July 20, 2016

Media Advisory – Final Summer 2016 Camps

As Southern Illinois University Carbondale wraps up another season of summer camps, there are still several 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 2016 summer camp schedule for the period beginning Sunday, July 24 through the remainder of the summer, 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: 

  • Camp Little Giant, the therapeutic recreation camp for children and adults of differing abilities, will have its final summer session July 24-30 at Touch of Nature Environmental Center. Dyna Camp is for youths ages 8-19 who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and attention deficit disorder. Touch of Nature Environmental Center is located about eight miles south of Carbondale off Giant City Road. Campers have a true summer camp experience as they enjoy activities including swimming, boat rides, arts and crafts, horseback riding, nature hikes and much more.  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 is hosting three EdVenture summer camps during this time period, the last of more than a dozen 2016 outdoor adventure camps for children and youths at the experiential outdoor educational facility. All three camps take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., July 25-29. Featured are: 
  • X-Treme Kids Day Camp giving children ages 7-10 a chance to explore the wilderness with hiking, paddleboat rides, zip lining, rock climbing, nature art and tie-dying camp shirts.
  • Wild Outdoor Week (W.O.W.) Day Camp provides an outdoor exploration adventure for youths ages 10-13 as they swim, canoe, zip line, climb rocks, learn survival skills and tie-dye souvenir T-shirts.
  • Southern Adventures Day Camp brings together youths ages 13-15 for a week of exploration throughout the region. The campers will spend their first day at Touch of Nature learning paddling and climbing skills. The rest of the week they will explore some of nature’s hidden Southern Illinois gems, including Jackson Falls, the Cache River and Mermet Springs.

To schedule a visit to any of the EdVenture camps, or obtain 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. 

  • The Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois organization is partnering with Touch of Nature Environmental Center to provide three mini-camp experiences and three weeklong camps for different age groups of Girl Scouts this summer.

The three mini-sessions set for July 26-29 are:

  • Livin’ Like Bigfoot for girls entering grades 2-3. They will learn to become untraceable in the great outdoors, much like the legendary “Bigfoot.”
  • Water World gives girls entering grades 4-5 a chance to explore nature through a wide variety of water activities.
  • Choose Your Own Adventure is for girls in grades 6-12. They have opportunities to participate in activities including swimming, paddling, rock climbing and much more.
  • The three week-long sessions taking place July 31-Aug. 6 are:
    • Fairies, Gnomes and Wizards for girls entering grades 2-3. Children will enjoy a magical forest journey as they make fairy houses and magical potions, learn how to help wounded animals and even go on an owl prowl and meet live owls.
    • Zombie Apocalypse Training 2.0 for girls entering grades 4-5. They will learn the survival skills needed to survive a “zombie” episode including shelter building, trapping, archery and how to live off the land.
    • Future Leaders of the Outdoor World (F.L.O.W.) welcomes girls in grades 6-12 to a camp that helps them grow their leadership skills as they design and lead camp programs. They will enjoy outdoor activities as well including rock climbing, zip lining, canoeing, paddle boarding, archery and pontoon boating.

For more information about the Girl Scout Camps or to arrange a media visit, contact Anne Townsend at 618/899-5214 or by email at atownsend@gsofsi.org.