Lafayette Lodge No. 16 Donates $2,000 to the Flint Hills Discovery Center

Kansas Masonic Foundation Supports Discovery Center Donation

Manhattan, Kansas (September 18, 2026)—The Kansas Masonic Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to benefiting Kansas communities, has partnered with Lafayette Lodge No. 16 to donate $1,000 to the Flint Hills Discovery Center. The Center inspires individuals to celebrate, explore, and care for the Flint Hills. 

Founded in 1859, Lafayette Lodge No. 16 is a Kansas Masonic lodge dedicated to Freemasonry, the oldest surviving fraternal organization in the world. The lodge has 117 active members and proudly supports the Manhattan community through a variety of service‑driven initiatives. These include hosting the annual Memorial Day Safety Break to promote safe holiday travel, partnering with the local foster care agency to provide vital assistance to children and families, contributing to Firepup safety education to help teach essential fire‑safety skills to youth, and engaging in projects that strengthen and uplift downtown Manhattan.

“We are proud to support the Flint Hills Discovery Center because its mission aligns closely with our commitment to education, community enrichment, and fostering curiosity in young people,” said Philip Rowe, Lafayette Lodge No. 16 Secretary. “The Discovery Center provides hands‑on learning experiences that connect families and students to the natural and cultural heritage of the Flint Hills, inspiring a deeper appreciation for science, history, and the environment. By supporting this institution, we help ensure that children and families in Manhattan have access to engaging, high‑quality educational opportunities that strengthen our community and encourage lifelong learning.”

Furthering their mission of assisting the local community, the Brothers at Lafayette Lodge No. 16 have teamed up with the Kansas Masonic Foundation to donate $2,000 to the Flint Hills Discovery Center’s Outdoor Classroom Renovation Project. The Flint Hills Discovery Center serves as a regional destination for education, tourism, and community engagement, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors annually through exhibits, educational programs, camps, school tours, community events, and outreach initiatives, with 16,000 youth program attendees and over 85,000 in attendance in 2025. 

The Outdoor Classroom specifically supports hands-on environmental education experiences for children ranging from toddlers to school-age youth, while also creating an accessible gathering and learning space for multi-generational visitors. The renovated Outdoor Classroom will provide year-round opportunities for learning, exploration, accessibility, and community connections, and donations will directly support the redesign and rebuild of a purpose-built outdoor learning space at the Flint Hills Discovery Center. This redesign will feature a dedicated all-weather shade structure to allow programming during hot and changing Kansas weather, an ADA-accessible boardwalk, native prairie landscape enhancements that immerse guests in the tallgrass prairie ecosystem, and more. A formal donation announcement will take place in the coming weeks.

About the Kansas Masonic Foundation:
As the philanthropic arm of Kansas Masons, the Kansas Masonic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to benefiting Kansas communities and supporting fellow Masons and their families. Since its inception, the foundation has invested more than $50 million in Kansas communities and individuals through funding academic, scientific, and charitable endeavors. For additional information about the Kansas Masonic Foundation and to get involved, please click here.

About the Grand Lodge of Kansas:
The Grand Lodge of Kansas is the governing body of Freemasonry in Kansas, established on March 17, 1856, five years prior to Kansas’ statehood. Freemasonry is the oldest, largest, and most widely recognized fraternal organization in the world. Freemasons are men, aged 18 and over, of good character who strive to improve themselves and make the world a better place. Kansas Freemasonry encompasses nearly 11,000 Kansas Masons and 170 Lodges across the state. For more information, please visit kansasmason.org.