Meet Our Summer Staff – Kalie

We are excited to announce Kalie Vyers as the 2017 Lead Counselor! From Belleville, Illinois, Kalie grew up as an active member of Damascus Road Fellowship, where her father is the pastor. She has always enjoyed working with children – having gone on mission trips to orphanages in Mexico, working with day camps, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, and currently working as a missionary with a preschool through a church program in Tahoe City, California.

Kalie’s relationship with DuBois Center began as a camper when she was 12 years old. She recalled, “I always looked up to my counselors and knew that one day I wanted to be just like them.” Kalie graduated from our CIT (counselor in training) program, volunteered at DuBois Center in 2011, 2012 and 2015. She dedicated her summers to being on summer staff in 2013, 2014, and 2016.

She says she is excited to be back again in 2017 because, “Being a counselor is the best job I have ever had. I enjoy getting to meet children with many different lifestyles and personalities. It feels great to be able to give them the wonderful camp experience that I always loved to have when I was a kid.”

This summer Kalie has agreed to be our Lead Counselor – a position that only appears occasionally when an individual has extensive experience and skills to share with newer leaders, but prefers to spend most of their time working directly with campers. When not at camp, Kalie loves to be outdoors – hiking, skiing, playing basketball and engaging in all kinds of water activities. She also enjoys painting, and playing cards and board games with friends and family.

Kalie Image 2

Service Saturdays

March 25 & April 22

Lend a hand with spring cleaning and summer prep! Spend quality time with your family, friends, youth or fellowship group and make a big difference. We’ve got engaging projects for all ability levels and you’ll leave camp with a real sense of satisfaction. Projects vary, depending on weather and the skills of the workers, but could include raking, carpentry, painting, cleaning and more. If you or your group has any special skills, please let us know ahead of time.

For more information check out this flyer. Lunch is provided, so please RSVP to DuBois Center at or dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

Service Saturday 3

Service Saturday 2

See ya, Leah!

Our sixth Outdoor Ministry Intern, Leah Juenger, has come to the end of her internship. Leah Juenger fell in love with DuBois Center as a part-week camper when she was very young. She attended summer camp each year growing up, graduated from our CIT program, worked as a camp counselor in 2013 and 2014, took on more responsibility as a village coordinator after graduating from college in 2015, and then moved into the internship in September 2015.

All these experiences have left Leah with what she knows will be a life-long passion for DuBois Center and the ministry it provides. Over the past 18 months, Leah has gained skills in program development, staff supervision, and administrative duties such as writing and proofing promotional materials and using Excel. Throughout the internship, she also integrated her love of yoga into DuBois Center programming – which she assures us she will continue for retreats whenever she’s available. On the last day of her internship, Leah packed up and headed to Chicago for a yoga conference, where she will complete her journey to become a 200-hour certified yoga instructor.

In the coming months, Leah will be leading yoga classes, serving a few hours a week at DuBois Center and training for her summer assistantship with a company called Bricks 4 Kidz. She admits that spending the summer months somewhere other than DuBois Center is a foreign concept, but she feels prepared for this next adventure. Although, we will miss working with her on a daily basis – especially her welcoming smile, attention to detail, focus on summer staff recruitment and training and willing spirit – we know this isn’t goodbye; it’s “See ya later!”

Seeking Volunteer Nurses

Volunteer health care professionals are a key component of our ministry. Camp nurses tend to a variety of ailments – everything from fevers and sprains to ticks and rashes. They provide special attention when a camper needs a little extra TLC or just a break from the action. Their’s is a ministry of compassion, presence and healing.

We are currently seeking volunteer nurses for this coming summer. The nurse’s living quarters are air-conditioned, and there is often time to sit back and read a good book, take a hike or dip your toes in the lake. For more information about this ministry opportunity, contact Shirley at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

Volunteer for DuBois on Broadway

The DuBois on Broadway Gala 2.0, which takes place on May 12, will feature Broadway-style performances, a full meal and an auction. All proceeds will go to DuBois Center.

An evening like this, however, can’t happen without help! The team is looking for volunteers, stage performers, sponsors and auction donations. There are a variety of volunteer positions open, as well as sponsorship opportunities. Additional sponsorship information will be posted next week.

Auction donations may include those for the silent auction or the oral auction. Ideas for items for the silent auction include gift cards, kitchen items, crafts, tickets, theme baskets and more. Oral auction ideas include getaway weekends, sporting event tickets, sports apparel, autographed items, antiques, artwork and anything else that may attract bidders.

For additional auction ideas, or to sign up to be a volunteer, fill out and return this flyer by April 28 via the directions listed in the flyer.

Father – Son Retreat

March 31 – April 2:

Fathers, Grandfathers and Uncles – bring your sons, grandsons and nephews to DuBois Center for a weekend of quality guy time! Fish, hike, canoe and just hang out together. Make cool wood crafts, share in vespers and work on your archery skills. Horseback riding is available for an additional fee. Lodging is in the cottages in main camp. All ages are welcome, though most activities are geared for boys age 5 and older. Families participate together. For more information, check out this flyer. Registration by mail is now open; online registration opens February 15. Early Bird deadline is March 10; final deadline is March 17.Bruce & Anders with art work - cr

Summer Jobs

Make a difference this summer!

Summer 2017 might seem like a long way off, but at DuBois Center we are already hard at work planning the summer camp schedule, the program and facility improvements. We are also kicking off the staff recruitment season! Energetic, child-focused, fun-loving – sound like you or someone you know? Check out the Summer of Service flyer and consider whether an amazing summer at camp might be just the opportunity to make a difference you have been looking for. Open positions include cabin counselors, barn staff and coordinators. FAITH. FUN. HARD WORK. GREAT FRIENDS. LONG HOURS. RESUME-BUILDING, PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE. AMAZING MEMORIES. Questions? Contact the DuBois Center office at program@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202. Application packets are available online.

Purchase a Gift Card for DuBois on Broadway

Surprise someone with an evening of great entertainment and good food! You can now purchase a gift certificate for DuBois on Broadway 2.0 by filling out the form below and returning it to Norma Borgmann, co-chair, by May 1.

DuBois on Broadway will feature a full meal, including wine, as well as a variety of Broadway-style performances. A silent auction will also be available to guests. The event will take place at the Four Points by Sheraton Conference Center on Friday, May 12. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner begins at 6:30.

All proceeds will benefit DuBois Center.

Follow the link below to purchase your gift certificate:

Gift Certificate Order Form

Save the Date: DuBois on Broadway 2.0

Enjoy an evening of great food, wonderful company and exciting performances – all in the name of DuBois Center!

On Friday, May 12, the second DuBois on Broadway Gala will take place at the Four Points by Sheraton Conference Center in Fairview Heights, IL. Doors will open at 5:00 p.m., and the meal will be served at 6:30. At 7:30, guests will be treated to a variety of Broadway-style acts. There will also be silent auction items available for purchase.

All proceeds will benefit DuBois Center, so come on out for an evening of entertainment and show your support. More information on how to purchase tickets will be posted at a later date.

If you’re interested in more information, or would like to volunteer for the event, please contact any of the co-chairs below.

Rev. Jerry Amiri – jerryamiari@hotmail.com

Norma Borgmann – nborgmann1658@charter.net

Rick Porter – rkp@agtelco.com

Office Manager Position Open

DuBois Center is currently accepting resumes for the position of Office Manager. This position is part-time (20-28 hours per week) and includes some benefits, such as paid vacation and sick days. The individual filling this position will be a key member of our core staff team and play a vital role in helping DuBois Center achieve its mission. The office manager’s friendly greeting is often the first introduction to our ministry of hospitality for a new guest or camper family. It is vital for the office manager to truly enjoy working with people and have strong computer and organizational skills.

Click here for more information regarding the position and application process.