July 06, 2016

Media Advisory -- Summer Camps July 10-23

Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s 2016 summer camps offer diverse opportunities for reporters, photographers and news crews to obtain interesting activity stories, photographs and video. Conference and Scheduling Services serves as the coordinator for most of the camps while Touch of Nature Environmental Center, Saluki athletics and other campus units handle others. 

SIU’s summer camp schedule for the two-week period from July 10 to 23, along with a brief description of each camp, good times to capture interesting stories, photographs or footage, and appropriate contact information for the individual camps, includes: 

  • Sessions of the ever-popular architecture camps for children and youths of various ages take place during this time span. The Middle School Architecture Camp is July 10-15 for students in grades 7-9. Participants will explore the build and design world through interesting activities and field trips. High School Architecture Camp is July 17-22 for students in grades 9-12. The teens will focus on design and architecture through discussions, hands-on activities, studio projects and field grips. Commuter and overnight options are available for both camps. Members of the media are welcome to come to Quigley Hall as campers cast concrete. The middle school campers will do so from 9:30 a.m. to noon on July 12 and the high school students will be casting concrete on July 19 from 9:30 a.m. to noon.  For additional details contact Jon Davey at 618/453-3734 or jdavey@siu.edu, or Leslie Brock at 618/453-1141 or lagodwin@siu.edu. 
  • Camp Little Giant, the therapeutic recreation camp for children and adults of differing abilities, will have three camp sessions during this time period. Camp Shawnee I takes place July 10-15, Camp Shawnee II is July 10-22, and Camp Shawnee III is July 17-21. All three camps are for youths ages 8-21 who have physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities. Touch of Nature Environmental Center, located about eight miles south of Carbondale off Giant City Road, will be the setting for the summer camp sessions that will provide a true summer camp experience for participants. Campers will enjoy such activities as swimming, boat rides, arts and crafts, horseback riding and nature hikes. For more information, or to arrange a visit, call Vicki Lang-Mendenhall at 618/453-1121, ext. 231, or email her at vickil@siu.edu.
  • Touch of Nature Environmental Center will host three EdVenture summer camps during this time period in July. The schedule for July 10-23, with all day camps meeting from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., includes:
    • Blue Planet Adventure Camp, which is actually a camp that combines the Survival 103 Overnight Camp and the Blue Planet 2 Day Camp into one weeklong experience. The new adventure day camp taking place July 11-15 is for children ages 11-15. Participants will explore the earth on land, water and in the air. They will climb rocks, canoe, kayak, snorkle and enjoy the high ropes course and also learn survival skills as they build a shelter, gather food, purify water, build fires and use navigational skills.
    • Clan of the Cave Kids Day Camp is July 11-15 for ages 7-10. Campers will learn about the mammoths, giant sloths, saber-toothed cats and lions that roamed what is now Southern Illinois during prehistoric times as well as early humans in the region. Participants will also learn ancient survival and living skills, work together as a tribe, hike, canoe and do other activities.
    • Naturalist Day Camp is July 18-22 for children ages 10-13. Those attending will learn what a naturalist lifestyle is all about as they explore, discover, identify and journal while studying the diverse flora and fauna found at Touch of Nature and the surrounding areas. 
    • Note: The River Runners Overnight Camp originally scheduled for July 18-22 for ages 13-15 has been cancelled.

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

  • Involving Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Math (STEAM) Camp, is a July 18-20 day camp for girls in grades 6-8. Participants have the opportunity to enjoy hands-on experiments and activities as well as engaging demonstrations in the STEAM areas as they explore the world around them. Media are welcome to come to Engineering Building A, Room 131, from 2:30 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 19, as campers build paper roller coasters. For additional information, contact Jennifer Langin at jlangin@siu.edu or 618/453-4321 or Sarah VanVooren at svanvoo@siu.edu or 618/922-4837.