Media Advisory -- Summer Camps through June 27

June 10, 2015

Media Advisory -- Summer Camps through June 27

Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s summer camps offer numerous opportunities for reporters, photographers and news crews to find interesting activity stories, photos and video. Continuing Education and Outreach coordinates most of the campus while the Touch of Nature Environmental Center, Saluki athletics and other campus units handle others.

The 2015 summer camp schedule through June 27, along with a brief description of each camp, opportune times to capture good stories, photographs or footage, and contact information, includes:

• High School Intensive Art Workshop continues from 1 to 4 p.m. through Friday, June 12, in Allyn Hall, Room 102, giving high school students a hands-on, in-depth experience with various media including ceramics, sculptures, painting and drawing. Media may particularly be interested in covering the Raku firing of clay pieces at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, in Pulliam Hall. Call 618/303-6265 to confirm exact times and locations.
• Experience the World of Design Art Camp, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Friday, June 12, in Pulliam Hall, Room 59, for grades 6-9. Participants will explore 2-D and 3-D design and take it a step further by brainstorming and creating logos, product concepts, conducting design research and making project presentations.
  • Animal Adventures meets weekdays from 8:30 a.m.to 4 p.m. through Friday, June 12, and connects children in grades 2-7 with all sorts of animals.
  • Adventures are Underway camp is an overnight camp for grades 5-6, also meeting through Friday, June 12. Children experience hiking, canoeing, the high ropes course, crafts and a variety of outdoor activities as they learn basic survivor skills and more.
  • Clan of the Cave Kids day camp for children in grades 2-7 meets 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. June15-19, taking children back in time to the era when mammoths, saber-tooth cats and camels roamed North America.
  • Blue Planet is a day camp for children in grades 2-7, meeting 8:30 a.m.to 4 p.m. on June 22-26, and it introduces children to aquatic animals, the Little Grassy Lake watershed and other elements within the world of water as they learn about conservation and protecting the natural resource.

• EdVenture, Touch of Nature Environmental Center’s outdoor summer camp series for children will have several different session of day and overnight camps during this time period. 

Each of the camps meets at Touch of Nature, located about eight miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road. To learn more about any of these camps, call 618/453-1121 or email tonec@siu.edu.

• Camp Little Giant, the therapeutic recreation camp for children and adults of differing abilities, is offering several camp sessions during this time.
  • Camp Olympia I, II and III, for adults 21 and older with high care needs, low mobility or wheelchair needs, continue through June 19.
  • Camp Traditions I and II sessions, for adults age 21 and older with physical, cognitive or development disabilities, takes place between June 14 and 26.

All of the camps are at Touch of Nature Environmental Center. Each session provides campers with a true summer camp experience. For additional information, contact Vicki Lang-Mendenhall at 618/453-1121, ext. 231, or by email at vickil@siu.edu.

• Beginning Lego Engineering Camp for children in grades 1-2 will have two sessions, from 8:30 a.m. to noon each day through Friday, June 12, and at the same time June 22-26, in Quigley Hall, Room 310. Participants will learn about basic engineering by constructing projects using Legos, pulleys, gears and motors. Media are welcome at any time. For more information, contact Jon Davey at 618/453-3734 or by email at jdavey@siu.edu.
• Advanced Lego Engineering Camps, for children in grades 3-5, sessions are set for 1:30-4 p.m. daily through Friday, June 12, and June 22-26, and also from 8:30 a.m. to noon June 15-19, in Quigley Hall, Room 310. Children will learn about construction and engineering by creating motorized go-carts, airplanes, tow trucks, disks speedsters and will participate in various hands-on activities exploring renewable energy. Media are welcome any time the camp is in session. For additional details, contact Jon Davey at 618/453-3734 or by email at jdavey@siu.edu.
• Mindstorms Camp, for ages 10 and older, will have several sessions during this period, with camps running from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m. weekdays through Friday, June 12, and again June 22-26 in Quigley Hall, Room 310. The youths will be creating and commanding robots that walk, talk, think and do numerous sessions in this new camp. Media may come any time during camp hours. To learn more, contact Jon Davey at 618/453-3734 or by email at jdavey@siu.edu.
• Challenge to Excellence Camp is June 14-19 for grades 6-8 and June 21-26 for grades 9-11, with classes and activities in Faner Hall and Life Science II. Academically talented students expand their horizons and stretch their capabilities through activities that promote critical thinking and creativity. Media are welcome between 8:45 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day or, on Thursday evening of each session at 6:30 there will be a talent show in the law school auditorium that would be a good opportunity for a story, video or photographs. For additional information, contact John McIntyre at johnm@siu.edu. 
• Summer Wings Aviation Camp, set for June 14-19, gives high school students the chance to learn about aviation and actually fly. Weather permitting, students will be flying or participating in hands-on activities at the Southern Illinois Airport at these times: June 15 at 2:30 p.m., June 16 and 18 at 9 a.m. For more information, contact Lorelei Ruiz at lemiller@siu.edu or 618/453-9265.
• Saluki Baseball Camp is June 15-18 for ages 7-13. Participants will enhance their hitting, pitching, fielding and base-running skills. Participants will be working on their sliding techniques at 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, offering good potential for photos and video. For more information, contact Ryan Strain at 618/453-7646.
• Challenger Sports British Soccer Camp, June 15-19 for ages 6-10 from 9 a.m. to noon and ages 11-16 from 1 to 4 p.m., all at Stehr Field. The camp provides youths with soccer fundamentals and skills training and media are welcome any time camp is in session. For additional information, contact Ajay Nwosu at 855/837-4461 or by email at ajay@challengersports.com.
• WeDo Robotics Lego Camp for children in grades 3-5 meets June 15-19 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. in Quigley Hall, Room 310. Participants will learn problem-solving and critical-thinking skills as they create wild animal models using Lego hardware and software. They will create a take-home project too. Media may visit any time the camp is in session. For more information, contact Jon Davey at 618/453-3734 or by email at jdavey@siu.edu.
• Kid Architecture Camp is June 15-19, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for children in grades 4-6, Quigley Hall, Room 30. Through projects, discussions and hands-on activities, the award-winning commuter camp introduces children to architecture and design. Media are welcome any time. For more information, contact Jon Davey at 618/453-3734 or by email at jdavey@siu.edu.
• NASA Wings 2015 is a grant-funded camp for high school students, giving them a chance to explore careers in aviation and aerospace June 21-26. They will attend ground school classes, use flight training devices and fly aircraft. Weather permitting, students will be flying or participating in hands-on activities at the Southern Illinois Airport at these times: 9 a.m. June 23 and 2 p.m. June 25. For more information, contact Lorelei Ruiz at lemiller@siu.edu or 618/453-9265.
• Radio and TV News Camp is June 21-26 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in various locations throughout the Communications Building. It gives high school students hands-on experience in broadcast writing, producing, performance, videography, field reporting and editing. Media are welcome throughout the day. To get specific times and locations or for more information, contact Jennie Gambach at 618/453-7713 or by email at jgambach@siu.edu.
• Inspired by Nature Summer Art Camp, 1-4 p.m. on June 22-26, in Allyn Hall, Room 102, for children in grades 1-3. Participants will create artwork, drawing their inspiration from elements of nature and the world around them. For additional information, contact Kathleen Fye at 618/303-6265.
• Globetrotters Summer Art Camp, June 22-26 from 9 a.m. to noon, in Allyn Hall, Room 102, for grades 4-8. Children will explore different cultures around the world and learn to tell their stories using various art forms. To set up a visit or for additional information, contact Kathleen Frye at 618/303/6265.  
• Young Writers Workshop is June 23-27 for grades 10-12 with commuter and residential participants. Young writers will hone and enhance their writing skills through workshops, discussions, readings, panels and critique sessions. Most of the camp activities will take place in Faner and Pulliam halls. There will be a participant reading at the John C. Guyon Auditorium in Morris Library on June 27 at 1:15 p.m. and media are welcome. For additional information and more specific times and locations, contact Allison Joseph at aljoseph@siu.edu or 618/453-6813.