June 04, 2007
Openings remain for Camp Little Giant
CARBONDALE, Ill. – There's still time for children and adults with disabilities to register for residential summer camps hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Touch of Nature Environmental Center.
The therapeutic recreation camp, Camp Little Giant, offers swimming, fishing, paddleboat rides, horseback riding, talent shows, hayrides, carnivals, nature hikes and more. The location for the co-educational camp is the center's 3,100 beautiful acres located along the shores of Little Grassy Lake, seven miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road.
SIUC is proud of its experience and expertise providing therapeutic recreation for special populations and in fact, offers the country's first university-affiliated residential camping programs for those with disabilities. Touch of Nature's summer camping programs began in 1952.
Six to eight campers and at least two counselors occupy each rustic cabin with male and female campers in separate quarters. All gather in the dinning hall for meals. Ten camp weeks run June 10-July 27, geared to various ages and needs.
The cost is $890 for a six-day session or $1,855 for a 12-day session for those needing one-on-one assistance, or $480 for a six-day session and $1,025 for 12-day session for those requiring less care and supervision. Some campers may qualify for financial assistance.
Here's the schedule of the camp sessions and special populations for which each is designed:
* June 10-15 – Camp Olympia I: For adults 21 and older with high care needs, low mobility or using wheelchairs.
* June 11-22 – Camp Olympia II: For adults 21 and older with high care needs, low mobility or using wheelchairs.
* June 17-22 – Camp Olympia III: For youth and adults with high care needs, low mobility or using wheelchairs.
* June 24-29 – Camp Traditions I: For adults 21 and older with physical or developmental disabilities.
* June 24-July 6 – Camp Traditions II: For adults 21 and older with physical or developmental disabilities.
* July 1-6 – Camp Traditions III: For adults 21 and older with physical or developmental disabilities.
* July 8-13 – Camp Shawnee I: For youth ages 8-21 with physical or developmental disabilities.
* July 8-20 – Camp Shawnee II: For youth ages 8-21 with physical or developmental disabilities.
* July 15-20 – Camp Shawnee III: For youth ages 8-21 with physical or developmental disabilities.
* July 22-27 – Dyna Camp: For youth ages 8-21 with attention deficit, hyperactive disorder.
Those living nearby may attend camp just during the day at an adjusted rate.
The camp also welcomes anyone interested in volunteering and people wanting to work as a camp counselor. Counselors must be at least 16 years old. They receive free room and board along with their salary. For information about volunteering or working at the camp, contact camp Director Vicki Lang at 618/453-1122, ext. 231.
To obtain camp, counselor or camper scholarship applications, call Touch of Nature's Camp Little Giant at 618/453-1121 or online go to http://www.ton.siu.edu/forms.php.