A camp participant assembles a small electronic car.

Adventure awaits at SIU’s 2026 summer camps. SIU Carbondale photo

June 25, 2026

Sports, sustainable art and STEAM all in one place — media welcome at summer camps

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Kids can learn a skill at summer camp that is the polar opposite of screen time — not just making a print book, but first making the paper for the pages! And that’s just one camp offered in late June through mid-July. There are also camps for young athletes, aspiring techies and those who love farm life.

Reporters, photographers and news crews can tag along and find interesting, newsworthy activity stories, photographs and videos at the camps.

Here are summer camp media opportunities for June 28 to July 18, shown with brief descriptions, contact information and favorable times to visit, are:

  • Saluki Baseball Summer Camp, is happening during June 29 to July 2 mornings, as youths ages 11-14 enhance their baseball skills and game via hitting, fielding and pitching coaching and drills lead by SIU coaches and players. The youths will also learn to love baseball more as they play actual games at Richard “Itchy” Jones Stadium. Media can capture them in action by visiting any time during the camp, which runs from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. They will enjoy water slide activities on July 2. Contact Connor Dailey at dailey@siu.edu or 818-200-3997 for more information.
  • The Student Center Craft Shop is hosting arts and crafts camps all summer long, including a trio of intriguing experiences during this time period. All camps take place in the shop, located in the lower level of the Student Center. For additional details about any of the Craft Shop workshops, contact Stephanie Dukat at 618-453-3636 or craftshop@siu.edu.

There are two quite different creative opportunities for children in grades 1-3 and youths in grades 4-8:

  • During the paper, print and bookmaking workshop, set for July 6-10, the participants will make their own paper using paper pulp to plant fiber with molds and deckles and then use the paper to craft individualized creative artists books. They’ll learn collage, print, and bookbinding techniques along the way. The younger children are in session 9-11 a.m. while the older youths will create handmade, one-of-a-kind books 1-4 p.m.
  • Youths in each age group will create unique stuffed pillow or stuffed animal, cartoon or other imaginative creations during the sewing stuffed sculptures camp, July 13-17. Participants will design their colorful sculptures on paper, create a pattern and cut and piece the felt together using hand or machine sewing before embellishing them with fabric paints, buttons, embroider and applique techniques. The younger children meet from 9-11 a.m. while the older kids convene 1-4 p.m.
  • STEAM for All (girls) is an interactive camp July 6-10 giving middle school girls the chance to learn smart cyber security by designing an electronic password lock, exploring the art and science of interior materials, learning math with 3D printing, getting involved in a STEM construction lab and discover automotive technology with hands-on activities. SIU faculty and industry experts will lead. Media are welcome to cover the exciting activities taking place across campus; for exact schedule and details contact Terrance Bishop at bishop@siu.edu or 618-453-2541 or Jennifer Langin at jlangin@siu.edu or 618-536-2368.
  • The Ag Education Camp is a 3-day overnight camp providing teens in grades 10-12 non-stop action to expose them to the world of agriculture education and empower them with leadership skills and abilities. Among the activities planned at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, located about 8 miles south of Carbondale on Giant City Road, are rock climbing, high ropes course, archery, field games, drafting/woodworking and more. Media can join the campers from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14 at Little Grass Lodge in Camp II for corn hole, earthball, Frisbee, washers, skits, horseshoes and campfire fun. For more information, contact Steve Still at still@siu.edu or 618-536-7773.

Much more to come

There are still more camps coming for children of all ages — and there’s still time to register.

Watch for: junior aviator careers and summer wings camps, numerous volleyball and soccer camps, Saluki Opportunities in Awareness Residency (SOAR), several LEGO and robotics camps, additional craft camps, EDventure Camps at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center and dozens of other options, including STEAM for All (boys), sensory engineering in the field, and Pipeline to Practice Summer Law Program.

Find the complete camp schedule, additional details and registration at camps.siu.edu.

Many camps fill up quickly, but it’s not too late to sign up for camps that have remaining openings.

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