Pilot is taking a young child on a flight during Aviation Camp

June 22, 2023

Media Advisory: SIU summer camps June 25-July 8

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 reporters, photographers and news crews many opportunities to capture engaging activity stories, photographs and video.

Several options for capturing noteworthy summer camp stories are available through the rest of  June and into July. Camps focus on art, aviation, baseball, nature, experiences for adult campers with disabilities and more. Campers can sign up at camps.siu.edu.

Diverse options on campus

Here are media opportunities for June 25-July 8, with brief descriptions, contact information and favorable times to visit:

  • Summer Wings – High school students experience first-hand the thrill of flight during this weeklong camps June 25-30. They will explore aviation careers and find out what it’s like to be a pilot through ground and flight training akin to that undertaken by SIU flight students. This camp offers multiple opportunities to obtain stories, photos and footage of students flying with instructors; visit the Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center at the Southern Illinois Airport any of these times:
    • June 26, 9 a.m.-noon.
    • June 27, 4-4:30 p.m.
    • June 28, 9 a.m.-noon.

Contacts are Loralei Ruiz at 618-319-2440 or lemiller@siu.edu or Kenneth Wilkins at 618-453-9216 or kenneth@siu.edu.

  • SIU Baseball Kids Camp 2 – Campers ages 7-13 of all skill levels will be grouped by age to enjoy individualized instruction in hitting, bunting, base running, infield and outfield play, pitching and specific position work from SIU’s baseball coaching staff and players June 26-29 at Itchy Jones Stadium. Join them at 10 a.m. June 29 at the stadium as the aspiring athletes participate in a variety of baseball activities, including scrimmages. Contact Jake Ryan at 818-200-3997 or Tyler Cook at 309-824-0488 for more information.
  • Drawing Comic Books – Participants will create their very own comic books, developing a storyline and characters, which they will then draw and bind into unique comic books during this June 26-30 camp. They will work with shading, colored pencils and markers, and sew their book bindings. Children in grades 1-3 attend morning sessions while grades 4-8 create during the afternoons. Join them June 29 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. or 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Student Center Craft Shop’s Paint Bar (lower level). Contact Stephanie Dukat at stephaniedukat@siu.edu or 618-453-3636.
  • Junior Aviator I (careers) – Youths in grades 6-8 enjoy a fun, hands-on introduction to the many career paths available in the field of aviation July 3 and 5-7 at SIU’s Glenn Poshard Transportation Education Center at the Southern Illinois Airport. Through interactive activities, they will explore aviation-related careers as they learn about flight planning, weather information, radio communication, aircraft performance and navigation. The highlight is experience in SIU’s flight training devices and/or aircraft (weather permitting.) Options include:
    • July 3, 2:15-4:15 p.m.: Campers will do aircraft pre-flight inspections and try out the flight simulators.
    • July 7, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Campers will get a full flight overview and specs.
    • July 7, 4-4:30 p.m.: Campers will present aviation posters.

Contacts are Lorelei Ruiz, lemiller@siu.edu and 618-319-2440, or Kenneth Wilkins, kenneth@siu.edu and 618-453-9216.

Options at Touch of Nature

Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, about 8 miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road, is hosting several Edventure camps as well. Most of the camp activities will be outdoors.

Camp story opportunities June 25-July 8 include:

  • Edventure: Forest Critters – Participants ages 5-8 will learn about local wildlife and exploring nature during this camp June 26-30, with separate sessions for ages 5-6 and ages 7-8. Visit the Touch of Nature Beach for story options:
    • June 27, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Campers ages 7-8 will be swimming and performing swim skills tests.
    • June 28, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Campers ages 5-6 will build sandcastles and more and splash on the beach.
  • Edventure: Aqua Adventures – Campers ages 9-10 will explore all of the aspects of water June 26-30 as they investigate, splash and paddle in Little Grassy Lake and Indian Creek by making small waterways, dams and boats and learning about local aquatic plants and animals. Come to the Rocky Ledges Trail 9:30-11:30 a.m. June 28 and see campers jumping from the famous Touch of Nature Rocky Ledges to the water below.
  • Edventure: Wilderness Survival – Youths ages 11-12 will explore the beautiful natural areas during this action-packed adventure featuring hiking, orienteering, shelter building, group activities and much more June 26-30. Visit Touch of Nature Camp 2 area 1-3 p.m. June 30 as the campers participate in a wilderness survival challenge.

Contacts for all Edventure camps are Sydney Pogue at sydney.pogue@siu.edu or 618-453-3950, or Lindsay Meverden at lmeverden@siu.edu or 618-453-3954.

Camp Little Giant better than ever in 2023

Camp Little Giant, SIU’s historic camp for people with disabilities, has returned this summer with a redesigned format to be even more appealing to campers of today.

Camp Little Giant: Dynamic Duos Session 1 (adults), set for June 25-30, is for adults with developmental, cognitive or physical disabilities and for their college/adult age peers. The camp buddies pair up for activities including hiking, swimming, kayaking, arts and crafts, rock climbing, the high ropes course, team building and more. Come to Giant City Stables 9-11 a.m. June 26 when campers will be horseback riding, a longtime Camp Little Giant tradition.

Contacts for Camp Little Giant are Lindsay Meverden at lmeverden@siu.edu or 618-453-3954, or Sydney Pogue at sydney.pogue@siu.edu or 618-453-3950.

A bit more information

Events and Outreach and Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center coordinate the majority of SIU’s camps, while Saluki Athletics and other campus units handle the rest. Visit camps.siu.edu for complete details about SIU’s numerous summer camp offerings for all ages.

Scheduled activities are subject to change due to weather and unforeseen circumstances.