Bunco Night – February 6

Save the Date! Come in out of the cold and get ENERGIZED! This fun, somewhat frenzied dice game is so easy to learn, anyone can play! Last year’s event was wonderfully intergenerational with children, youth and adults of all ages playing and laughing together. St. Paul UCC in Columbia will open its doors at 6:30 pm on Saturday, February 6 for an evening of fun and fellowship to support the ministry of DuBois Center. Play begins at 7 pm. The cost to play is $10 per person. And there’s more! Also featured are two silent auctions, one with gift baskets and other fun items, the other with purses, as well as a 50/50 drawing. Snacks and soda are also available for purchase to support the cause.

Check out this flyer and share it with your church and your friends. Advance tickets are available, as seating is limited. Details are included on the flyer. Plan now to have a FANTASTICALLY FUN SATURDAY NIGHT on February 6. (Back-up date for inclement weather is February 13.) This fun, family-friendly event is sponsored by Region 2.

Annual Christmas Party Dec. 5

There is much to celebrate this year, and we hope that you can join us for our annual DuBois Center Christmas Party on Saturday, December 5 at 5 p.m. Please RSVP by Nov. 30.

This is our opportunity to say a big thank you to everyone who continues to support and love DuBois Center. Thank you for your prayers and support; your gifts of time, talent and treasure; and your partnership in our shared mission and ministry. Together, we touch countless lives with the gifts of God’s abundant love and Christian community. Together, we encourage respect and care for oneself, others and all of creation. Together, our churches, volunteers, staff, supporters and friends make it happen. If you fit into any of these categories – then you are certainly invited. All churches are also encouraged to send representatives.

Enjoy a delicious dinner, musical entertainment and, of course, THE Christmas game. The social hour begins at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m.

Please RSVP to dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202 by Monday, Nov. 30 at noon.

We hope to see you there!

Horsey Halloween

What better way to spend Halloween than with your favorite barn pals? Costumes are encouraged for a weekend of horse tricks ‘n treats. Both experienced and novice riders are welcome as we learn more about riding and taking care of our equestrian friends.

The 2015 Fall Horse Retreat will take place from Oct. 30 – Nov. 1 and those ages 12 and older are invited. We will be riding, grooming, tacking, helping with barn chores, creating crafts, and participating in campfires and hayrides… all while experiencing God and creation on the trails, at the barn, in the early morning and at vespers.

Check in will be Friday at 7 p.m. and we will wrap up by Sunday at 4 p.m. Reservation deadline is Friday, Oct. 16. Download the application or download the fall activities brochure for more information

Mother Daughter Retreat 2015

Fall is the perfect time for a getaway – especially when it is to DuBois Center! Leave the boys at home for this weekend away with the girls.

Mother & Daughter Retreat was designed to bring women closer together, allowing you to reconnect with not only God and nature, but with your loved ones as well. Relax and re-energize your relationships with your daughter, mother, granddaughter, niece, aunt, best friend, or any other special woman or girl in your life! All ages are welcome. It should be noted, however, that most activities are geared for girls age 6 and up.

This year’s retreat will take place from Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 18. Check in begins at 6:30 on Friday and departure will be by noon on Sunday. Join us for a weekend of great activities, with the price including two nights lodging, four meals, program activities and supplies.

Weather permitting, activities will include archery, canoeing, crafts, worship, music, pontoon boat rides, hiking, hayrides and bonfires. Horseback riding will also be offered for an additional fee of $15 per person for a trail ride or $8 for a guided arena ride, both wonderful experiences to suit any age or experience level

Lodging will be either in Hickory Lodge or in Main Camp Cottages, both clean and comfortable. Register early for your choice of lodging. The cost of the retreat is $107 for adults (18+), $91 for youth and $75 for girls aged 4-11.

Register soon – space is filling up! Our deadline is Friday, Oct. 2. The registration packet can be downloaded here, or download our Fall Activities Brochure for more information on this and other fall events happening at DuBois Center.

 

 

2015 Fall Festival

Autumn is officially upon us and with it comes cooler weather, beautiful foliage, and, of course festival season! DuBois Fall Festival is a can’t-miss. With family friendly fun galore, you’ll want to spend the entire day with us, participating in activities, making crafts and chowing down on delicious food.

Our annual festival will take place on Sunday, October 4 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. That is unless, of course, you are coming early for our DuBois Dash fundraiser! Learn more about the 5k and Fun Walk here.

Bring family, friends and fellow church members to support DuBois. This free event is full of activities, including a Kids Kraft Korner, pony and hay Rides, a silent auction, a quilt drawing and many craft booths from talented vendors. Food booths will also be selling delicious goodies all day, including pork kabobs, kettle korn, funnel cakes, homemade desserts and more!

We will also be featuring plenty of talented musical acts, including everything from jazz, to folk, to big band sound. Check out our ad below for a full schedule of live music, and also for a map on how to get here!

Fall Festival 2015

We are one of Southern Illinois’ best kept secrets, but we want to share our secret with the world! Bring everyone out to show off the beauty that is DuBois Center in the fall, and have some fun along the way.

Fall 2015 Activities

Fall is an exciting time at DuBois Center. No matter what type of activity you are looking for, you are sure to find it here. From retreats to festivals, fall at DuBois is filled with fun. Download our Fall Activities Brochure to learn more, or download the Fall Activities Registration Form to sign up.

Work Days

We’re looking for volunteers who want to lend a helping hand and maybe get a little dirty. All experience levels are welcome, we work on a variety of projects depending on the skills of the groups involved. Help us get ready for the fall season and for the Fall Festival and have a little fun along the way!

Work days begin at 8:30 a.m. and end no later than 4 p.m. Lunch will be provided, but call ahead to reserve your spot!

DuBois Dash

Before our annual Fall Festival, come on out for a walk/run on the trails of DuBois Center. Proceeds go to DuBois, and awards are given to the top performers in the 5K run. A one mile fun walk is also available.

The run begins at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 4. Register here. 

Fall Festival

Join us for our annual Fall Festival for a day full of fall fun. Live music, delicious food, horseback rides, children’s crafts, and a silent auction are just a few of the many fantastic activities available that day. Local craftsmen will also be selling their products, so be prepared to do some shopping!

The 2015 Fall Festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 4. There is no admission fee.

Mother and Daughter Retreat

Mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, aunts and best friends – all are invited to join together for a weekend of faith and friendship. Come on out for a retreat filled with activities such as crafts, horseback riding, hiking, canoeing and, most importantly, spending time with the women closest to you.

The 2015 Mother and Daughter Retreat will take place from Oct. 16 – 18.

Horsey Halloween

What better way to spend Halloween than with your favorite barn pals? Costumes are encouraged for a weekend of horse tricks ‘n treats. Both experienced and novice riders are welcome as we learn more about riding and taking care of our equestrian friends.

The 2015 Fall Horse Retreat will take place from Oct. 30 – Nov. 1.

Groups

Don’t see a weekend you can attend here but you still want to spend a weekend at DuBois with your friends? Are you a part of a group looking to host a retreat? DuBois is the perfect place for groups looking for a new experience together away from it all. We offer full weekend retreats, as well as group horseback riding adventures. Learn more about our do-it-yourself retreats here and contact the office to begin planning your weekend away today.

DuBois Dash

DuBois Center will be hosting its third annual DuBois Dash this October. Run or walk through beautiful wooded trails while supporting DuBois’ programs.

Taking place before DuBois Center’s annual Fall Festival on October 4, the DuBois Dash will support the center and its summer camp programs. Participants can choose either the 5K Trail Run or the 1 Mile Fun Walk. The Run will be timed with prizes awarded to the top male and female performers in each age bracket.

Registration will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. on the day of the race, with pre-race activities, including a short chapel service, starting at 9 a.m. The race will begin at 9:30 with an awards ceremony taking place after the conclusion of the race. Then, all participants are invited to stay and join in the fun at the Fall Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

DuBois Center’s Fall Festival is held each year and features a variety of craft booths, musical entertainment, delicious food, activities for the children, horseback riding, hayrides and more.

Download the DuBois Dash 2015 Flyer and Registration Form more information, including prices and registration information. For those looking to sponsor the race, please download the Dash 2015 Sponsorship Form. We welcome any sponsorship at an level, including t-shirt sponsors, mileage marker sponsors, banner sponsors and supplies and prize donations.

 

 

DuBois Center’s NEW Website

DuBois Center is pleased to announce the launch of its brand new website. The website was completely re-designed with a new look and feel, new functionality and even better features! These new features include a blog, an interactive events calendar, an interest form, and more.

The blog, which also features an Instagram feed, will be updated with DuBois Center news, including upcoming events and stories about volunteers, summer camp and retreats. So, feel free to check back often to see if there are any new updates!

Our new, interactive calendar will also be updated with a variety of upcoming events at DuBois. Simply click on event in the calendar to learn more about it. Featured events can also be viewed on the homepage, along with recent blog posts.

The new interest form, available on the Contact Us page, will allow our visitors, such as yourself, to gather more information about planning group retreats throughout the year. Simply fill out your name, contact information and answer various questions regarding the type of retreat you are looking for, how many people will be attending, possible dates and more, and we will use that information to better serve you when we reach out to begin planning your event. DuBois offers wonderful facilities, as well as a plethora of activities, for year-round retreats for church groups, community organizations or even groups of family or friends.

Users also now have better access to the website on their mobile devices. DuBois’ new website was built to function on tablets and smartphones so users can access it on the go.

The Marketing Sub-Committee of the Outdoor Ministries Team (OMT) worked with Marketicity, a local communications agency out of Waterloo, Ill., to design and build the website.

Join Us on Facebook

Are you active on Facebook? Visit DuBois Center’s Facebook page and become a fan. Just click on the link in the footer of our website and you will be directed to our page. Network with other fans, and get updates on events. You can also share photos and stories of your time at DuBois.

2015 Summer Camps

It’s time to register for Summer camp! Are you looking for an awesome place for your kids to spend a few days away from it all in the middle of God’s creation? We offer plenty of fun activities, including swimming, horseback riding, canoeing, hiking, games and more! At DuBois, we also spend time each day learning about God and what he has done for us.

You can now register online by clicking the “Register for Camp” link above.  Check out the schedule on our summer camp page to see what is in store for our campers this summer.This year’s camp brochures have been mailed and should be at your local UCC church soon. You can also download a copy on any of our summer camp pages.