June 30, 2008

Media Advisory -- Summer Camps at SIUC

Plenty of interesting summer activity stories for reporters, photographers and camera crews are on tap at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s summer camps.

Here is the camp schedule through July 12, along with brief description, contact information and details about media opportunities.

• Camp Little Giant is a therapeutic recreation camp for children and adults with disabilities. Set at Touch of Nature Environmental Center, seven miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road, it’s a co-educational residential camp. Horseback riding, hayrides, fishing, swimming, nature hikes, paddleboat rides and carnivals are just some of the activities participants enjoy. Camp Traditions III began Sunday and runs through Friday, July 4, for adults age 21 and older with physical or developmental disabilities. Camp Shawnee I is July 6-11 for youth ages 8-21 with physical or developmental disabilities and Camp Shawnee II runs from July 6 to July 18 for the same age group. For more information or to schedule a visit, contact Vicki Lang-Mendenhall in advance by calling 618/453-1122, ext. 231.

• Tennis Camp II began today (June 30) and goes through Thursday, July 3, for grades three-12; it runs from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 8:30-11:50 a.m. Thursday on the SIUC tennis courts. For more information contact Lana Campbell at 618/536-7751.

• Television news camp brings high school students to campus July 6-11 for hands-on broadcast journalism education and experience. Experienced radio-television professors and news directors will lead the grant-funded camp. The College of Mass Communication and Media Arts at SIUC and the Illinois Broadcasting Association sponsor the camp, where participants will write news stories, learn to use field cameras to gather news, visit WSIU-TV’s studio and much more. All students get the chance to anchor and be on camera. Thursday afternoon (July 10) they’ll be practicing in the studio at the River Region Evening Edition student newsroom and taping the newscast Friday morning (July 11). For information or to arrange a visit contact Jim Gee at 217/369-8755, Jason Hartz at 618/453-4303 or by e-mail at hartzj@siu.edu, or Jackie Welch at 618/536-7751.

• Online News Camp from July 6-11 gives students experience in field reporting, editing and technology used to create an online newspaper. Instructors include William Frievogel, director of the SIUC School of Journalism, and Anita J. Stoner, a visiting assistant professor in the school. About 10 Sparta High School students will be attending. For more information or to set up a visit to the camp, contact Jason Hartz at 618/453-4303 or via email at hartzj@siu.edu.

• Middle school architecture camp July 6-11 introduces youth in grades seven to nine to architecture and design at Quigley Hall. Participants will cast concrete on the SIUC campus parking lot 100 at the corner of South Washington and Mill streets from 10 to 11 a.m. July 8. For more information contact Jon Davey, camp director, at 618/559-8931 or Vanessa Sneed at 618/536-7751.

• Saluki Girls’ Volleyball offers a trio of camps July 9-11. High school camp gives participants a chance to enhance offensive and defensive technique and teamwork. The team camp offers a competitive element. Participants will be improving their skills at the SIU Arena and the Student Recreation Center. Meanwhile, Brenda Winkeler, SIUC head volleyball coach, will be instructing area volleyball coaches in the classroom and on the court to improve their coaching work. For details contact Pat Eckert, 618/536-7751.

• Girls’ softball pitching camp is July 9-10 for grades two through 12. Each day from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center, participants will work on drills and get specialized pitch instruction. Contact is Jackie Welch, 618/536-7751.

• A pair of simultaneous Saluki track and field clinics is set for July 12-13 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily at McAndrew Stadium/Lew Hartzog Track. Junior and senior high school tracksters can either work on their pole vaulting at one camp or field throws, including shot put, discus and hammer throw, at the other. For information contact Jackie Welch, 618/536-7751.

Additional information about the various SIUC summer camps is on the University’s Web site at http://www.dce.siu.edu or by contacting the Division of Continuing Education at 618/536-7751.