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Yearly Archives: 2018

Thanks to the Happy Quilters and St. John UCC, Mascoutah

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The Happy Quilters of St. John UCC in Mascoutah have done it once again! This year their efforts even made the local paper. Each year this group creates a beautiful kid-friendly quilt to celebrate and raise funds for DuBois Center. But that’s just the beginning! Then teams of quilters hit the road and visit churches throughout the Conference on Sunday mornings bringing goodwill and selling quilt tickets.

“We All Scream for Ice Cream” is the name of this colorful work of art, and the border actually features ice cream trucks. Adorable! This year ticket sales raised $1,700. St. John UCC matched this amount dollar for dollar, bringing the total donation to $3,400 – designated specifically for the enhancement of our summer camp program.

Thanks so much to the Happy Quilters for all their hard work and to all the members of St. John UCC for their support. Thanks also to the following churches for hosting the traveling quilt: Grantfork UCC Grantfork; St John UCC Trenton; St. Paul UCC Lebanon; St Peter’s UCC Okawville; and Zion UCC New Baden. The winning ticket was drawn at the conclusion of St. John’s Annual Quilt Show, on April 7. The lucky winner was John Hinkle of Mascoutah.

Meet Our Summer Staff: Bailey

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Welcome Bailey Reichert to our 2018 summer staff team! Though this will be Bailey’s first summer on staff, she is no stranger to DuBois Center. Bailey attended summer camp and Conference youth events regularly while growing up. The past two summers, she volunteered for multiple weeks when conflicts prevented her from serving for the full summer. She is “so excited to finally be on staff,” and will be joining us as a Counselor/Activity Specialist. Bailey’s favorite thing about camp is “watching her campers go out of their comfort zones and try new things.”

Bailey2Her home base is Columbia, Illinois where she is active at St. Paul UCC. She attends Illinois Wesleyan University, and is working on a degree in Biology with a minor in Psychology. Bailey’s goal is to become a Physician’s Assistant. She is currently a Teaching Assistant and grader for General Chemistry. Bailey thoroughly enjoys acting and dancing, and has been seen off/off Broadway in a number of productions. A dancer for many years, she has also taught classes in jazz, ballet and tap. Coffee is Bailey’s beverage of choice, and this past year she worked as a barista at the university’s coffee shop. When asked about her favorite movie, Bailey replied, “Anything Disney, especially Peter Pan!” Grey’s Anatomy, Once Upon a Time and The Office are some of the shows Bailey tries to catch in her nonexistent free time. Her favorite food is chocolate and she loves the smell of citrus fruit.

Welcome Bailey!

Why Church Camp?

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Because church camp is joyful fun! It is a sacred place. It is intensely relational, and positive role models abound! Though an integral part of many congregations’ year-round faith formation efforts, church camp is different from Vacation Bible School or Sunday School. Campers and leaders live, work, play and worship together from early morning until late into the evening. They grow together through shared experiences in God’s amazing creation and form an intentional community. They hear our faith stories in new places and new ways, and find opportunities to share their own. The activities are fun, challenging and filled with opportunities to grow as part of a Christian community.

Camps for Younger Children

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Children who have completed grades 1-3 are often looking for ways to experience life like the “big kids.” Parents are looking for opportunities for their children to gain self-confidence, critical social skills, and a greater awareness of God’s world.

At DuBois Center, we have five part-week sessions designed with this in mind. Shorter sessions and smaller group sizes are ideal for this age group. Their time is filled with new adventures under the watchful eyes of caring, safety-conscious leaders. Despite the length of these sessions, there is still time to ride a horse, explore the creek, swim in the lake, and make lots of new friends.

This summer, choose from Boy Meets Camp, Camp Quest, Discovery Camp or Girl Power. Check out page 6 of the camp brochure for details. You may also pick up a brochure in your church office or contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202 to receive one by mail. If you are ready to register, click here.

camps for younger children

Summer Camp Volunteers

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Consider a week (or even a few days) at DuBois Center and join our Summer Camp 2018 team! Wanted: fun, engaging and caring volunteers to serve as nurses, cabin counselors, activity specialists and barn helpers. Minimum age is 18 for most positions; young adults and older adults are welcome.

Give of your time and talent; make a difference; and gain a wonderful sense of satisfaction…and even perhaps a bit of joy! Check out the photo above. Can you pick out the four volunteers? For more information, go to the volunteer page of our website or contact Shirley at shirley.director@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

High School Week at DuBois Center

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June 17-22 older youth (completed grades 8-12) take over the Rustic Village. One week, two great options: Wranglers and X-Plore! It’s a week to be yourself, make good friends, find new adventures and grow with God.

Meals on Rustic are back! Choice times are back! And with them more opportunities to hang with your friends and customize your week. Play disc golf – DuBois style; get super crafty; fish at Deer Run; or ride horses in “the bottoms.” Play cricket or Aussie football with our international staff and check out weird and wacky activities at the waterfront.

For details, 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. Don’t delay – June is just around the corner!

High School Week 2

Meet Our Summer Staff: Rachel

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Welcome Rachel Kinzinger to our 2018 summer staff team! Rachel is returning for her eighth summer on staff and will again be serving as a Village Coordinator. From New Athens, Illinois, she is an active member of St. John UCC and serves on the Board of Christian Ed there. Rachel has a degree in special education and is currently teaching at Marissa Jr/Sr High School.

No stranger to DuBois Center, Rachel was first a camper here in 2002, then a CIT, a counselor beginning in 2011, and a coordinator since 2014. She also works throughout the year hosting groups, life-guarding and preparing for our summer season.

Outside of camp, Rachel enjoys reading, watching Netflix, spending time with her adorable one-year old nephew and relaxing in her hammock! Her favorite foods are anything Mexican, gummy bears, Ski and Ranger cookies – a camp favorite. Her favorite movies are Toy Story, Moana, Hercules, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and her favorite smell is the air after it rains.

Rachel grew up on a farm and one of her favorite childhood memories is of showing cattle through 4-H. She started showing when she was nine and continued through high school. That experience brought great friendships, enduring memories, and numerous life lessons.

One of Rachel’s role models is Mr. Hull, her high school science teacher. Mr. Hull was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when she was a senior. She was amazed by his dedication to his students. He even visited them weekly in the midst of chemo treatments, and kept his promise to attend their graduation – even though he was sick from chemo. Mr. Hull’s teaching went beyond the textbooks. Rachel wrote, “He taught us about the importance of laughter, about dedication, and about learning through mistakes. He passed away a few years ago, and he still inspires me every day to be involved in my students’ lives and show them the same love that he showed me as a student.”

Welcome back, Rachel!

Rachel 2

Horse Camps – Ready to Ride?

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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 10-15, July 8-13, July 15-20
SADDLE ‘EM UP (completed grades 7-9)
            June 24-29, July 15-20
WRANGLERS (completed grades 8-12)
            June 17-22

Meet our Summer Staff: Kurtwynn

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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

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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