May 17, 2013
Registration open for ‘Fish U’ summer camp
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Registration is open for Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Fish U summer camp, a fun-filled day camp for high school students.
The camp is set for Aug. 1-3 at the scenic 3,100-acre Touch of Nature Environmental Center along the shores of Little Grassy Lake. SIU faculty, staff and graduate students will lead the camp, providing participants with special behind-the-scenes experiences. Touch of Nature’s location offers various outdoor learning spaces and several indoor workshop facilities.
The camp runs each day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. but there will also be evening fishing opportunities available. Fish U is a hands-on camp, engaging participants in a variety of outdoor activities. Campers are encouraged to dress accordingly, bringing outdoor sandals for walking through creeks, tennis shoes for hiking, swim suits for canoeing and swimming, comfortable clothes for fishing, extra attire and rain gear, if needed.
Campers will participate in a boating and water safety workshop session including a canoe trip. There will be tours of the SIU campus and of the Wet Lab and Research Pond. Participants will learn about fish diets and maximum growth, game fish, fisheries management, aquatic entomology and plant identification and watershed, limnology and water quality.
Other activities include fish dissections, river lessons, plankton collection, an aquaculture presentation and meeting members of the American Fisheries Society and the Saluki Bassers, both of which are SIU registered student organizations. The last day will feature a friendly fishing competition and fish fry along with awards and special recognition for camp participants.
The class is limited to just 25 students so early registration is strongly recommended. The cost for each camper is $75; a $25 non-refundable deposit at registration and the remaining $50 is due by Aug. 1. On-site room and board is available at an additional cost.
Campers should bring their own sack lunches, with water and snacks provided. All campers age 16 or older must have a current fishing license to participate.
The registration form is available online at http://www.news.siu.edu/documents/FishU2013.pdf. Print and complete the form and send it with a non-refundable $25 deposit payable to SIU Carbondale, to: Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture & Aquatic Sciences, Attn: Candie Glover, Outreach Coordinator, Life Science II, Room 173 -- Mail Code 6511, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 1125 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale, IL 62901.
For more information, contact Glover at 618/201-1787.