Fun and exploration never end at SIU’s summer camps. (SIU Carbondale photo)
July 16, 2026
Explore art, STEAM, and more at SIU summer camps — media invited
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics all come together in one popular summer camp for teens at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. There are also camps to inspire budding and accomplished artists and enhance their skills — and high school minority students can participate in an innovative career development program. There are opportunities for athletes, future lawyers and scientists in the making as well.
Reporters, photographers and news crews can see what it’s all about and acquire intriguing, newsworthy activity stories, photographs and videos at the camps.
Summer camp media opportunities from Sunday, July 19, through the end of the 2026 camp season, along with brief descriptions, contact information and favorable times to visit, are:
- Saluki Opportunities in Awareness Residency (SOAR) is a specialized camp designed to provide incoming high school juniors and seniors, specifically minority students, with an innovative career development experience to encourage more students from underrepresented ethnic groups to attend college and major in accounting. Throughout the week students will learn to do stocks simulations, discover careers in business, participate in workshops and interact with the photo lab as they delve into marketing activities. They’ll also enjoy icebreaker activities and go zip lining at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center. Most activities take place in Rehn Hall. For scheduling details, times and locations, contact Ivan Vargas at vargas@siu.edu or 618-453-7968.
- SIU’s Student Center Craft Shop is hosting myriad arts and crafts camps, including three special sessions in late summer. All camps take place at the shop, located in the lower level of the Student Center. For more information details about any of the Craft Shop activities, contact Stephanie Dukat at 618-453-3636 or craftshop@siu.edu.
There are two options in late July for youths in grades 4-8 and another for children in grades 1-3:
- Kids can discover the wide and wonderful world of art during the Art Explorers camp July 20-24. Each day they will explore different mediums, including watercolor painting, clay, fiber arts, printmaking, sculpture, sewing and more. The younger group meets 9-11 a.m. while the older youths will check out all the options 1-4 p.m.
- Participants in the clay sculptures camp will create four unique projects using hand-building techniques including coil, pinch and slab build creations during the sewing stuffed sculptures camp, July 27-31. The final session will find them using colorful underglazes, slips and cold finishes including paint and mixed media to add color to their finished pieces. The session meets 9-11 a.m.
- STEAM for All (boys) is an interactive camp July 20-24 for middle school boys led by SIU faculty and industry experts. They will explore smart cyber security as they design an electronic password lock, explore the interior materials’ art and science, discover a new way of learning math via 3D printing, get involved in a STEM construction lab and learn about automotive technology through hands-on activities. Media can check out the intriguing activities happening across campus – for detailed location and scheduling information, contact Terrance Bishop at bishop@siu.edu or 618-453-2541 or Jennifer Langin at jlangin@siu.edu or 618-536-2368.
Wrapping up a great summer
Dozens of exciting summer camps have been drawing children of all ages to campus for enriching, educational and fun experiences and there’s still time to register for some of the remaining camps.
Also still to come are: sensory engineering in the field, Pipeline to Practice Summer Law Program, the soccer camp and the baseball prospect showcase and the final session of EDventure Camps – Creative Creatures – at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center.
Find the complete camp schedule, additional details and registration at camps.siu.edu.
Some camps are already at capacity, but for others, there’s still time to register for any remaining openings.
Events and Outreach and Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center coordinate the majority of the camps while Saluki Athletics and other campus units are responsible for the rest.