Young children, pausing in their artwork, to smile at the camera.

May 30, 2023

Media Advisory: SIU summer camps June 1-10

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois University Carbondale is hosting a wide variety of academic, athletic, art, music and outdoor camps for children and youths of all ages this summer, offering numerous opportunities for reporters, photographers and news crews to capture engaging activity stories, photographs and video.

Several options for capturing good summer camp stories are available in early June. Camps focus on medicine, art, aviation and more.

Variety of possibilities

Here are media opportunities for June 1-10, shown with brief descriptions, contact information and favorable times to visit:

  • Pathways to Saluki Medicine – High school students participating in this overnight June 4-9 camp will explore the world of medicine and biomedicine through hands-on activities and interacting with medical professionals in various fields. Media are welcome to cover the teens as they participate in a suture clinic with a local plastic surgeon, learning suturing techniques, at 6:30 p.m. June 6 in Life Science II building. Contacts are Angie Raymer at araymer@siumed.edu and 618-534-7261 or Chelsea Griffith at chelseag@siu.edu and 618-499-7205.
  • Junior Aviator III (pilots) – Children in grades 1-3 get a chance to learn all about careers in aviation, with a particular focus on pilots, as they enjoy a variety of interactive activities June 5-9 at SIU’s state-of-the-art Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center at the Southern Illinois Airport. Visit on June 7 from 8:45 to 11:15 a.m. as the children help with aircraft preflight inspection and/or 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. as the campers create a sidewalk chalk airport. Contacts are Lorelei Ruiz, 618-319-2440 and lemiller@siu.edu, or Kenneth Wilkins, kenneth@siu.edu and 618-453-9216.
  • Wearable Art – Children in grades 1-3 will be exploring their artistic side June 5-9 as the create assorted wearable art, including custom-printed T-shirts, necklaces, crowns, pins and a stamped leather belt using clay, fabric, leather, yarn, paper and other materials. Join them June 8 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Student Center Craft Shop’s Paint Bar (lower level) as they paint and bedazzle T-shirts with their personalized designs and patterns they crafted and a stenciling technique that utilizes freezer paper.

Events and Outreach and Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center coordinate most of the camps while Saluki Athletics and other campus units take care of the rest.