Media Advisory -- Summer Camps July 12-Aug. 1

July 08, 2015

Media Advisory -- Summer Camps July 12-Aug. 1

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

The 2015 summer camp schedule, from July 12 through Aug. 1, along with a brief description of each camp, contact information and opportune times to capture good stories, photographs or video, includes:

• Saluki Track and Field Throws Camp, July 11-12 and July 18-19, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex, is for athletes ages 12-18. Each of the four separate days of the camp includes personalized technique evaluations and help with shot put or discus skills. Media are welcome at any time. For additional information, contact John Smith at 618/453-7243 or by email at jjsmith@athletics.siu.edu.
• Middle School Architecture Camp is July 12-17, giving teens in grades 7-9 experience with construction and design through hands-on activities, projects and field trips.  It will meet in Quigley Hall, Room 30, and various other locations on- and off-campus. Some participants attend day camp while others stay overnight. Media are welcome any time during camp activities. Plans call for the group to be in St. Louis the last day of camp. For more information and schedule details, contact Jon Davey at 618/453-3734 or by email at jdavey@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 Shawnee I is July 12-17, Camp Shawnee II is July 12-24 and Camp Shawnee III is July 19-24. All are for youths ages 8-21 with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities.
  • Dyna Camp is July 26-Aug. 1 and is for youths ages 8-19 who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or attention deficit disorder.

Each of the camps takes place at Touch of Nature, about eight miles south of Carbondale off Giant City Road. All sessions provide campers with a true summer camp experience. For additional information or to schedule a visit, contact Vicki Lang-Mendenhall at 618/453-1121, ext. 231, or by email at vickil@siu.edu.

• Mindfulness Camp for Kids is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 13-17 for children ages 6-12 and meets in Morris Library’s third-floor rotunda. Through various activities, interaction with peers, exploring the mind and environment and learning breathing techniques and beginning yoga, children will learn the mindfulness technique that helps them stay more focused, reduce anxiety and social fears, and increase overall awareness as they learn to think and focus more clearly. Media are welcome at various times throughout the day. For details, contact Rachel Enoch at rachelenoch@siu.edu.
• Beginning Lego Engineering Camp meets from 8:30 a.m. to noon on July 13-17 in Quigley Hall, Room 30, for children in grades 1-2. They will use pulleys, gears and motors to create basic Lego construction projects, exploring the worlds of architecture and design. Media are welcome any time. For additional information, contact Jon Davey at 618/453-3734 or by emailing jdavey@siu.edu.
• Artists in Action Summer Art Camp is from 9 a.m. to noon on July 13-17 in Allyn Hall, Room 102. Children in grades 4-8 will explore many different materials and art forms they can utilize to express ideas and tell stories. They will keep sketchbooks and experiment with various art forms. Call Kathleen Frye at 618/303-6265 to confirm good times for media visits.
• Explore Art is July 13-17 from 1 to 4 p.m. for grades 1-3 in Allyn Hall, Room 102. Participants will create drawings, paintings, sculptures and various other artwork as they draw inspiration from around the world. To determine a specific visit time or for more details, contact Kathleen Frye at 618/303-6265.
•  EdVenture, Touch of Nature’s outdoor summer camp series for children, will have two different sessions during this time period:

Each of the camps meets at Touch of Nature; to learn more, call 618/453-1121 or email tonec@siu.edu.

• High School Architecture Camp, July 19-24, offers an in-depth exploration of design and architecture through studio projects, field trips, discussions and hands-on activities. The camp offers commuter and residential options and media are welcome any time camp activities are happening. For additional details or scheduling information, contact Jon Davey at 618/453-3734 or email jdavey@siu.edu.
• Advanced Lego Engineering Camps, for children in grades 3-5, offers two sessions. One meets 1-4:30 p.m. on July 13-17 and the other is 8:30 a.m. to noon on July 20-24.  Both are 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. For additional details, contact Jon Davey at 618/453-3734 or by email at jdavey@siu.edu.
• WeDo Robotics Lego Camp for children in grades 3-5 meets July 20-24 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.
• Where Art and Music Meet Summer Art Camp is July 20-24 from 9 a.m. to noon in Allyn Building, Room 102. During this new workshop participants in grades 4-8 will create their own instruments and decorate them as they experiment with methods of translating music and instrumental sounds into a visual language using 2-D and 3-D media. For additional information and schedule details, contact Kathleen Frye at 618/303-6265.