June 03, 2011

Media Advisory -- Summer Camps June 4-18

Reporters, photographers and news crews looking for fun summer activity stories will find many opportunities at summer camps hosted in coming weeks by Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
The Division of Continuing Education coordinates the majority of the camps while Touch of Nature Environmental Center handles others. The schedule for June 4-18, along with a brief camp description, opportune times to get stories, and contact information for each camp includes:
• Volleyball Setter/Middle Hitters Clinic, June 4 at Davies Gym from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This one-day specialty clinic for grades 6-12 helps players improve skills and develop advanced volleyball techniques. Media are welcome 10 a.m.-noon or 1-3 p.m. For more information contact DCE at 618/536-7751 or Peter Chang at 618/453-4589.
• Camp Little Giant kicks off its summer camp season for children and adults with disabilities with three different sessions during this time period. Camp Olympia I is June 5-10 while Camp Olympia II is June 5-17 and both are for adults 21 and older with high care needs, low mobility or using a wheelchair. Camp Olympia III is June 12-17 and participants are young adults or adults with high care needs, low mobility or who use wheelchairs. The camps provide those with varying disabilities a true summer camp experience at the Touch of Nature Environmental Center, a facility about eight miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road. To arrange a media visit, contact Vicki Lang-Mendenhall at 618/453-1122, ext. 231 or by emailing vickil@siu.edu.
• Tennis Camp I, June 5-8 at SIUC Tennis Courts. This commuter camp for grades 3-12, with instruction by top college coaches and players, will build the tennis skills and knowledge of participants. Media can visit anytime 8:30-11:30 a.m. or 1:30-4:30 p.m. June 6-8. Learn more by contacting Audra Nothwehr at 618/453-5462.
• Saluki Baseball Camp, June 6-9 at Abe Martin Field. The day camp runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for children ages 7-13, helping them improve their hitting, fielding and pitching abilities through specific position work and supervised game activity. Media can visit during camp hours other than during the noontime hour. Contact Ken Henderson at 618/453-3794 for details.
• Hovercraft Camp, weekdays June 6-17 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the engineering building or outside nearby. Students entering grades 9-12 will learn about the theory, application, construction and operation of hovercraft and, working in teams, will build hovercrafts. Media are welcome 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. For additional information, contact DCE at 618/536-7751 or Mandara Savage at 618/536-3396.
• Cooperative Youth Camp, June 9-10. This conference educates high school juniors and seniors about cooperatives and the seven principles of cooperatives through field trips, hands-on activities, presentations by cooperative employees and more. To arrange a media visit, contact Michelle Sullivan at 618/453-3080 or by emailing sully@siu.edu.
• Saluki Volleyball Outside Hitter Clinic, June 11 at Davies Gym from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Players in grades 6-12 will work on basic skills, refining them and learning advanced techniques as they specifically relate to the position of outside hitter. Media are welcome 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m. For more information, contact DCE at 618/536-7751 or Peter Chang at 618/453-4589.
• Tennis Camp II, June 12-15 at the SIUC Tennis Courts. Top college coaches and players will provide instruction to enhance the tennis skills and knowledge of participants from grades 3-12. Media are welcome 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m. June 13-15. For additional details, contact Audra Nothwehr at 618/453-5462.
• Challenge to Excellence (junior high), June 12-17. Academically talented youths in grades 5-7 will participate in activities to improve their higher-level thinking skills in math, science, creative writing and other areas. For details about visiting the camp, contact John McIntyre at 618/536-2415.
• Softball Hitting and Defense Camp, June 13-15 at Sports Blast behind the University Mall. Girls in grades 3-12 will get personalized instruction to enhance their hitting, bunting and defensive skills with instruction and drills targeting specific defensive positions. The camp meets 9 a.m. to noon and media are welcome 10-11 a.m. Contact Kerri Blaylock at 618/453-5466 for details.
• Boys’ Basketball Half-Day Camp, June 13-16 at the SIU Arena from 9 a.m. to noon. Boys in grades 3-8 will be working on offensive skills, shooting fundamentals, ball handling and passing and will participate in team play, contests and fun activities. Media are welcome 10-11 a.m. Monday through Wednesday. For more information contact John Smith at 618/453-5460.
• Challenger Sports British Soccer Camp, June 13-17 at Stehr Field. Children ages 6-10 participate from 9 a.m. to noon while those 11-16 are in session 1-4 p.m. Campers will participate in a variety of fun activities and learning exercises to enhance their soccer skills. Media may stop by any time camp is in session. For more information contact DCE at 618/536-7751.
• Eco U, June 13-17 at Touch of Nature Environmental Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The experiential nature camps kick off for the summer 2011 season with Animal Adventures allowing children entering grades 2-7 to enjoy hands-on learning about animals. Touch of Nature is about eight miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road. For more information or to set up a media visit, call 618/453-1122, ext. 250, or email kate4h@siu.edu.
• Volleyball Defensive Specialist Clinic, June 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Davies Gym. Players in grades 6-12 will work on specialized defensive skills. Media are welcome 10 a.m.-noon or 1-3 p.m. For additional details, contact DCE at 618/536-7751 or Peter Chang at 618/453-4589.