June 09, 2017

Media Advisory – Summer Camps June 18-July 8

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is hosting numerous summer camps for children of all ages, including a number that take place in the next three weeks. The camps offer a wide variety of opportunities for reporters, photographers and news crews to obtain interesting activity stories, photographs and video. Conference and Scheduling Services and Touch of Nature Environmental Center coordinate most of the sessions, while Saluki athletics and other campus units handle some camps.

The schedule for camps that take place between June 18 and July 8 and welcome media coverage, along with a brief description of each camp, good times to capture appealing stories, photographs or footage, and camp contact information, includes:

  • Summer Wings Aviation Camp is June 18-23 with day and overnight options for youths in grades 9-12. SIU’s Department of Aviation Flight and Management leads high school students in this aviation experience that includes the chance to enjoy the thrill of flight. The best time for media to visit is from 9 a.m. to noon on June 20 or 4-5 p.m. on June 21 at the Southern Illinois Airport. Camp participants will take introductory flights during those times. For more information, contact Lorelei Ruiz at 618/453-9265 or lemiller@siu.edu or Leslie Brock at 618/453-1141 or lagodwin@siu.edu.
  • Kid Architecture Camp, the award-winning camp for children in grades 4-6 takes places June 19-23 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Children will learn about the world of design and architecture via fun projects, hands-on activities and interactive discussions. An opportune time for media to visit is from 9:30 a.m. to noon on June 20 at Quigley Hall as camp participants will be casting concrete. 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. 
  • SIU’s Touch of Nature Environmental Center is hosting two EdVenture camps during this time slot. For these camps, the most opportune times for media visits are between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.; contact camp organizers before arrival. Touch of Nature is located about eight miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road.

-- Adventures Underway overnight explorer camp is June 19-23 for ages 10-13.  Participants will enjoy numerous outdoor activities including hiking, canoeing, tackling Touch of Nature’s high ropes course and rock climbing at Giant City State Park. To schedule a media visit, or for more information, contact Dena Haun at haun.dena@gmail.com.

-- Blue Planet Day Camp, set for June 26-30, is an Eco Day Camp for children ages 7-10, giving them the opportunity to explore the Little Grass Lake watershed and learn about aquatic animals, water use and conservation as they enjoy activities including canoeing and swimming. For additional details or to schedule a media opportunity, contact Steve Gariepy at 618/453-1121 or by email at mammoth@siu.edu.

-- Note: the Mississippian Heartland Intergenerational Camp scheduled for June 18-23 for ages 10-80 and the River Runners Overnight EdVenture Camps originally planned for June 19-23 for ages 13-15 have both been cancelled.

  • Camp Little Giant, the therapeutic recreation camp for children and adults with differing abilities, will have several sessions during this time. Camp Olympia II will continue through June 23 for adults age 21 and older who have high care needs, low mobility or who use wheelchairs. Camp Traditions II is June 18-30 and Camp Traditions III is June 25-30. Both are for adults ages 21 and older with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities. Participants at all of the Camp Little Giant sessions have the opportunity to  enjoy arts and crafts, bowling, games and sports, horseback riding, nature hikes, canoeing, talent shows, music, environmental activities, swimming, boating and much more. To arrange a visit, or for more information, contact Vicki Lang-Mendenhall at 618/453-3950 or by email at vickil@siu.edu.