September 7, 2026
by Holly June Jacobs, PER
Activities Committee Chair
The Activities Committee was recently formed to more align us with the Grand Lodge programs. The purpose is to promote, encourage, and to help Lodges implement activities that support our youth, because as we invest our time and effort in these children, we can help to make them stronger and more resilient, and help them to become community members in their own right. The programs in this committee also serve the purpose of demonstrating how Elks are making a difference in the community. This can open the door for new Members, as well as motivate the members that we currently have.
Antlers Program, a fantastic way for young people in the Community to get involved with the Elks, and to become future members of your Lodge. Antlers become involved in the service-related activities that your Lodge does, as an independent group that has its own charter and officers, and even an Initiation.
Connecticut is the birthplace of the Soccer Shoot, and it is now a recognized Grand Lodge program! If you don’t have enough participants, work together with other Lodges, each having their own winners.
The Junior Golf Program allows you to help youth build self-esteem and make new friends. Sponsor a foursome of youth golfers and pair them with a foursome of experienced adult golfers at your Lodge tournament. Arrange time at a driving range for youth to practice, or host the new Beat the Bunker, Pitch Up, and Putting 1,2,3 skills competition. More information on this contest can be found on the Grand Lodge website.
The Junior ROTC Award Program recognizes outstanding Junior ROTC Cadets of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard for their leadership & patriotic work, with a special medal & certificate. The US Military now lists this Elk’s medal as one being allowed to wear on a cadet’s uniform!
Start a Student or Teenager of the Month or Year in your school system to find those students and teens whose accomplishments deserve public recognition and praise, for their character, leadership, service, citizenship, and scholastic achievements.
Use your Gratitude Grant and work with The Dictionary Project, a 501c3 nonprofit, to get dictionaries, thesaurus, atlases and other reference materials into the hands of 3rd graders – the optimal grade that Educators have found to be when a child transitions from learning to read to reading to learn. This could be a great present for a child, and it is a book that they could keep for themselves.
We as Elks can continue to support the Scouts through the Elks & Scouting program. Allow the Elks to use the Lodge facilities, donate supplies, give them the opportunity to be a part of things like Flag Day, and by honoring the Eagle Scouts and Gold Star Girl Scouts with recognition. There is also an Elks Marvin Lewis Awardsto recognize outstanding Scout Leaders as well.
Grand Exalted Ruler Timothy Jaeger has requested that all Lodges set aside May 1-7 as Elks National Youth Week. Have a luncheon or banquet this week as a culmination of all the Lodge’s youth programs throughout the year, and honor the winners of any of the aforementioned programs, as well as Hoop Shoot winners, Drug Awareness Poster Contest winners, Americanism essay winners, etc.
Recognize First Responders with the Medal of Valor being given to the family of a First Responder who lost their lives in the performance of their duties, or the Medal of Service Award, which recognizes First Responders deemed worthy by your membership as being outstanding in their service to the community.
Be proud of your Lodge’s accomplishments and let others know as well by submitting an entry for the Community Project Contest. Winners are determined by a simple point system, such as number of volunteers, number of hours, etc. with the National award winners receiving a certificate at the convention in Denver.
Reach out to me for help with any of these programs!
Ready Elks – Let’s Go!