July 02, 2021

Media Advisory – SIU Carbondale Summer Camps July 3-17

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is hosting a diverse assortment of camps for children and youths of all ages this summer. The camps offer great opportunities for reporters, photographers and news crews to obtain appealing 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 units handle the rest.

There are a variety of options for capturing interesting summer camp stories July 3-17.

Media opportunities the first week of July

Below is the schedule for camps that take place July 3-10 that welcome media coverage. The list includes a brief description of each camp, opportune times to secure engaging stories, photographs and video, along with contact information.

Touch of Nature Environmental Center, located about eight miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road, will be hosting two edventure camps July 5-9, each running from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information, or to arrange a visit to any of these camps, contact Erik Oberg or Brian Croft at 618-453-1121 or tonec@siu.edu, or Pat Jones at 618-453-3947 or 618-521-9455. All activities are subject to change and dependent upon the weather.

  • Eco Water Day Camp (session 2) – Youngsters ages 7-10 will explore the water and aquatic life from every angle as they dip, measure, splash and explore in Little Grassy Lake and Indian Creek. Campers will be on Little Grassy Lake at Camp 2 Beach daily from 10 to 11 a.m. and 12:30-3:15 p.m. for various activities. Plans call for stand-up paddleboards on Tuesday, kayaking on Wednesday, canoeing on Thursday. On Friday campers will hike to Rocky Ledges.
  • X-treme Adventure Day Camp (session 2) – Youths ages 10-13 will enjoy a wide variety of outdoor adventures including hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, canoeing and Touch of Nature’s high ropes course and zip line.

Touch of Nature’s Camp Little Giant, the nation’s first camp for individuals with disabilities, will return from the pandemic-induced hiatus as a summer day camp for 2021. The acclaimed camp has been providing people with differing abilities a true summer camp experience since 1952. The first session this summer is July 5-9.

  • Dyna Camp, the daily outdoor adventure experience for youths 8-17 with ADHD or ADD is set from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Campers will hike, canoe, kayak, do archery, arts and crafts, cardio-drumming, and  enjoy traditional outdoor camp activities and more. For more information, contact Jasmine Cave at 618-453-3950 or jcave@siu.edu, Brian Croft at 618-453-1121 or tonec@siu.edu, or Pat Jones at 618-453-3947 or 618-521-9455.

Additional media opportunities July 11-17

SIU offers more camps with interesting story options for media to cover during the week of July 11-17. They include:

  • Saluki Opportunities in Accounting Residency (SOAR) – is an innovative career development weeklong program that will introduce high school sophomores through seniors from underrepresented populations to college life and the opportunities available to them in accounting, finance and business-related fields. Presented by the School of Accountancy, the camp also serves as a motivational and inspirational tool by helping participants build a foundation of financial literacy and develop interpersonal skills as they meet prominent business leaders and learn tips for success, tour accounting firms and more. Media are welcome to cover the etiquette dinner and the campers’ presentation of group business projects to a panel of judges on Friday, July 16, in the Old Main Lounge in the Student Center. The dinner begins at 6 p.m. and the presentations  start at 8 p.m. Organizers ask that media planning to attend arrive in time to set up before the presentations begin. For more information, contact Nija Harvey at 217-848-0291 or nija@business.siu.edu, Marc Morris at 561-350-6649 or memorris@business.siu.edu, or Tarnisha Green at 773-354-2007 or green@siu.edu.
  • Ag Ed Leadership Camp – There are three, one-day sessions of this camp (8 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 12, 13 and 14) for high school students. The sessions give students a chance to test their leadership abilities, learn more about what agriculture education has to offer, connect with current SIU students, participate in workshops, and try their hand at the high ropes course. Lexi Mueller, the 2020-2021 Illinois FFA president and an SIU Chancellor’s Scholarship recipient who will major in agricultural education, is the keynote speaker. For more information, or to arrange a visit, contact Steve Still at 618-453-2498 or still@siu.edu.
  • Fibers and Printmaking Week Camp – The Student Center Craft Shop is offering two sessions of this camp July 12-16, giving participants the chance to learn how to design and create handmade fabrics they will transform into pillows, tote bags and more by sewing via machine and by hand. Campers will design patterns for fabric, felt, tie-dye and print using linoleum blocks on paper and fabric, making their own block prints and stencils. Campers in grades 1-3 will attend from 9 to 11 a.m. and grades 4-8 will participate from 1 to 4 p.m. in the shop, located on the lower level of the Student Center. For more information, contact Stephanie Dukat at 716-912-4807 or 618-453-3636 or via email at stephaniedukat@siu.edu.

Touch of Nature Environmental Center will also have a Camp Little Giant session July 12-16, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.

  • Traditions Youth Camp is for youths ages 8-19 who have cognitive, developmental or physical disabilities. They will learn new skills as they explore the outdoors and have fun with activities including canoeing, archery, therapeutic drumming, arts and crafts and games. For additional details, contact Jasmine Cave at 618-453-3950 or jcave@siu.edu, Brian Croft at 618-453-1121 or tonec@siu.edu, or Pat Jones at 618-453-3947 or 618-521-9455.