December 11, 2018

Give children summer camp fun and save money now

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Want to give a child that special gift that will be enjoyed long after the ornaments and holiday décor are packed away for another year?

Children ages 7-15 can enjoy unique summertime outdoor day and overnight camp experiences at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Touch of Nature Environmental Center and now there’s an early-bird discount registration price for the 2019 Edventure Camps.

Save big

Register by March 15, 2019, and save $40 on the Adventures Underway Overnight Camp or $30 for any of the day camps.

Other discounts are available for those who sign up for multiple camps, those registering more than one child for camp, or for three-year-level Touch of Nature members.

Variety of camp experiences

There are three different types of outdoor experiential learning camps, each for specific age groups. The Eco Day Camps are for ages 7-10 while Explorer Camps invite children ages 10-13 to come to Touch of Nature, located about eight miles south of Carbondale off Giant City Road, in a 3,100-acre site of forests, rolling hills and water. Youths ages 13-15 will enjoy the Voyageur camps.

The great outdoors is the focus for each camp, although each also has a specific theme and activities. Campers also get to do fun things like tie-dye T-shirts, zoom down the zip line, explore the Shawnee Forest, go rock-climbing, paddleboat riding and canoeing, making crafts and much more.

Eco Camp lineup set

Four different Eco Camps are slated for summer 2019:

  • Youth in the Wild Day Camp – June 10-14.
  • X-Treme Kids Day Camp (Session 1) – June 17-21.
  • Aqua Adventures Day Camp – June 24-28.
  • X-Treme Kids Day Camp (Session 2) – July 8-12.

Several choices for Explorers and Voyageurs

The middle age group can choose from two different camp experiences:

  • Wild Outdoor Week (W.O.W.) Day Camp – June 10-14.
  • Adventures Underway Overnight Camp – June 17-21.

Voyageurs can select day or overnight camping. The Southern Adventures Day Camp is June 24-28, giving participants the chance to explore many of the region’s beautiful natural sights. For a small additional fee, they can also stay overnight on June 27.

Find complete details and registration online

The full description and pricing for each camp is available online. Or, call 618/453-1121 or email tonec@siu.edu to learn more.