C-G Jaycees Projects

Home

Who Are We?

How Do I Join?

Contact Information

Board Members

Meetings

The Jaycee Creed

Calendar of Events

Upcoming Events

Jaycee Projects

Monthly Newsletters

Photo Gallery

Members Only

Business Directory

Links Page

Below is a list of events that the Cary-Grove Jaycees are involved in from year to year. As you will see there is something for everyone! Either read down the list or click on an event that interests you. If you need more information on how you can get involved in any of these events, you can send us an e-mail here.

Parliamentary Training
Jaycees govern themselves following parliamentary procedures. Teaching board members the proper uses of Roberts Rules of Order enables the organization to run effective and orderly meetings.

Meat Raffle
This fund raising project is held at a local watering hole. Raffle tickets are sold and then a winner is drawn to receive items such as whole turkeys, large roasts, premium steaks and chops. Over the course of several hours approximately 15 chances are available to purchase tickets and win meat.

Easter Egg Hunt
Our Easter Egg hunts are usually held on a Saturday the week before Easter Sunday. The event is open to the public and is free to attend. To accommodate both Cary and Fox River Grove we actually hold two hunts, one in each town.

Personal Skills
Each year a variety of projects are planned that are intended to increase an individuals understanding or skill level in different subjects. A Subject Matter Expert is brought in to address the topics chosen. Some of these events are hands on, while others are more lectured. Examples include: Computer Dynamics, Camera Dynamics, Dart Dynamics, Boat Safety, Water Safety, Small Engine Repair, Swimming Pool Maintenance, Back yard ponds, and Bow making & Decorating fundamentals, First Aid and CPR.

Church Visits
Jaycee families meet at a church in the community. The purpose of the project is to teach diversity and expose members to different religions. Often times the group meets for brunch after the service. Church visit project(s) are scheduled 1 to 3 times in a given year.

Visitations
Visiting other chapters around the state of Illinois is one way to learn about other Jaycee chapters, meet new people and bring back good ideas. Multiple visitations are planned throughout the year.

Cary-Grove Jaycees Scholarship Raffle
Each year the Cary-Grove Jaycees provide numerous five hundred dollar scholarships to high school seniors. We are able to provide them with the funds raised from the $100 raffle. This is a reverse draw raffle, so the last number drawn is the grand prize winner.

Memorial Day Parade (Cary & FRG)
The Cary-Grove Jaycees get out and march in both the Fox River Grove and Cary Memorial Day parades. Our unique trend is to hand out dog biscuits to all the pets along the route (as well as candy for the children).

Post Prom Party Donation (Cary-Grove HS)
The Cary-Grove HS Booster club arranges a post prom event each year. The Cary-Grove Jaycees provide financial support to the effort.

Back To Back for FAN (Family Aids Network)
FAN is a US Jaycee National program designed to assist children and their families effected by AIDS. The Cary-Grove Jaycees partner with local chiropractors who donate a portion of their fees on a particular day.

Jaycees Cary Days
Cary Days is organized and ran by the Cary-Grove Jaycees. This 4 day event is our largest fundraiser of the year. A carnival, beer garden, entertainment, and other special events are arranged to be available to the public. There is no fee to enter the park. Check out the Jaycees Cary Days website at carydays.com!

Little Fin Fishing Derby - Cary
Held on Fathers Day Weekend, this event allows families the chance to come out and enter a fishing contest for a nominal fee. Prizes are given for different categories such as most fish and largest fish.

Relay for Life
The Cary-Grove Jaycees aid The American Cancer Society in various ways to support the Relay for Life project. We have sponsored teams, aided by manning an event, and have donated the use of our canopies.

Food Thing in the Grove
During the Fox River Grove Fireworks, the Jaycees sell hot dogs and brats. The funds raised at this event are donated to the Village of Fox River Grove.

Caps for Chemo
New caps and hats are collected to be given to a local hospital for distribution to cancer patients. All types and sizes of new caps are collected, but the project's focus is on children with cancer.

Family Fishing Day (Fox River Grove)
Usually held on or around Labor Day weekend, this event provides families the opportunity to come out for a fishing derby. For a nominal fee, they can participate and can win fun prizes like fishing poles and lures.

Family Campout
This is a really fun project. Jaycee families convene at a camp ground for the weekend. A community fire burns most of the weekend. On Saturday we organize games for the kids and in the evening a pot luck dinner.

Fox River Grove Parade
The Cary-Grove Jaycees participate in the Fox River Grove parade held in September.

Camp New Hope Can Shake
One weekend in the fall, the Jaycees descend upon our street corners to collect money to send physically and mentally handicapped individuals to a special camp in Mattoon, IL. This event usually raises enough money to send 5 campers for one week.

Punt, Pass & Kick
Held during the Fox River Grove Fox Fest in September. Punt, Pass and Kick is a competition for children to see how far they can punt, pass and kick a football. Winners receive a trophy for each category.

Chicken BBQ
At the Fox River Grove Fox Fest, the Jaycees cook and sell BBQ dinners. The tradition originally started over 30 years ago with a secret Jaycee BBQ sauce.

Halloween Parade
The Jaycees participate in the town Halloween Parade by coordinating with the High School Marching band to lead children in a parade down main street ending in a costume judging contest.

Tree Sales
A tradition for nearly 40 years, the Cary-Grove Jaycees tree sales is a major annual fundraiser. We stock and sell premium Christmas Trees starting at $35. Come visit our lot at the Algonquin Township building on Route 14 just north of Three Oaks Road.

Install Banquet
This is our annual banquet where we recognize outstanding efforts from the year and install our newly elected officers for the upcoming year. Past, present and future Jaycees are encouraged to attend this event which will be held in late December.

Share Thanksgiving
Our annual November food drive usually raises 10,000 items which are donated to the Cary-Grove Food Pantry to held stock their shelves and so they can assist more families through the coming holiday season.

Letters to Santa
In late November through mid-December we begin to receive letters to Santa at our PO box. The Jaycees make sure every child receives a personal, hand-written letter from Santa!

Santa Phone
On a select evening in December, the Jaycees assemble to aid Santa and his elves. We receive phone calls from children wishing to speak with Santa.

Holiday Parade
The Village of Cary hosts "Christmas in Cary", an annual winter parade in which the Jaycees participate by marching down Main Street.

Love Letters
Love Letters is an organization that helps boost the spirits of young children by sending letters, cards, etc. and providing them with entertaining items such as puzzles, stamps, etc. The Cary-Grove Jaycees assist this effort by collecting items each fall to be sent to Love Letters.

St. Jude's Greeting Card Drive
Save your used greeting cards (holiday and others) because in January and February Cary-Grove Jaycees collect them to be sent to St. Jude's Children's Ranch where they are used for crafts and the fronts are recycled for reuse.

Canopy Rentals
The Cary-Grove Jaycees owns 3 canopies which we rent out when they are not being used for chapter events. The price is significantly lower than is found at a rental shop. Send an e-mail to check availability and pricing.