June 14, 2016

Media Advisory -- Summer Camps June 18-July 9

The 2016 summer camps at Southern Illinois University Carbondale offer a variety of opportunities for reporters, photographers and news crews to acquire interesting activity stories, photographs and video. Conference and Scheduling Services coordinates most of the camps while Touch of Nature Environmental Center, Saluki athletics and other campus units handle others. 

The summer camp schedule for the period from June 18 to July 9, along with a brief description, good times to capture interesting stories, photographs or footage, and contact information for each camp, includes: 

  • Challenge to Excellence II, meets June 19-24 and provides academically talented students in grades 6-8 with interesting classes and experiences that promote higher levels of critical thinking and creativity as they expand their capabilities. Media are invited to cover a bowling outing from 6-7 p.m. on June 21 at the Student Center Bowling Alley. For additional information, contact Rose Moroz by calling 618/453-4265 or by email at rmtmoroz@siu.edu or Jackie Welch at 618/453-5672 or jackiew@siu.edu.
  • The award-winning Kid Architecture Camp meets June 20-24 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the exception of the final day when they take a field trip off-campus. The participants, children in grades 4-6, will learn about the world of design and architecture through projects, discussions and hands-on activities. Media are welcome to attend as participants cast concrete from 9:30 a.m. to noon on June 21 at Quigley Hall. To learn more, contact Jon Davey at 618/453-3734 or jdavey@siu.edu or Leslie Brock at 618/453-1141 or lagodwin@siu.edu.
  • The 17th annual Young Writers Workshop is June 22-25 for students in grades 10-12. Participants will explore and develop their writing talents in poetry and prose with guidance from published writers. Members of the media are welcome to observe writing activities from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 23 or June 24 in Pulliam Hall, Rooms 35, 37 or 29. For more information, contact Allison Joseph at 618/453-6813 or alijoseph@siu.edu.
  • Camp Little Giant, the therapeutic recreation camp for children and adults of differing abilities, offers two camp sessions during this time period. Camp Traditions II is June 19-July 1 and Camp Traditions III is June 26-July 1. Both are for adults ages 21 and older who have physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities. Touch of Nature Environmental Center, located about eight miles south of Carbondale off Giant City Road, hosts the sessions, which provide a true summer camp experience to participants. Activities will include swimming, boat rides, arts and crafts, horseback riding and nature hikes. For more information or to arrange a visit, contact Vicki Lang-Mendenhall at 618/453-1121, ext. 231, or by email at vickil@siu.edu.
  • Touch of Nature is having three EdVenture summer camps during the specified timeslot. Throughout the summer, Touch of Nature will host 14 camps for children and youths of various ages. The schedule, with all day camps meeting from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., includes:
    • Survival 101 Day Camp is June 20-24 for ages 7-10. Part of the “Eco Camps” series, children attending the survivor camp will focus on acquiring basic outdoor survival skills while also enjoying hiking and paddling.  
    • Blue Planet Day Camps, another Eco Camp, is from June 27 to July 1 for ages 7-10. Children will learn about water, that most important natural resource, as they explore Little Grassy Lake. Through educational games and activities they will study water use and conservation, how nature cleans water, and about aquatic animals.
    • Survival 102 Day Camp is an Explorer Camp that takes place June 27-July 1 for ages 10-13. Campers will focus on creating a good relationship with nature as they learn basic survival skills such as shelter building, water collection, fire building, wild food identification and collection, navigating in the wild and using natural and found materials. They will hike and paddle as well.

To schedule a visit to any of the EdVenture camps, or for additional information, contact Touch of Nature Environmental Center at 618/453-1121 or by email at tonec@siu.edu. More details are also online at www.ton.siu.edu.