July 05, 2018

Media Advisory – SIU Summer Camps July 7 to end of summer

Another successful summer of camps and conferences for young people is wrapping up in the few weeks at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

By the end of summer, more than 2,000 children and youths will have enjoyed the SIU experience. Reporters, photographers and news crews can still find numerous opportunities for engaging activity stories, photographs and videos.

Conference and Scheduling Services and Touch of Nature Environmental Center are coordinating most of the camps and conferences while Saluki Athletics and other campus departments or units are handling the remainder.

Media are welcome at many camps

Many of the camps welcome media coverage. The schedule for these camps which take place after July 7 this summer, 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, includes:

  • NASA Wings camp is July 8-13 and gives high school students an up-close introduction to flight and aviation. They will learn about space communications and navigation and they impact and benefit aviation. Campers will explore careers in aviation and aerospace as they participate in ground and flight training at SIU’s state-of-the-art facilities. They’ll also get the chance to fly training devices and real aircraft, weather permitting. Media are welcome to cover their aircraft preflight and first flight experiences at 8:30 a.m. on July 10 at the Southern Illinois Airport Transportation Education Center. 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
  • Involving Girls in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, agriculture and math) Day Camp is July 16-19 for middle school girls. Led by faculty from several SIU colleges, the participants will explore the environment and learn through hands-on experiments and engaging demonstrations, enhancing their problem-solving skills and exploring the world around them. Members of the media are invited to visit as the campers delve into the world of automotive technology at SIU’s modern Transportation Education Center, located at the Southern Illinois Airport, from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on July 19. To learn more, contact Tarnisha Green at 618/536-2463 or green@engr.siu.edu or Jennifer Langin at 618/453-4341 or jlangin@siu.edu.

Camps at Touch of Nature offer additional opportunities

Touch of Nature Environmental Center, located about eight miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road, is offering numerous EdVenture Camps and Camp Little Giant sessions between now and the end of summer.

There are three EdVenture Camps and media are welcome at each:

  • Wild Outdoor Week (W.O.W.) Day Camp is July 9-13 for ages 10-13 featuring rock climbing, canoeing, zip lining, swimming, the high ropes course, survival skills practice, tie-dying souvenir T-shirts and other camp activities.
  • X-Treme Kids Eco Day Camp (session 2) is July 16-20. This camp offers non-stop fun for children ages 7-10 as they explore the wilderness while through assorted activities including hiking, paddleboat rides, zip lining, rock climbing, nature art, swimming and much more.
  • Southern Adventures Day Camp, for ages 13-15, is set for July 9-13. It’s a weeklong exploration of some of the regions natural hidden gyms including Jackson Falls, Bell Smith Springs, Heron Pond and the Cache River. The teens will climb sandstone buffs, discover swamps, scuba dive at Mermet Spring and enjoy other adventures.

To arrange a visit, or for more information about any of the EdVenture Camps, contact Steve Gariepy at 618/453-1121 or by email at mammoth@siu.edu.

Camp Little Giant, the nationally recognized therapeutic recreation camp for children and adults of differing abilities, will have five more camps this summer. It’s a true summer camp experience combining modern and traditional activities, all specially adapted to the needs and abilities of camp participants. Campers can participate in arts and crafts, horseback riding, nature hikes, swimming, boating, bowling, sports and games, canoeing, fishing, talent shows, environmental exploration activities, music, and more. The schedule includes:

  • Camp Traditions IV, an overnight residential camp for adults ages 21 and older with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities is July 8-13.
  • Camp Shawnee I (July 15-20), Camp Shawnee II (July 15-27) and Camp Shawnee III (July 22-27) are all for youths ages 8-21 with physical, cognitive or developmental disabilities.
  • Dyna Camp is July 29-Aug. 4 for youths ages 8-19 with attention deficit, hyperactive disorders.

Media can find a number of opportunities for interesting stories at each of the camps. Some elements of the schedule are the same each week, depending upon the weather.  A few of the opportune times to capture good stories, photos and video, are:

  • Monday and Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. at Giant City Stables as campers enjoy horseback riding.
  • Monday and Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. campers will beat the heat by fishing in the stocked pond at the camp.
  • Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. the participants will be treated to a themed hayride on the Touch of Nature grounds.
  • Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. the campers will share their diverse talents with friends old and new during a talent show at Burke Lounge (formerly Sledgefoot Lounge) at Touch of Nature.
  • When weather allows, you’ll find the campers swimming on the Little Grassy Lake beachfront and taking pontoon boat cruises about 3 p.m. most afternoons.

To arrange a media visit at another time, or for more information, contact Vicki Lang at 618/453-3950 or vickil@siu.edu.