January 13, 2020

Sign up for SIU’s Touch of Nature EdVenture Camps and get an early bird discount

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. — The calendar may have just turned the page to 2020, but summer will be here before you know it. If parents start planning now they can assure their children will have a memorable summer while also saving money.

Registration is underway for the 2020 summer camps at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Touch of Nature Environmental Center. And, for those who sign up by March 13, there’s big early bird savings available. Discounts range from $30 to $40 per camp session, depending upon the individual camps.

There are also discounts available for those who register for multiple camps, for families who have more than one child sign up for camps and for three-year-level Touch of Nature members.

Action-packed adventures planned

Touch of Nature is offering a wide variety of experiential learning EdVenture Camps for children of all ages. All of the camps will take place at the beautiful 3,100-acre site located along Little Grassy Lake about eight miles south of Carbondale, off of Giant City Road.

Each camp features a specific theme with related activities and of course, the great outdoors is the focal point. Campers can participate in all kinds of fun activities, including:

  • Exploring the Shawnee Forest.
  • Zooming down the zip line.
  • Rock-climbing.
  • Making arts and crafts.
  • Water activities such as canoeing and taking paddleboat and pontoon rides.
  • Traditional camping pastimes like roasting marshmallows over a bonfire, hiking, relays, swimming and so much more.

Camps for all ages

Eco Camps are for children ages 7-10 with five sessions offered this summer:

  • Youth in the Wild Day Camp, June 8-12.
  • X-Treme Kids Day Camp, two different sessions are set for June 15-19 and July 6-10.
  • Aqua Adventures Day Damp, two different sessions are set for June 22-26 and July 20-24.

Explorers Camps are open to ages 10-13 and three sessions are available:

  • Wild Outdoor Week (W.O.W.) Day Camp, June 8-12.
  • Shawnee Explorers Overnight Camp, June 15-19.
  • Adventures Underway Overnight Camp, July 13-17.

Voyageurs Camps are for youths ages 13-15 and they can choose three sessions:

  • Southern Adventures Day Camp, July 13-17.
  • Counselor-in-Training/Leadership Development Day Camp is a two-week camp set for June 29-July 3 and July 6-10.

More details and registration available online

Find the complete descriptions of each camp, along with pricing and online registration at ton.siu.edu/camps-and-retreats/edventure-camps/. Or, call 618/453-1121 or email tonec@siu.edu to learn more.

In addition to saving money, parents are encouraged to register their children early because some camps accept a limited number of participants on a first-come basis and registration fill early.