June 14, 2018

Media Advisory – SIU Summer Camps June 17-July 7

Children from far and wide are visiting Southern Illinois University this summer to participate in a diverse array of summer camps. The camps offer reporters, photographers and news crews a wide range of possibilities for engaging activity stories, photographs and video.

Conference and Scheduling Services and Touch of Nature Environmental Center coordinate the majority of the camps while Saluki Athletics and other campus departments or units are responsible for some.

Media opportunities June 17-July 7

Many of the camps welcome media coverage. The camp schedule for these camps during the weeks of June 17 to July 7, along with a brief description of each camp’s activities, opportune times to capture appealing stories, photographs or video, and contact information for each camp is below:

  • Lego Camps meet from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m. June 18-22 in Quigley Hall, Rooms 118 and 120. Campers will create fun, functional projects using Legos and engage in science, literacy, math and social studies hands-on learning experiences to help them be creative and use critical problem-solving skills. Media are welcome any time or day. For more information, contact Jon Davey at 618/559-8931 or jdavey@siu.edu.
  • Kids Architecture Camp is June 18-22 for children in grades 4-6. The award-winning camp introduces kids to the built environment, design and architecture, and includes hands-on learning experiences, a field trip and more. Media are welcome at 9:30 a.m. on June 19 at the Blue Barracks on South Washington Street as participants cast their personally designed concrete blocks with a pour from a concrete truck. To learn more, contact Jon Davey at 618/559-8931 or jdavey@siu.edu.
  • Summer Wings Aviation Camp takes place June 24-29 and offers high school students the chance to experience the thrill of flight first-hand. They participate in ground and flight training and actually take to the air. Media are welcome at 8:30 a.m. on June 26 at the Southern Illinois Airport Transportation Education Center as participants are doing their aircraft pre-flight activities and taking their first flights. This activity is contingent upon weather. For additional information, contact Loralei Ruiz at 618/453-8898 or lemiller@siu.edu or Steve Goetz at 618/453-9280 or sgoetz@siu.edu.

Camps at Touch of Nature offer more media opportunities

Touch of Nature Environmental Center, located about eight miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road, will offer sessions of Camp Little Giant and EdVenture Camps during this time period.

The four EdVenture Camps, with media are welcome at each, are:

  • X-Treme Kids Eco Day Camp is June 18-22. This camp, which is fully booked, offers children ages 7-10 the chance to explore the wilderness with hiking, paddleboat rides, zip lining, rock climbing, nature art, swimming and much more. To arrange a visit or for more information, contact Steve Gariepy at 618/453-1121 or by email at mammoth@siu.edu.
  • Survival 102 Day Camp is June 18-22 and gives children ages 10-13 the chance to get in touch with Nature and learn advanced survival skills, tricks and tips as they hike, navigate using a map and compass, canoe, build fires and shelters and participate in other activities. To plan a media visit or for more information, contact Steve Gariepy at 618/453-1121 or by email at mammoth@siu.edu.
  • Blue Planet Adventure Day Camp is June 25-29. Children ages 7-10 will explore the Little Grassy Lake watershed, kayak to Rocky Ledges, play water-based games and learn about aquatic animals, ride pontoon boats, zip line and connect with water, an important natural resource, in other ways. To arrange a visit or for more information, contact Steve Gariepy at 618/453-1121 or by email at mammoth@siu.edu.
  • Adventures Underway Overnight Camp is June 25-29. Youths ages 10-13 will enjoy a wide variety of adventures including rock climbing, walking on tight ropes, hiking, canoeing, learning survival skills, scuba diving at Mermet Springs and participating in traditional camp activities. Contact Dena Haun at underwayadventures@gmail.com for additional details or to set up a media visit.

There will also be three sessions of Camp Little Giant, the nationally recognized therapeutic recreation camp for children and adults of differing abilities, during this time period. Participants enjoy arts and crafts, bowling, sports and games, horseback riding, nature hikes, swimming, boating, canoeing, fishing, talent shoes, environmental activities, music, talent shows and other traditional camp activities, all especially adapted to their needs and abilities. The schedule includes:

  • Camp Olympia II, an overnight residential camp for adults ages 21 and older who have high care needs, low mobility or wheelchair needs continues June 17-22.
  • Camp Traditions II is June 17-29 and Camp Traditions III is June 24-29; both are for adults ages 21 and older with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities.

To arrange a media visit for any of the Camp Little Giant Sessions or obtain more information, contact Vicki Lang at 618/453-3950 or vickil@siu.edu.