Horse Camps – Ready to Ride?

Our Horse Camps are filling quickly, but there are still great options for most age groups. If the weather cooperates, horse campers have the option to ride each day! They spend more time with the ponies, but still have time for other camp favorites such as swimming, 9-Square and crafts. Some mornings, they’re up and at ’em long before chow time – the horses need to be fed and groomed before breakfast. Some evenings, untacking, feeding and barn chores come before evening games.

Younger campers can hop aboard the Pony Express for an introduction to horse camp. Older campers can choose from a variety of sessions. Ready to sign up? Register online today. For more information, pick up a camp brochure in your church office or check out the brochure online. You may also contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202 to have one sent to you.

Trail RidePONY EXPRESS (completed grades 4-6)
            July 22-25
HORSIN’ AROUND (completed grades 5-7)
            June 10-15July 8-13July 15-20
SADDLE ‘EM UP (completed grades 7-9)
            June 24-29July 15-20
WRANGLERS (completed grades 8-12)
            June 17-22

Meet our Summer Staff: Kurtwynn

Welcome Kurtwynn Trompetter from Johannesburg, South Africa to our 2018 summer staff team. Kurtwynn will be serving as a Counselor/Activity Specialist and hopes to gain even more experience and new tools for youth work. Kurtwynn wrote, “My career goal is to open a summer camp for underprivileged children in South Africa of different ages.” Kurtwynn has a variety of applicable experience. He has taught and coached football (soccer), assisted in a day care center and with the youth group at his church, and babysat for family and friends. One of his most significant learning experiences came while working with a 9-year old with Down Syndrome.

When asked about a favorite memory of the “outdoors” from his youth, Kurtwynn shared enthusiastically about an educational camp he was invited to attend while in high school. During the camp they visited an underwater marine exhibit where they learned about different sea animals and about the evolution of life underwater. The camp definitely made a lasting impression. In his free time, Kurtwynn enjoys the arts – making music, drawing and painting. He enjoys staying fit by taking part in soccer tournaments and fitness competitions. Road trips and outings with family and friends are also favorites. During a two-week visit to Mozambique, he was amazed by the beach, loved the HUGE prawns, and saw first-hand how people live in other parts of the world. It was a humbling experience. His “favourite” foods include creamy pastas and spicy prawns; he has a sweet tooth for chocolate and caramel cake.

Welcome Kurtwynn! 

Camps for Older Children: Completed Grades 3 – 6

Classic or specialty camp, three days or five days – there is a wide variety of sessions from which to choose for this age group. Whether a first-timer or experienced camper, new adventures await.

The cozy cottages on the Main Camp side of the lake are “home” for many campers in this age group, but those attending our Horsin’ Around, Rustic 101 and Splash! sessions venture across the lake and live in the Rustic Village. The week of July 22-25 there are shorter sessions for those who would like “a taste” of horse camp or rustic camping.

Additional sessions for those completing grades 5-8 can be found in the camp brochure. For more information, pick up a brochure in your church office, click here for the online version or contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202. Ready to register? Click here.

Older child camps 2

Session &
Grades Completed           Dates   
Settler (3-5)                       6/10-15, 6/24-29, 7/15-20
Pony Express (4-6)           7/22-25
Mad Science (4-7)            7/8-13
Move It! Move It! (4-7)      7/8-13
Rustic 101 (4-6)                7/22-25
Horsin’ Around (5-7)         6/10-15, 7/8-13, 7/15-20
Splash! (5-7)                     7/22-25

Churches: Here’s How You Can Help Promote DuBois

We often have churches ask us how they can help support DuBois Center! Our answer? Help us spread the word! We are often referred to as a best-kept-secret in Southern Illinois – well, let’s get that secret out there! See below for a list of ideas on how to share information on DuBois with your church, your community and below. Click here for a full list of additional information and downloadable promotional pieces.

 Celebrate FAITH FORMATION through OUTDOOR MINISTRIES in April and May! Pick a Sunday for your Camp Sunday. Recruit a planning team and help them brainstorm a list of creative possibilities, then turn them loose to implement the best ideas.

 Personally invite young people and their parents to participate in the spring events and summer camp program at DuBois Center. When pastors and key lay leaders speak, people listen. Your passion for church camp can be infectious.

 Community Outreach: Consider how your congregation might partner with DuBois Center to send children from low-income families in your community to camp. Special funds are available to assist.

 Involve experienced campers, volunteers and summer staff in the Children’s Message or a special Sunday School event. Personal testimonies, special camp stories, games and songs are especially helpful.

 Focus on the goals and values of Christian camping during worship on Sunday. Music, responsive readings and sermons can all be effective tools for this.

 Invite a guest from DuBois Center to join you on a Sunday to share a sermon, extended mission moment, children’s message and/or activities in Sunday School.

 Plan something special for Coffee Hour. Try s’mores or “ants on a log” instead of cookies. Set up a BBQ pit and roast hot dogs, hamburgers or marshmallows.

 Designate and PROMOTE a couple of Sundays during which DuBois alumni are at a table, before & after worship, to distribute brochures and answer questions.

 Encourage grandparents to send their grandchildren to camp.

 Utilize DuBois Center bulletin inserts – copy, cut and insert.

 Gather a group together and attend the RUSTIC BLOCK PARTY  at DuBois Center. Enjoy free youth-friendly activities and tour the facilities – Sunday, May 6.
 Post the CAMP SCHEDULE, POSTERS and FLYERS throughout the church.
 On two or more Sundays, advertise and insert a special offering envelope in the bulletin designated to provide financial assistance for your church’s youth to attend camp.
 Have a Chili Cook-off and use the funds raised to help send kids to camp.
 Have the Sunday School or mid-week program make a special camp banner,
then hang it in the Sanctuary or Fellowship Hall from March through June.

Summer Camp: Faith, Friends and Fun

Studies show that opportunities for kids to just be kids are critical to their development as healthy and well-rounded children and youth.  Active, unplugged, joyful, connected and adventuresome are all words that describe the DuBois experience. It’s good old-fashioned fun, yet a modern classic. All this as well as an opportunity to experience God and each other in new ways, make new friends and have loads of fun.
It’s not too late to make a session of summer camp at DuBois Center a priority! Click here to view our online brochure, and here to register today!

Meet Our Summer Staff: Hayley

Welcome, Hayley Bell to our 2018 summer staff team! Hayley is from Whakamarama, New Zealand and will be serving as a Counselor/Activity Specialist. Her experience working with children and youth is varied. She has assisted in primary school classrooms, babysat children of all ages, worked as a professional birthday party planner, and served as deputy house captain at school. In this last role, she organized and implemented activities for 50-100 students aged 12-18.

One of Hayley’s references wrote, “She has a genuine care for those around her and her warm disposition puts young people at ease. Hayley has a fun sense of humor and is full of enthusiasm.”

Hayley’s interests are as varied as her experience. She thoroughly enjoys acting and drama – one of her favorite subjects in school. Design, drawing, crafts and gardening are also at the top of her list. She is a self-proclaimed water baby and loves spending time “at waterholes or at the beach.” She also enjoys just spending time with her family and friends, and her favorite foods are Maltesers and Satay Noodles.

When asked why she wanted to spend the summer at a camp in the States, she explained that, after her first year at “Uni,” she realized that she should have taken a Gap year – as is the custom for many students in the UK (United Kingdom) and beyond. She wanted to find ways to give back and serve others for a year, before returning to school. She is also excited about traveling. When asked about one thing she would really like to see or experience in the USA, Hayley wrote, “The culture and landscape differences! Oh! and a large-sized meal where they give you the GIGANTIC cups for your drink!” Hopefully, when she returns home, Hayley will have so many amazing memories and new experiences that super-sized anything will be at the bottom of her list! Welcome, Hayley!

Hayley 2

Fathers & Sons – Quality Time Together!

This past weekend, 41 fathers, sons, grandfathers and mentors – hailing from 10 ISCUCC churches and beyond – made the trek to DuBois Center for our annual Father-Son Retreat. Picture… boats on the lake, cool crafts, a hay ride, and rounds and rounds of 9-Square and Ga-ga. Picture… new friends, hikes and horseback rides. Picture… s’mores under a drizzly sky, late night UNO games, and quiet time for reflections. Together fathers and sons explored the creek, built shelters in the woods, “tipped trees,” took aim at archery targets, and dismantled a big section of the old boat dock. Now, picture

God among us everywhere! Throughout the weekend, they explored God’s call to be good roles as fathers and as sons, to be true friends and caring “neighbors.”

(Top photo: 2018 Father/Son group; Left: Aaron and Harmon Fuchs;  Right: Josh and Drake Muehlhauser)

FatherSon2018bFatherSon2018c

Buddy to Buddy – Hoyleton Mission Experience June 30 – July 3, 2018

Behind the 8 ball? Still looking for a meaningful summer mission trip for your youth? Look no further! This close-to-home mission experience offers teens the opportunity to “live kindness, do justice and walk humbly.” Youth encounter God as they participate together with young people from Hoyleton’s youth residential programs. They swim, create cool crafts, play games and more! Buddies walk hand in hand with their biblical “neighbors” and practice sincere acceptance and respect. Daily reflections and prayer times focus on diversity, justice and our role as Christians.

After the Hoyleton campers head for home each day, the buddies and their chaperones take time to debrief the day’s experience, plan for the next day and take-on a physical work project at DuBois Center. There is also time to relax, play and participate in some traditional camp activities. Faith-focused sessions are facilitated by the camp chaplain. Activity supervision is provided by staff from DuBois Center and Hoyleton Ministries.

Registration is by church group, not individual, and adult chaperones must accompany youth participants. Housing is in the cottages in main camp. Space is limited. Learn more on our flier, or contact shirley.director@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

Camps for Younger Youth – Completing Grades 5-9

Whether your camper prefers the Main Camp cottages or the Rustic Village cabins, there are great options on both sides of the lake. Hang out with the ponies, make a big splash, enjoy a “classic” camp or try roughin’ it. For this age group, individual choice times are a popular addition to the line-up. For details, pick up a brochure in your church office, check out the online version, or contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.
 
New to the Rustic Village? Check out the Block Party on May 6. Ready to register? Go to www.DuBoisCenter.org or click here.
 
Don’t delay; some of these sessions are nearly full!
Session &
Grades Completed      Dates   
Horsin’ Around (5-7)      6/10-15, 7/8-13, 7/15-20
Splash! (5-7)                     7/22-25
Base Camp (5-8)             7/15-20
Trekkin’ It (5-8)               6/10-15, 7/8-13
Outlander (6-9)                6/24-29, 7/15-20
Saddle ‘Em Up (7-9)       6/24-29, 7/15-20

Service Saturday April 21 – RSVP Today!

The rain, wind and icy cold winter have taken their toll. Stretch your muscles, get a little dirty and make a difference! Help us get a jump start as we prepare for the busy months ahead. We can’t do it without YOU!

Projects vary, depending on the weather and the skills of the workers – carpentry, cleaning, painting, raking and more. We may even dismantle a dock. Serve together with friends and family, and gain a sense of satisfaction. Lunch is provided.

Check out this flier for more information. RSVP to DuBois Center by Monday, April 16 at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.orgor 618-787-2202. If this date doesn’t work for you, we have a mission work group in camp May 16-20 and extra helping hands are always welcome.

Service Saturday