The 12 Days of Elks Scholar Service Trips

by Maryann Slater
Programs Relationship Associate
 

Elks scholars now have the opportunity to come together in service with their Elks scholar peers. These trips will offer the opportunity to learn about societal issues, serve those in need in the name of the Elks, and the chance for Elks scholars and Elks to connect with their Elks Family across the country. To read more posts about the service trips, click here. 

12 #ElksFamily T-Shirts

Justin Schulberg, 2013 MVS scholar from
Rutgers University shows off his
 Winter Trip T-Shirt.

- A staple of any Elks Scholar Service Trip, you can find these snazzy shirts that read “We Are #ElksFamily” on all of the Elks scholars throughout the week of a trip.

11 Cell Phones Resting
- The Elks Scholar Service Trips allow for students to become “unplugged” for the week during service and activities which allow them to take a rest from their studies and take advantage of new experiences and opportunities. Take it from Spencer Fricke, 2014 Legacy scholar who attended the Summer 2015 Trip-“It was an eye opening week and it’s great to get unplugged from your reality at home.”

10 Scholars Flying
- We have 19 students traveling from 16 different states to serve in Oakland, California–click here to view an interactive map!
9 New Year’s Wishes
- We’ll be ringing in the New Year together in Oakland on January 3–what better way to start off 2016 than with your Elks family?

8 Group Activities
- Beyond service, scholars participate in activities such as a privilege walk and a core values exercise that will help them to gain new perspective and empower them to apply what they learn on the trip to their lives at home or on campus.

7 Scholars a Packing
- I hope that all 19 will be a packing soon!

6 Nightly Reflections
- Each night we’ll sit down as a group and process what we each experienced that day. This allows us to learn from each other’s perspectives, grow closer as a group, and discuss how we can apply what we’re learning on the trip to our own lives back home.

5 Days of Service
- We’ll serve with different organizations each day from Monday through Friday in the San Francisco Bay Area on the Winter 2016 Elks Scholar Service Trip.

4 Elks Connecting
- By visiting the Alameda, Calif., Lodge No. 1015 for dinner during the week, scholars will have the opportunity to connect with more of their Elks family who have been supporting them throughout their time in college.

3 New Friendships
- I can’t wait to see a group of 19 strangers turn into a group of friends over the course of our week together.

The Winter 2016 Trip participants are already connecting in a
Facebook group – this is just the beginning of the friendships
that will come out of this trip experience! 

2 Trip Hashtags
- Search #LearnServeConnect and #ElksFamily and follow @ElksScholars on Facebook, @ElksScholars, Instagram and Snapchat to follow along with the action!

Here I am with my
“huge binder full of plans”
before the Summer 2015 Trip. 

1 Huge Binder Full of Plans!
- Color coded schedules. Index cards. Materials that will help to make the week a success–these are a few of my favorite things!











Maryann Slater
Programs Relationship Associate


In 2015-16, the Elks National Foundation appropriated $4.16 million to fund the ENF scholarship program, which provides college scholarships, ensuring a bright future for our nation’s youth. As important parts of the Elks family, Elks scholars have many social and service opportunities to connect with the Elks and each other. For more information about our scholarship programs, and for ways Lodges can get involved with Elks scholars, visit www.elks.org/enf/scholars.