Excess carbon dioxide contributes to climate change, but nature provides a powerful solution. In a single year, one acre of mature trees absorbs the amount of CO2 produced by driving a car 26,000 miles.

Individual impact is just as significant: a single mature tree can absorb up to 48 pounds of carbon dioxide annually and produce enough oxygen to support two to four people. By the time the trees planted by the Lions reach maturity, they will have removed over 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide from our atmosphere—adding enough oxygen to support nearly 17 million people.

We at the MELC Lions are proud to continue our yearly partnership with 10,000 Trees for the Rouge. 

In the spring of 2004, Markham Council launched the Friends of a Park enhancement to the Adopt-a-Park program, establishing a vital environmental stewardship and public service initiative. This program empowers volunteers to enhance our local park system by removing debris and acting as the city’s “eyes and ears” through Park Watch. It remains a premier way for environmentally-minded citizens to make a direct, personal contribution to a more beautiful community.

With this program, the Markham Elite Lions Club took the initiative and adopted Milliken Mills Park as their Park to go for cleaning.

Camp Kirk is a registered charity in Canada, known as Friends of the Learning Disabled, Camp Kirk. With neurodiversity youth and children in mind, have been empowering them with recreation programs since 1993.

The Lions of the Learning Disability Association of Ontario connected with a group of individuals dedicated to supporting the needs of children with learning disabilities. Sporting activities are a great way to nurture children with special needs and this group saw the benefit of partnering with us. The Lions Club’s Camp Kirk Foundation was established to develop and maintain the camp property, while Friends of the Learning Disabled, Camp Kirk was established to oversee the summer camp program. Camp Kirk was developed as a team effort between the two charities.

MELC took initiative to participate in the Camp Kirk activities to support the great cause.