June 08, 2010

‘Dawg Days at the Rec’ offers summer fun

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Summer fun for children of all ages is what “Dawg Days at the Rec” is all about. Recreational Sports and Services at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is offering an assortment of enjoyable activities beginning Monday, June 14.

The Dawg Days camps and programs from the Student Recreation Center include: Around the World, Camp REC, The Great Outdoors, Kidz Rec, Kids on the Move, Action Zone, Kids Speed Agility Quickness, Pee Wee Tennis, Youth Tennis, Youth Swim and Theater Camps. Some are full-day programs while others are partial-day programs.


Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers and news crews will find an abundance of opportunities for good photographs, stories and video at SIUC’s Recreational Sports and Services summer camps and programs. To arrange coverage, contact Gary Tisdale at 618/453-1225.


There are four full-day camps for youths ages 7-12. Each five-day camp runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with pick-up available until 5:30 p.m.

Action Zone is a non-competitive sports camp giving children the chance to participate in all sorts of sports activities in small, relaxed group settings and programs. They’ll enjoy the activities June 14-18 without emphasis on competition.

Discover games and activities played all over the world during Around the World camp June 21-25. It’s a celebration of diversity.

Camp REC melds health, fitness and team-building activities into fun times June 28-July 2. Participants will play capture the flag, four square, kickball, basketball, spud, soccer and relays. And, they’ll enjoy a daily dip in the swimming pool

The Great Outdoors gives youngsters the chance to enjoy outdoor recreation and adventure. They will climb rocks, fish, learn to tie knots and build a shelter and more. The camp runs July 12-16.

Youngsters who fancy themselves actors or actresses are sure to enjoy Drama Camp, where theater specialists help children ages 7-12 enhance their dramatic skills using storytelling, improvisational drama games, movement and character development activities. Act one is July 12-16 while the second session, act two, is July 19-23. The camp runs 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

The cost of each of the multi-sport and drama camps is $140 for children of SIUC students, $160 for children of Student Recreation Center members and $175 for everyone else.

The Student Recreation Center is also hosting several partial-day youth programs this summer.

Kidz Rec features all sorts of organized recreational activities for ages 7-12. Participants will enjoy sports, crafts, games and learning activities with an emphasis on fun and good sportsmanship. They’ll enjoy a cool-off swim each day at the pool too.

The little guys and gals will enjoy Kids on the Move. It gives children ages 3-6 the opportunity to develop enhanced coordination, motor skills and creativity by joining in organized games and activities as well as crafts and free play time. A swim caps off each day’s action.

Kidz Rec and Kids on the Move both meet 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (except Monday, July 5) from June 21 to July 30. The cost of each program is $130 for member children and $150 for others. The drop-off and pick-up spot is the Student Recreation Center Lounge.

The Student Recreation Center also offers a trio of more specialized activities.

The goal of Speed Agility Quickness camp is increasing speed and agility to improve your competitive edge and aid in injury prevention. There are six individual daily sessions for youths ages 13-18. The sessions are set for 8 a.m. to noon June 14, 16, 18, 21, 23 and 25. The cost is $20 per daily session but if someone purchases five daily sessions at once, they get the sixth session free.

A youth swim program is set for Saturday mornings July 10-Aug. 7 with two morning classes set for 10-10:45 a.m. and 11-11:45 a.m. Children of all ages can participate. The lessons are at Pulliam Pool. The cost is $30 for center member children and $40 for non-members.

Two sessions of children’s tennis programming are also on tap. Pee Wee Tennis helps children ages 4-6 learn the basics of tennis and get some time on the court. The program runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m. beginning July 13 and going through July 29. This program meets at the law school tennis courts. Children of Recreation Center members pay $35 while others pay $50.

Youth Tennis is for children ages 7-15. They’ll learn skills including serving, forehand and backhand shots and volleys. Whether for fun or competition, participants will improve their tennis skills. This program also meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 13-29. Each session is 10:30 a.m. to noon on the tennis courts adjacent to the law school. The cost is $45 for children of members or $60 for non-member children.

For multiple children from the same household, there’s a $10 discount for the second child to enroll in the same program. This discount applies only to the full day camps, Kidz Rec and Kids on the Move. The discount does not apply to the youth or pee wee tennis camps or youth swim lessons.

For more information about the camps, including registration forms, look online at www.reccenter.siu.edu/index.php/rssyouthrecreation or call 618/453-1277.