June 13, 2013

Media Advisory -- Summer Camps

Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s summer camps provide numerous opportunities for interesting summer activity stories.  Reporters, photographers, and camera crews are welcome to cover the various camp activities.

The schedule for camps from June 17 to the end of the month, along with brief descriptions, contact information and possible details about media opportunities, includes:

  • Challenge to Excellence II, June 16-21, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., in various locations.  In its 30th year, Challenge to Excellence is one of the most respected and long-standing summer residential programs in the Midwest for academically talented students.  The program’s major goal is to provide students with opportunities to “stretch themselves” in classes that promote higher-level thinking skills and creativity in a variety of academic subjects including math, art, psychology, journalism, biology and more.  For more information, contact John McIntyre at johnm@siu.edu or by phone at 618/453-4223.
  • Summer Wings, June 17-21, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (ends at noon on 6/21), Transportation Education Center, Southern Illinois Airport. The Department of Aviation Management and Flight offers this week-long aviation camp giving interested high school students an opportunity to experience first-hand the thrill of flight.  Participants will have the chance to explore the possibility of a career as a pilot through ground and flight training similar to the training that SIU flight students undergo.  Campers will attend ground school classes, fly university flight training devices and aircraft (weather permitting), and enjoy evening activities on campus. For more information contact Lorelei Ruiz at 618/453-9265 or by email at lruiz@aviation.siu.edu, or Steve Goetz at 618/453-9258 or by email at sgoetz@aviation.siu.edu.
  • Touch of Nature Eco Camp will feature two sessions in this time period. Wonderful Water is June 17-21 while Planet Earth is June 24-28.  Each camp meets from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Touch of Nature Environmental Center, about eight miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road.  Wonderful Water explores the completely different world living beneath the surface in water and campers will explore the world.  Plant Earth participants will find out more about the beautiful world and how to protect it and keep it healthy.  The camps are for youths entering grades 2-7 this fall.  For more information contact 618/453-1121 or visit the website at www.ton.siu.edu.
  • Camp Little Giant, the therapeutic recreation camp for children and adults of differing abilities, has four sessions during this time period.  Camp Olympia III is for adults 21 and older with high care needs, low mobility or using a wheelchair and meets June 16-21.  Camp Traditions I is June 16-21, Camp Traditions II is June 16-28 and Camp Traditions III is June 23-28.  All of the Traditions camps are for adults 21 and older with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities.  The camps meet at Touch of Nature Environmental Center, about eight miles south of Carbondale and provide participants with a true summer camp experience.  For additional information, contact Vicki Lang at 618/453-1121, ext. 231, or by email at vickl@siu.edu.
  • Kid Architecture, June 17-20, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Quigley Hall.  Campers come from around the country and the world to build friendships and learn about buildings and design. The award-winning architecture camps introduce young people to the design of the built environment.  For more information contact Jon Davey at 618/453-3734 or by email at davey@siu.edu.
  • Advanced LEGO Engineering, June 17-21, 8:30 a.m. to noon, Quigley Hall.  Advanced LEGO engineering camp projects include a street cleaner, disk car, hand held crane, mechanical hammer, disk speedster, balance, balance with dial, windmill, sail car, motorized go-cart, motorized rail, motorized walking stick, motorized dog, motorized crane, weighted crane, motorized dragster, mobile crane, tow truck, helicopter and an airplane.  There will also be a take-home project, as well as challenged creative time.  New projects will explore renewable energy sources; investigate energy supply, transfer, accumulation, conversion and consumption; and use measurements and data analysis to describe and explain outcomes through hands-on activities. For more information contact Jon Davey at 618/453-3734 or by email at davey@siu.edu.
  • LEGO WeDo Robotics, June 17- 21, 1-4:30 p.m., Quigley Hall.  Campers will engage in  science, literacy, math, and social studies learning experiences.  Using the LEGO Education WeDo hardware and software, in combination with these activities, students will think critically, problem solve and be creative. Activities cover the Wild Animals theme models:  Hungry Alligator, Flying Bird and Roaring Lion.  Mathematics, literacy, science and social studies activities will be incorporated into each model along with standards covering visuals arts, dramatic arts, music, physical education and technology.  There will also be a take-home project as well as challenged creative time.  For more information contact Jon Davey at 618/453-3734 or by email at davey@siu.edu.
  • Softball Hitting and Defense, June 18-20, 9 a.m. to noon, Sports Blast.  This camp will emphasize hitting and defense. Players will receive personalized instruction at their defensive positions utilizing many drills and campers will also get hitting and bunting instruction.  For more information contact Kerri Blaylock, head coach of the SIU women’s softball team, at 618/453-5466 or by email at mook@siu.edu.
  • Girls Make Movies, June 23-28, 3-8 p.m., Communications Building.  This camp is for girls in grades 9-12 this fall who are interested in film and video.  Through screenings, productions, and discussions with women who make and study the moving image, campers will learn about different formats including documentary, experimental, and fiction film. Diverse approaches to telling stories with the moving image will also help campers develop their craft.  For more information contact Jason Hartz at 618/453-4303 or by email at hartzj@siu.edu.
  • The Law and Leadership Institute, June 23- 29, a residential camp for high school students, Hiram H. Lesar Law Building as well as the Student Recreation Center, Touch of Nature Environmental Center and St. Louis locations.  A joint project from the Illinois State Bar Association and the Just the Beginning Foundation, this legal immersion program includes classroom lectures, logic and critical thinking exercises, writing and oral advocacy instruction, guest speakers and field trips to law firms, government offices and courthouses.  The week of fun and educational activities wraps up with closing activities that the families of participants are welcome to attend.  Additional details are online at http://www.isba.org/lawandleadershipprogram.  For more information, contact Michael Ruiz at mikeruiz@siu.edu or by calling 618/453-8763. 
  • Beginning LEGO Engineering, June 24-28, 8:30 a.m. to noon, Quigley Hall.  The beginning LEGO engineering camp projects will include basic LEGO part and construction; level and catapult, car, pulley, conveyor, gears, gears with belts, simple crane, gears with chains, motorized gears, motorized turn stile, motorized car construction, folding chair, draw bridge, motorized player piano, motorized windshield wipers, helicopter, airplane, motorized car, motorized conveyor belt and a motorized Merry-Go-Round.  There will also be a take-home project, as well as challenged creative time.  For more information contact Jon Davey at 618/453-3734 or by email at davey@siu.edu
  • Saluki Swim Camp, June 24-28, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Student Recreation Center.  The Saluki swim day camp allows campers, ages 8-12, to experience the enjoyment of swimming and diving.  The emphasis is on having fun in water sports and games.  This is not a "learn how to swim" camp as campers must be able to swim a minimum of 25 yards.  In addition to swimming and diving, campers will have fun at the campus lake.  If weather permits, a beach pizza party, canoeing, paddle boating and other outside activities will be among the camp activities.  Additional daily activities in the SIU Student Center will include bowling, billiards and art as well as crafts activities in the Student Center Craft Shop.  For more information contact Scott Olson, associate head swimming coach, at 618/453-3149 or by email at solson@athletics.siu.edu.
  • Young Writer’s Workshop, June 26-29, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Faner Hall.  The Young Writers Workshop gives high school sophomores, juniors and seniors the chance to explore and develop their talents in poetry and prose writing.  Students will hone their writing skills by participating in daily critique sessions lead by faculty, and by attending panels, readings, and craft discussions lead by University creative writing faculty and graduate students.  For more information contact Allison Joseph at 618/453-6813 or by email at aljoseph@siu.edu.
  • Track and Field / Pole Vault, June 29-30, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lew Hartzog Track.  This camp is for ages 12-18 who want to improve and/or learn new skills in pole vault, shot put or discuss.  Each athlete will receive a personalized evaluation of his/her technique.  For more information contact John Smith, throws coach for the SIU track and field team, at 618/453-7243 or by email at jjsmith@siu.edu.