BLOCK PARTY! Sunday, May 6

We’re having a Block Party in the Rustic Village and your middle and high school youth groups are invited! Join DuBois Center staff and volunteers for an afternoon of fun, food, games, contests and music. One of the best parts – IT’S FREE. We’ll roast hot dogs and make s’mores, meet some of the horses, and explore the Rustic Village.Whether you are a DuBois Center camper or not, you’re invited! Load up right after church, grab some lunch and head to camp. We’ll be on the move from 1-4:30 pm, but arrive when you can. Youth must be accompanied by adult chaperones or parents. RSVP by Monday, April 30 – we need to stock the coolers and send you permission forms. For more information or to RSVP, check out this flyer or contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

Meet our Summer Staff – Ryan Goetter

Welcome Ryan Goetter to our 2018 leadership team! This will be Ryan’s fourth summer on staff. He will be serving as a village coordinator – supervising and supporting our counselors and campers, as well as coordinating activities and special events. Ryan grew up near Collinsville IL; he was an active member of St. John Evangelical UCC and an avid member of his high school band. He attended summer camp at DuBois Center for many years, including our CIT (Counselors in Training) program.

Ryan currently attends Missouri State University where he studies Instrumental Music Education. He has especially enjoyed his recent practicum experiences. During the school year he works at the Taylor Health and Wellness Center. His focus is student wellness programming, including coordinating a variety of special events. Ryan is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi – an honorary band service fraternity and a founding member of Lambda Chi Alpha. He has served his fraternity as the Director for Drug and Alcohol Awareness for the MSU chapter of FSLSA (Fraternity and Sorority Leaders of Social Awareness). Ryan has a great mentor in his father who is always involved in whatever Ryan and his sister Catie are doing.

Ryan loves the smell of fast food and the taste of hot wings. All his favorite childhood memories are from his adventures at camp. When asked why he has such a passion for working at DuBois Center, Ryan wrote, “I grew up at camp! It’s such an amazing and magical place and I wanted an opportunity to give the kids a great experience like I had!” The wonderful, often off-beat, interactions with campers and the enduring friendships with fellow staff members (his camp family) – he loves it all! One more important thing you should know about Ryan – he absolutely loves Pentatonix Christmas music and chances are he’ll be heard humming those tunes throughout the summer.

Churches – Help Promote DuBois Center

Calling all churches! Did you know that you can help promote DuBois Center? From information on spring programming to summer camp to special sessions, you’ll find it all at this link: https://duboiscenter.org/info-for-churches/

Simply download what you need, print it out and share it with your congregation how you see fit. There are bulletin inserts available, as well as flyers and registration forms. You could also link to these flyers in any of your own social posts, blogs or emails!

Thank you in advance for helping us spread the word about DuBois Center!

 

Earth Hour – Today!

Will you participate in Earth Hour? Earth Hour is a global WWF (formerly World Wildlife Fund) climate change initiative.  It is an event that aims to generate awareness of the effects of climate change, and taking responsibility towards a more sustainable future. People are encouraged to turn the lights off in their home or businesses for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 pm in each time zone, on this day.

Earth Hour typically takes place the last Saturday in March, but, this year, it will be March 24th – the 4th Saturday of March 2018.  Some people enjoy Earth Hour with a candle-lit dinner or a candle-lit bath, while others host large events or parties, either in darkness or with candles, to celebrate and create awareness. For more information, click here. And let us know in the comments how you plan to spend this hour!

Early Bird Deadline in Less Than Two Weeks!

Do you have your 2018 summer camp registration in yet?

All you need to be singing a happy “Early Bird” tune is a completed 2018 Summer Camp Registration Form and $50 non-refundable deposit. Save $20 on full-week sessions and $10 on part-week sessions.

Register and pay online, or postmark your registration form and deposit by April 5. If your church pays part of the camp fee, we will send them an invoice later in the summer.

To receive a summer camp brochure – check in your church office, view it online, download it along with this registration form, or contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

Father-Son Early Bird Registration TOMORROW

The annual DuBois Center Father-Son Retreat is just around the corner – April 13-15. Quality time together, cool activities, “fellow”-ship with dads and lads of all ages, with opportunities to explore God’s love woven throughout the day.

And you can save $10 by registering by tomorrow, March 23!

For more information, check out this flyer and reservation form, or register online today. Final registration deadline is March 30.

Meet Our Summer Staff – Laura

Welcome Laura Renken to our 2018 summer staff team! This will be Laura’s second summer on staff; she will again be serving as a Counselor/Activity Specialist and utilizing her skills as a seasoned lifeguard.

Laura hails from Hamel, Illinois and is an active member of Salem UCC in Alhambra. She is a student at Eastern Illinois University where she is studying elementary education. At school, she is active in a Bible study group that has helped her to grow in her ability to share and discuss her faith with others. They have also, “helped me a lot with being proud of my faith and not feeling like I needed to hide my faith in order to fit in. I can be proud of who I am and who God has made me to be.”

When asked about future plans, five years from now, Laura hopes to be teaching second or third grade. Not a surprise! Working with children has long been a priority for her. Before serving on our summer staff, Laura was a regular VBS volunteer. She also completed our Counselors in Training (CIT) Program and served as a camp volunteer.

Laura is returning this summer because, “Working with the campers was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.” Her favorite place at camp is Meditation Point. She loves seeing all the stars and the lake at night in a “very humbling place” where she feels “immersed in God’s presence.” In addition to starry nights, Laura loves swimming in the summer and biking whenever it’s warm outside. She likes to doodle, knit, crochet, sing and practice her ukulele and guitar. Her favorite foods are oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, watermelon and grapes – all staples at summer camp.

Laura 1

Summer Jobs – Apply Now!

Is this the year for more than just another summer job? DuBois Center is searching for fun-loving and child-focused individuals with a heart for ministry to serve on our summer staff. Amazing memories + resume building skills = a summer to remember. Check out the Summer of Service flier and consider whether serving outdoors with a dynamic team might be just the opportunity for you. Open positions include cabin counselors, barn staff and coordinators. Lifeguard certification is a plus for all positions.

Questions? Contact Shirley at  shirley.director@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202. Application packets are available online or can be sent by email or mail.

Lifeguard

Block Party! – Sunday, May 6

We’re having a Block Party in the Rustic Village and your middle and high school youth groups are invited! Join DuBois Center staff and volunteers for an afternoon of fun, food, games, contests and music. One of the best parts – IT’S FREE. We’ll roast hot dogs and make s’mores, meet some of the horses, and explore the Rustic Village. Whether you are a DuBois Center camper or not, you’re invited! Load up right after church, grab some lunch and head to camp.We’ll be on the move from 1-4:30 pm, but arrive when you can.

Youth must be accompanied by adult chaperones or parents. RSVP by Monday, April 30 – we need to stock the coolers and send permission forms. For more information or to RSVP, check out this flier or contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

Hot dogs

Lenten Workday next Saturday, March 24 — Don’t Miss It!

Looking for a meaningful Lenten discipline? How about pitching in with family and friends and making a difference at DuBois Center? Stretch your muscles, get a little dirty and help spruce up the grounds. Projects vary depending on the weather and the skills of the workers – carpentry, cleaning, painting, raking and more. We may even remove or install a dock. Lunch is provided. Check out this flier for more information. RSVP to DuBois Center by Monday, March 19, at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

If you can’t make it out to the March date, there will be another Service Saturday on April 21 – or call to set up a different day for your church group!