Serving with Heart, Year-Round: The Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha in Action
Herman Melville once shared, “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.” The Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha provides opportunities for people to live for themselves and help connect others. Men, women, community members; the Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha joins us together in service for each other, ourselves, and the larger community.
From September through May, Camp Ondessonk works closely with the Lodge Officials to ensure that opportunities for service and fellowship exist for people near and far from Camp Ondessonk. In the 2024 – 2025 academic year, we recommitted to providing opportunities not just at the regional Council level, but also organized opportunities for all Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha members.
This Fall, Camp Ondessonk provided opportunities in October through Fall Lodge Reunion and in November through a work weekend. Each of these events allowed members of the Lodge to come back and give service to a place they love. Over the winter, a virtual Lodge Reunion was held to elevate fellowship throughout the cold months and a February weekend of service, which encouraged Lodge Members to give back to their local communities.
As the flowers bloomed throughout the spring, so too did opportunities back at Camp Ondessonk through a March work weekend and an April Lodge Reunion. In addition to the many Camp-organized Lodge Events, there were many regional Council events that provided more close-to-home opportunities.
These small steps offer opportunities to Lodge Members to come together to provide service for Camp and their community while growing together through shared experience. As we look toward the future of 12-month engagement, Camp Ondessonk and the Lodge Officials look forward to collaborating on other virtual and in-person initiatives that showcase the values of the Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha.
Whether you participate at the regional Council level, the Camp Ondessonk level, or through individual acts, keep giving back to the world in positive ways as we connect as a community, showing great light to those we serve. If you have ideas of other ways Camp Ondessonk could engage with Lodge Members throughout the year, please email Nolan at [email protected]
Click here to learn more about The Loyal Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha.