From “Leading the Way” Leader Dogs for the Blind Newsletter – January 2026.
Happy new year, Lions! Whether your resolution is to travel more, explore new shops and stops in your community, or recruit more members for your Lions Club, we support you and wish you an amazing year.
Share Teen Programs With Your Community
At Leader Dog, we’re already preparing for our summer programs for teens aged 16-17. High school-aged teens and their parents are beginning to plan for the summer, and we are ready to fill our halls. Each summer, we offer two programs for teenagers who are blind, both free of charge including travel, room and board:
Teen Summer Camp is a 1-week program in June. Up to 24 teenagers from across North America will come together for a week of fun, leadership development, and community. For many teens, our summer camp is their first opportunity to build friendships with other teenagers who are blind. While at Leader Dog, they will rock-climb at our local Lions Bear Lake Camp, practice safe night travel, enjoy bonfires, and even practice archery.
Applications for Teen Summer Camp are open now and will be accepted until April 3, 2026. Visit LeaderDog.org and click ‘Client Programs’ to learn more and apply.
Teen Orientation & Mobility is a 1-week program offered in three sessions over the summer. Teens will work one-on-one with a certified orientation and mobility specialist (COMS) to learn the skills they need to map out walking routes in their community, independently cross the street, and thoughtfully problem-solve when they come across obstacles or route changes. Each teen brings a support person, usually a parent, who spends the week learning how to best support their teen and how to help them advocate for themselves as they grow into independent young adults.
Applications for Teen Orientation & Mobility are open now. Visit LeaderDog.org and click ‘Client Programs’ to learn more and apply.
Lion Mike: From Leader Dog Employee to President’s Award
After twelve years as an employee in Leader Dog’s philanthropy department, Lion Mike retired. Soon after, he realized just how much he missed being on the Leader Dog campus. So, what did he do? Signed up to volunteer, of course!
In December, Lion Melissa Weiss, President & CEO, recognized Lion Mike with the Leader Dog President’s Award. This award is given to one Lion each year in recognition of acts of service supporting the cause of Vision with Leader Dog.
Mike, an active Lions Club member, now serves in our client services department, fielding phone calls from prospective and current clients. He helps with frequently asked questions, applications and other logistics questions or concerns. He also supports Lions events on campus, including Lions Tour Experiences and Summer Visits.
“There is a common thread that runs through everyone who volunteers or donates to Leader Dog. It is an undeniable passion to empower people who are blind or visually impaired to travel safely and independently. If you share this passion, I encourage you to volunteer, donate or, better yet, do both.”
– Lion Mike Dengate
A Fact & A Quote
Fact | In 2025, Leader Dog launched the Alumni Board. This powerful initiative builds a dynamic and inclusive client community by fostering meaningful connections among Leader Dog graduates. The Alumni Board ensures that the client’s voice and perspective are actively represented.
Quote | “We are doing our work for the clients. If it wasn’t for the clients, Leader Dog wouldn’t be here. So being able to listen, collaborate and learn from each other, that’s the best part of being involved.” (Alumni Board Chair Juanita Lillie, pictured with Leader Dog Resi)
All donations accepted on lionsclubs.org support Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charitable organization. Lions Clubs International (LCI) is a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt social welfare organization and is not eligible to accept or solicit charitable donations. All LCI administrative costs are paid solely through dues, while 100% of funds raised through LCI fundraisers goes directly into funding community projects.
