July 06, 2017

Media Advisory – Summer Camps July 9-Aug. 4

A variety of camps designed to fit all interests and ages are taking place at Southern Illinois University Carbondale this summer, including several during the next month. The camps provide numerous opportunities for reporters, photographers and news crews to capture interesting stories, photographs and video. Conference and Scheduling Services and Touch of Nature Environmental Center are coordinating the majority of the sessions, while Saluki athletics and other campus units are handling others.

The schedule for camps that occur between July 9 and Aug. 4 and welcome media coverage, along with a brief description of each; opportune times to obtain appealing stories, photographs or footage; and specific camp contact information, follows.

  • Middle School Architecture Camp for grades 7-9 is July 9-14, and High School Architecture Camp is July 16-21. Some youths will participate only during the day while others will stay overnight. During each session, participants will explore building and design work, learn about architecture and form friendships through hands-on activities and studio projects, discussions and field trips. Media are invited to Quigley Hall between 9:30 a.m. and noon on July 11 or July 18 as camp participants will be casting concrete to create personalized blocks. 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. 
  • Ceramics Arts Camp, for grades 4-8, is July 11-14 from 9 a.m. to noon. Participants will make ceramics by hand using the pottery wheel as they learn about various ceramic processes and elements, including coils, slabs, scoring, slips, textures and glazes. Media are welcome 9:30-11:30 a.m. on July 12 as children are working on their artwork in the Craft Shop, located on the lower level of the Student Center. For additional information, contact Ron Dunkel at 618/453-5209 or rdunkel@siu.edu, or Jackie Welch at 618/453-5672 or jackiew@siu.edu.
  • Girls STEAM Camp takes place 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on July 17-19 for girls entering grades 6-8. The focus is on getting participants interested in science, technology, engineering, agriculture and mathematics through participation in activities, demonstrations and hands-on experiments. Media are welcome anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on July 18 at the Transportation Education Center, located at the Southern Illinois Airport, 545 N. Airport Road in Murphysboro. That day participants will be taking part in a hands-on automotive technology project during the morning and exploring planes and other aspects of aviation in the afternoon. For more information, contact Tarnisha Green at 618/536-2463 or green@siu.edu.
  • Bowling and Billiards Camp is July 17-21 from 1 to 4 p.m. for grades 5-8. Participants will learn about the rules of the games, selecting equipment and proper techniques and tricks. They’ll also get to go behind the scenes of a bowling machine and participate in cosmic bowling and a billiards tournament. Media are invited to the Student Center bowling alley, located on the first floor on the northeast side near Faner Hall, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on July 19 as campers participate in bowling and billiards activities. To learn more, contact Bill Null at 618/453-2803 or bnull@siu.edu, or Jackie Welch at 618/453-5672 or jackiew@siu.edu.
  • Working with Metal Camp is July 24-28, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., for grades 7-12. Youths will be working with wire, copper, sterling silver and a variety of small metals to create jewelry, a one-of-a-kind sculpture and other pieces. Media are welcome to cover children working on their wire projects July 26 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Craft Shop, located on the lower level of the Student Center. For details contact Ron Dunkel at 618/453-5209 or rdunkel@siu.edu or Jackie Welch at 618/453-5672 or jackiew@siu.edu.
  • SIU’s Touch of Nature Environmental Center is hosting four camps for various age groups. The most opportune time for media to visit the camps is 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. To schedule a media visit, or for more information, contact Dena Haun at haun.dena@gmail.com.

-- X-Treme Kids Day Camp is July 10-14. The Eco Camp for ages 7-10 is a non-stop week of activities such as hiking, rock climbing, paddle boat rides, nature art, creating a tie-dyed T-shirt and taking part in other outdoor adventures.

-- The Southern Adventures Day Camp, a Voyageur Camp for ages 13-15, is July 17-21. Participants will explore many of the region’s hidden natural areas including Jackson Falls, Bell Smith Springs, Mermet Springs and the Cache River as they climb sandstone bluffs, explore swamps, snorkel at a local scuba training center and more.

-- The Wild Outdoor Week (W.O.W.) Day Camp is an Explorer Camp taking place July 24-28 for ages 10-13. Participants will swim, canoe, zip-line, climb rocks, tie-dye T-shirts and participate in other outdoor learning and survival skills activities from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

-- The Leadership Survival Overnight Camp, set for July 24-28, is a Voyageur Camp for ages 13-15. Campers will enhance their survival and leadership skills as they zip line, tackle the high ropes course, build fire and shelter, do navigation activities, canoe, hike and try their hand at back-country cooking. They’ll also take on leadership roles during survival challenges under the watchful eyes of experienced staff.

  • Camp Little Giant, the therapeutic recreation camp for children and adults with differing abilities, will have several sessions during this time period. Camp Traditions IV is July 9-14 for adults age 21 and older who have physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities. Camp Shawnee I is July 16-21 while Camp Shawnee II is July 16-28 and Camp Shawnee III is July 23-28. All Shawnee camps are for young people ages 8-21 who have physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities. Dyna Camp is July 30-Aug. 5 and welcomes youths ages 8-19 with attention hyperactivity disorder or attention deficit disorder. Participants at all of the Camp Little Giant sessions enjoy opportunities to participate in arts and crafts, bowling, games and sports, horseback riding, nature hikes, canoeing, talent shows, music, environmental activities, swimming, boating and much more. The camps provide participants a true summer camp experience and take place at Touch of Nature Environmental Center, located about eight miles south of Carbondale off Giant City Road, and they. To arrange a visit, or for more information, contact Vicki Lang-Mendenhall at 618/453-3950 or by email at vickil@siu.edu.