July 15, 2005
Friday

Ketchikan, Alaska - Lauren Gates and Rhiana Sanford of Ketchikan flew out this past Sunday to attend the Alaska State Elks Youth Camp in Palmer for a week.  This is a summer camp owned and operated by the Elks, and offered free of charge (including airfare) to several boys and girls in each town that has an Elks Lodge.

Lauren Gates and Rhiana Sanford at Ketchikan International Airport just before leaving for Anchorage to attend the Alaska State Elks Youth Camp in Palmer. Photo by Mike Gates ©2005

Gates and Sanford, both 11 years old , took the early flight out of Ketchikan last Sunday the 11th, to Anchorage, where staff from the Elks Camp picked them up and took them to Palmer, where they will be attending camp. They fly back to Ketchikan Saturday night. 

The Alaska State Elks Youth Camp sends almost 200 girls and boys, ages 9 to 13, through one week summer camps every year at no cost to the children or their families. Their goal is to provide a fun and safe Alaskan camping experience while sharing the values of pride in America and community support. On their web site ASEA Elks Camp states, "We know today's youth are tomorrows' leaders. We hope this camp positively influences one or two of our future leaders."

Lauren Gates' father Mike Gates said, "This is an outstanding program, and the more awareness there is that it exists, the more kids we can have participate in it next year."

On the Web:

ASEA Elks Camp & ATV Adventures
http://www.mtaonline.net/~elkscamp/

 

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