received at camp. Videos were posted on the TECSI Facebook page each day with follow-along activities for the children to participate in. Shirley says she felt like most of the campers they would have accommodated in person “attended” the virtual camp, with 100-200 views per post.
Happily, the 2021 season is back to in-person camping as usual with some additional safety protocols in place, so fun can still be had by all while staying safe and healthy.
WHAT IS POWER UP?
Since 2012, GVEC’s Power Up program has awarded over $2.9 million in grants to assist local nonprofit organizations within our service area. The program is funded entirely through members who choose to round up their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar, with the rounded-up amount being donated. Power Up projects range from the purchase of life-saving equipment for first responders and medical facilities to the renovation of local museums, parks, historic landmarks and community meeting spaces. What is Power Up? It’s power from the community to the community through the generous donations of GVEC members!
Funding Camp Fun
Specific funding for Camp comes from Texas Elks Lodges through endowment funds, memorials and the Elks Sweetheart program. Each lodge has a “Sweetheart” chosen annually. He or she hosts fundraisers throughout the year, and 100% of those proceeds goes to Camp.
Additionally, each year the new Texas Elks Association president’s spouse chooses a project to fundraise for to benefit Camp. Known as the First Lady Project or First Dude Project, whichever the case may be, endeavors include things such as extra field trips, replacing or purchasing new playground equipment, or buying needed supplies.
Providing Through Power Up
According to Shirley, in 2019 the seated first lady began raising money for a 50’ x 75’ fenced-in turf grass field. “Once her fundraising was complete, I applied to match funds through GVEC’s Power Up grant.”
“The turf grass field will be an all-inclusive area all campers can enjoy,” said Shirley. It will provide a safe, smooth-surfaced outdoor space to accommodate children with all levels of abilities, allowing everyone to participate in games, organized sports or other activities that may have been more difficult for some on uneven ground.
“When Camp first began, we traveled away from the facility every day on field trips and outings. We are evolving and working to provide a better camp experience by spending the majority of our time at the facility and providing more on-site activities,” said Shirley. “We now only travel away from our facility to swim at the Gonzales Elks Lodge and go to SeaWorld®. The rest of the week campers are here—participating in archery, arts and crafts, talent shows, nature walks, cookouts, and other games and organized activities.” Improvements such as the turf grass field have helped that to happen.
Grateful for Member Contributions
Shirley expressed gratitude for TECSI being selected to receive one of the Power Up grants awarded in the second cycle of 2020. “We want to say thank you. We are very excited about having the field added to the facility, and it wouldn’t be possible without grants like Power Up. Without this grant, this project could have taken two or three years longer to complete.”
Get More Information About Texas Elks Camp
You can find more information about Texas Elks Children’s Services, Inc. and Texas Elks Camp at texaselkscamp.com and texaselks.org.
What is Power Up? Learn More
To learn more about the GVEC Power Up grant program or to apply, visit our grant page.
