June 13, 2019

Media Advisory – Summer Camps June 16-July 6

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is hosting a myriad of camps for people of all ages this summer. The camps offer reporters, photographers and news crews numerous wonderful opportunities to get engaging activity stories, photographs and video. Conference and Scheduling Services and Touch of Nature Environmental Center coordinate most of the camps, while Saluki Athletics and other units on campus facilitate the rest.

A wide variety of camps will take place during the time period from June 16-July 6.

Media opportunities at SIU June 16-July 6

This is the schedule for the camps which take place at SIU June 16-July 6 which welcome media attention. Included are a brief description of each camp’s activities, opportune times to obtain appealing stories, photographs or video, and the camp’s contact information.

The camps include:

  • LEGO camp sessions are set for June 17-21 and June 24-28 from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. in Quigley Hall, Room 118-120. Children will be constructing fun projects with LEGO building blocks. Members of the media can come at any time during the camp sessions but the best time to get good photographs, video and stories is generally the last hour of each morning and afternoon session when work on the day’s building projects is concluding. For more information, contact Jon Davey at 618/559-8931 or jdavey@siu.edu, Scott Frisch at sfrisch@siu.edu or Rebecca Dycus at rdycus@siu.edu or 618/453-1141.
  • Kid Architecture Camp is June 17-21 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Quigley Hall, Room 133. During this award-winning camp, children in grades 4-6 will explore the world of architecture through hands-on activities, learning about the built world around them and making concrete casting and small construction projects. Media may come any time during the camp. Contact Jon Davey at 618/559-8931 or jdavey@siu.edu, Scott Frisch at sfrisch@siu.edu or Rebecca Dycus at rdycus@siu.edu or 618/453-1141 to learn more.
  • Two art camps will be held at the Student Center Craft Shop during this time period. For more information about these camps, contact Stephanie Dukat at stephaniedukat@siu.edu or 618/453-5209, or Jackie Welch at jackiew@siu.edu or 618/453-5672 or 618/922-6499. The camps include:
  • Capturing the View Art Camp, June 17-21 with two sessions: 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Older children will attend during the mornings and younger children in the afternoons. Participants will learn drawing skills and painting techniques and use different art media to create art at locations inside and out across campus.
  • Sculptural Clay Art Camp, June 24-28 with sessions 9 a.m. to noon for older children and 1 to 4 p.m. for younger children. Campers will learn many techniques for making sculptures, including using a pottery wheel and adding glaze, and they’ll create a finished piece.
  • A pair of art and design camps are set for June 17-21 in Allyn Building, Room 102. For more information about either, contact Jody Paulson at paulson@siu.edu or Jackie Welch at jackiew@siu.edu or 618/453-5672 or 618/922-6499. The camps are:
  • Inside/Out Art Camp is from 9 a.m. to noon. Children in grades 2-5 will create stepping stones and yarn stick mobiles in the studio using natural materials they find outdoors and then bring more traditional art materials outdoors to create plein air paintings.
  • Sketch-booking Art Camp is from 1 to 4 p.m. Teen campers will generate sketches based on daily observational challenges and then make a sketchbook using the Coptic binding process.
  • Writers in Common Camp is June 20-21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Pulliam Hall, Room 34. Creative writers of all ages will be attending this workshop featuring poetry and prose workshops and a keynote presentation by Justin Hamm. For details, contact Allison Joseph at aljoseph@siu.edu or 618/453-5321 or Jackie Welch at jackiew@siu.edu or 618/453-5672 or 618/922-6499.
  • Summer Wings Aviation Camp is June 23-28, offering high school students the chance to enjoy the thrill of flight first-hand. They’ll attend ground school classes, use the flight training devices and actually fly. Media are welcome at 9 a.m. on June 25 at the Southern Illinois Airport/SIU Transportation Education Center, when the participants will, weather permitting, have their aircraft preflight and first flight experience. For additional information, contact Loralei Ruiz at lemiller@siu.edu or 618/453-8898 or Steve Goetz at sgoetz@siu.edu or 618/453-9280.
  • Cross Country Camp is June 26-28. Youths ages 12-18 will learn new skills and train like collegiate athletes to hone their distance running skills during this unisex camp. Media are welcome at a session set for 1:45-2:45 p.m. on June 25 at the SIU Arena. To learn more, contact Kevin Cataldo at cataldo@siu.edu or Jackie Welch at jackiew@siu.edu or 618/453-5672 or 618/922-6499.
  • Track and Field Throws Camp includes sessions 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 6 and 7 at Lew Hertzog Field. Athletes ages 12-18 will learn and improve throwing skills and receive personalized technique evaluations. Media are welcome any time. Contact JC Lambert at jlambert@siu.edu or 618/453-7243 or Jackie Welch at jackiew@siu.edu or 618/453-5672 or 618/922-6499 for details.

Touch of Nature is the site for some camps

There are also a variety of summer camps taking place at SIU’s Touch of Nature Environmental Center which offer wonderful story, photo and video opportunities for media. Camps happening during this time span at the center, located about eight miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road, include:

  • Four EdVenture Eco Camp sessions are slated at Touch of Nature Environmental Center during this time period. Camps are from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday is generally the best day for media coverage, but other days are acceptable as well. Call in advance to get specific schedule details and arrange a visit, because itineraries change and activities occur indoors and out. Contact Bryn Blackburn or Dena Haun at 618/453-1121 or Pat Jones at 618/453-3947 or 618/521-9455. The sessions include:
  • X-Treme Kids Day Camp, Session I is June 17-21 for ages 7-10. Children will hike, zip line, make souvenir T-shirts and enjoy paddle boat rides, making nature art and numerous other activities.
  • Adventures Underway Overnight Camp is June 17-21 for ages 10-13. The first day is spent at Touch of Nature and then the group will travel to Missouri to explore numerous parks including Elephant Rocks, Johnson Shut-Ins, Hawn and more. They’ll also climb Tam Sauk Mountain, the highest natural locale in Missouri, and enjoy camping traditions such as roasting marshmallows and sleeping under the stars. This camp is full.
  • Aqua Adventures Day Camp is June 24-28 for children ages 10-13. It’s all about exploring water, that most valuable resource, as participants explore the Little Grassy Lake watershed and area. Campers will paddle canoes to Rocky Ledges, use dip nets, learn about aquatic animals, play water games, take pontoon boat rides and ride a zip line. This camp is also full.
  • Southern Adventures Day Camp is June 24-28 giving teens ages 13-15 the chance to hike through forests, climb sandstone bluffs and explore waterways in a variety of natural areas and state parks, including Jackson Falls, Cache River, Garden of the Gods, Bell Smith Springs and Heron Pond. They’ll learn Leave No Trace techniques and can even stay overnight on Thursday night.
  • Touch of Nature will also host several sessions of Camp Little Giant during these weeks. The overnight camps give children and adults with mental, physical or cognitive disabilities a true, fun summer camp experience. The best times for media to visit the camps are Monday through Thursday during daylight hours. The schedule includes:
  • Camp Olympia II began July 9 and continues through June 21. The overnight camp is for adults ages 21 and older who use a wheelchair, have high care needs or low mobility.
  • Camp Traditions II is June 16-28 and Camp Traditions III is June 23-28 and both are for adults ages 21 and older with physical, cognitive and developmental disabilities. This camp has full registration.

Campers and counselors do fun, interactive “circle up” times at 8:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. each day and media are welcome. Throughout the day, participants enjoy a wide variety of activities, including horseback riding at Giant City Stables, arts and crafts, games and nature hikes. Mid-afternoon typically involves a pontoon boat ride or beach activities while late afternoon schedules often feature talent shows and karaoke, typically in Burke Lounge, adjacent to Freeberg Hall.

On Monday and Wednesday evening campers fish at Donut Pond or do other activities and Tuesday evening, there’s a special themed hayride. Members of the media are asked to call ahead to confirm details. Contact Janelle Noldin at 509/821-1931 or Janelle.noldin@siu.edu; Mike Horton at 618/917-1589 or michort@siue.edu; or Pat Jones at 618/453-3947 or 618/521-9455.

Schedule and more information available

The schedule and additional information about the 2019 summer camps are available at conferenceservices.siu.edu or contact Conference and Scheduling Services at 618/536-7751 or conferenceservices@siu.edu. Find more details about the Touch of Nature Environmental Center camps at ton.siu.edu/camps-and-retreats, or call 618/453-1121 or email tonec@siu.edu.