Leader Dog-Leading the Way – January 2026
LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND
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.
By Leader Dogs Coordinator