July 14, 2008

Media Advisory -- Summer Camps

Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s summer camps offer plenty of opportunities for reporters, photographers and camera crews to find interesting and entertaining stories, photographs and video on campus. The camps are coordinated with assistance from the SIUC Division of Continuing Education and the summer 2008 camp schedule is quickly wrapping up.

Here’s what’s happening the rest of July at the University, along with brief description, contact information and details about media opportunities for the various camps.

• Camp Little Giant is a therapeutic recreation camp for children and adults with disabilities. Touch of Nature Environmental Center, seven miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road, is the setting for the co-educational residential camp as participants enjoy horseback riding, hayrides, fishing, swimming, nature hikes, paddleboat rides, carnivals and much more. Camp Shawnee III opened on Sunday, July 13, and runs until Friday, July 18, for youth ages 8-21 with physical or developmental disabilities. There are two sessions of Dyna Camp, for youth ages 8-16 with attention deficit, hyperactive disorders. The first is July 20-25 while the second is July 20-27. For more information or to schedule a visit, contact Vicki Lang-Mendenhall in advance by calling 618/453-1122, ext. 231.

• The University hosts two sessions of the popular youth architecture camps for different age groups. High school architecture camp, which started on Sunday, July 13, continues until Friday, July 18, while kid architecture camp for grades four-six is July 21-25. Each camp at Quigley Hall introduces youth to the world of architecture and design with hands-on activities. Participants in each camp will cast concrete on the SIUC campus parking lot 100 at the corner of South Washington and Mill streets. Media can be on site from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, to see thee high school architecture participants in action or from 10 to 11 a.m. July 22 for the kid architecture’s venue. For more information contact Jon Davey, camp director, at 618/559-8931 or Vanessa Sneed at 618/536-7751.

• Intermediate/advanced robotics camp is under way this week for high school students. Participants will create mechanical systems, control systems and utilize programming and sensors for autonomous control as they demonstrate and compete with robotics. A public competition is set for 10 a.m. until noon at the University Mall on Friday, July 18. For more information, contact Martin Hebel, camp director, at 618/453-8806, Pat Eckert at 618/536-7751, or the University Mall at 618/529-3681.

• Camp CEO (Challenging Entrepreneurship Opportunities) is a nationally recognized youth entrepreneurship camp and it returns to the Entrepreneurship Center at SIUC’s Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center this week. High school youth will learn first-hand how to create and operate their business and they’ll test their skills. For more information contact Robyn Laur Russell at 618/536-2424 or Vanessa Sneed at 618/536-7751.

• Boys’ basketball half-day camp opened today (July 14) and continues through Thursday, July 17 for grades three-eight. Participants will work on skill development, shooting, ball handling, passing and team play from 9 a.m. until noon daily at the Student Recreation Center. Awards are slated for the last day. For more information contact Jackie Welch at 618/536-7751.

• Two sessions of the Saluki Tennis Academy are slated for grades seven-12. One started today (July 14) and continues through Friday, July 18, while the other is July 21-25. Each runs from 10:30 until noon daily with SIUC tennis coaches and players giving instruction and leading in competition drills. There’s match play for players of all levels. For more information contact Lana Campbell at 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.