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Yearly Archives: 2020

With a Little Help from our Friends!

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The last two weeks have been busy ones at DuBois Center with eight different teams in motion – in addition to St. Jacob UCC, which we reported on last week. Neighbors John & Terry cut up and removed 5,000 pounds of wood from a dead tree off the Hickory Lodge patio. They did a great job with clean-up! Carol & David Shanks spent a day painting and repairing. Carol touched-up the entrance sign and painted more boards for the fence on the road across the dam. David replaced some rotted floorboards at the lumber shed and built new steps for it – no unstable cement blocks to contend with anymore! Margie & Mel Lindhorst continued working on the shade pollinator garden at the front of the office.

A crew from Grantfork UCC arrived with their mini-excavator and worked on one of the horse trails. They removed two old culvert pipes and cleaned up the area. They also worked on straightening the fence line at Deer Run. Teams from St. Paul UCC in Freeburg are making good progress on the cabins at Deer Run. Last week they installed windows and screen doors. The Horse Team stripped and re-bedded the horse stalls at the barn this past weekend. Watch for more about their efforts next week. In addition, two members were out earlier to check on the horses and help move round bales of hay. The Bee Team was back at camp on Sunday to check on the hives and the health of our bees. And last, but not least, Scott Schubert checked the lines and replaced the old phone on the front of the office. Guests without cell service can again make emergency calls after office hours.

THANKS to everyone for your hard work! It truly does make a difference. There is always lots to be done to maintain our outdoor ministry facilities and grounds. For more information, contact us at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

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Fall Festival Challenge

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Yes, DuBois Center’s Fall Festival has been postponed until October 2021, but the spirit lives on for this major friend and fund-raising event. Norma Borgmann, who has been involved with DuBois Center for decades as a friend, camper, staff member, Outdoor Ministries Team (OMT) member and chair, and acting director, is challenging other friends of the Center with a $500 donation. In the note accompanying the gift she wrote, “As you know I usually bake a few snacks & provide some Silent Auction items – thus such a gift. Sure hope others will donate dollars to help balance the budget in this historic year of COVID-19.”

This would have been the 44th year for some version of this event, which began modestly in 1977 and grew from there. Nancy Wagner, current OMT Chair, suggests that supporters consider donating $1, $2, $3 or more each year of Fall Festival.

$1 per year = a Yellow Leaf giver at $44
$2 per year = a Red Leaf giver at $88
$3 per year = an Orange Leaf giver at $132
Anything above this amount would be at the Gold Leaf level.

If you are a “regular,” it might be fun to consider what you would have spent at our Fall Festival 2020 – either as a participant or as a volunteer or a provider of goods to be sold. Participants eat, shop, ride, relax, bid, and enjoy the fellowship of friends and family. Supporters also enjoy fellowship as they bake, promote, stitch, recruit, decorate, set up, take down, drive, lead, greet, direct, park, deliver, clean, serve and dedicate hours and hours to make it all happen.

You may donate online or send a check to DuBois Center; 2651 Quarry Road; DuBois, IL 62831. Thank you for keeping the ministry of DuBois Center in your thoughts and prayers.

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Fall Festival Postponed

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As announced in early August, the annual DuBois Center Fall Festival has been postponed until the first Sunday in October 2021. This decision was made after careful and deliberate consideration. Our first priority is the health and safety of our campers, guests and staff. As COVID-19 cases rise steadily throughout Washington county, our region and across the nation, it is clear that to proceed with this event would not be the cautious or sensible approach. The amount of nearly constant disinfecting, crowd control and monitoring that would be required for a “safe” event, is not feasible.

THANKS to everyone who has already invested time and energy into this project. We are looking forward to celebrating together again in 2021.

St. Jacob UCC – Stack, Paint & Haul!

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On Sunday, a small but mighty crew from St. Jacob UCC headed to DuBois Center for a day of service. They unloaded and stacked 350-400 bales of hay, primed 43 boards and painted a number of posts, and moved and stacked wood. The hay is for the horses – obviously – but this year we had more than ever, and the team filled the hayloft in the barn and the hay shed. The boards and posts are for fencing – 300 feet of old fence was removed for the spillway renovation. The wood came from two precariously placed trees on the lake side of Coveside cottage which were removed earlier. All three projects were on our priority list, and the efforts of this group saved our staff many hours of work and speeded up the fence project significantly. It’s amazing what five people can do!

THANKS to the crew from St. Jacob for your hard work! It truly does make a difference. They also did a great job wearing face coverings and physical distancing when appropriate! There is always lots to be done to help maintain your outdoor ministry facilities and grounds and you can help! For more information, contact us at 618-787-2202 or dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org.

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Your Trash, Our Treasure

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Before storing your yard tools at the end of the summer gardening season, it might be good to take stock of just what has accumulated over the years – 4 trowels, 7 kneeling pads, 3 hoes, etc. Amazing – isn’t it?! Are there extras that are no longer needed to care for your garden? If yes, please consider donating them to DuBois Center. We have a random hand tool or two, but not enough to accommodate work projects for family groups, confirmation classes, scout troops, or other willing volunteers. We do have lots of full-sized rakes and shovels, but more tools specifically for garden work – planting, weeding and pruning – are needed. Think trowels, cultivators, hand weeders, hoes, small pruners and shrub rakes.

Contact DuBois Center for more information at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202, or consider a leisurely drive to DuBois, Illinois. Tools can be left on the front porch of the office. Thank you!

With a Little Help From Our Friends

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The last two weeks have been hot and busy at DuBois Center. Trees damaged by the storm in early August are slowly being cleared away and the deadfall removed. Wood to replace the fence near the new spill pipe area is being painted. Our bees are being tended. The new power washer is being put to the test. Storage areas are being cleared out and cleaned. Our electric company has been working on line issues. And hay is being baled and stored.

A SPECIAL THANKS to Andrew & Val Davis, Bob Goddard, John Pawloski, John Schettler, Carol & David Shanks, Tri-County Electric, and Josh and Tom our part-time caretakers! Your hard work and extra effort are greatly appreciated and truly do make a difference.

There is always lots to be done to maintain our outdoor ministry facilities and grounds and especially during these challenging times. Currently, there are more boards to be painted, storm damage to be cleared, hay to be stacked and areas to be cleaned. DuBois Center is a great place for physically distanced service projects in the outdoors. For more information, contact us at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

Joy and Sadness – A Letter from Shirley Asmussen

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September 9, 2020

Dear Friends and Partners in Ministry,

It is with great joy and great sadness that I announce my resignation as the Director of Outdoor Ministries, effective December 1, 2020. This decision has been percolating for the last 12-18 months. I turn 65 at the end of October and it’s time for new adventures and new challenges, as well as a little less stress and responsibility. I love working at DuBois Center and enjoy living at camp, but the last months have taken their toll. I am looking forward to spending quality time with friends and family, traveling and working on my bucket list – all with good safety precautions in place.

It has been a blessing and an honor to serve with you and to serve on your behalf. Thank you all so much for your support of the ministry of DuBois Center and my efforts. Over the past ten years, I have had the opportunity to work with, to be in community with, so many amazing people – our campers, guests and students, their families, our donors, and all the incredible staff and volunteers. I am sad that I won’t see one more Mother-Daughter Retreat, one more Summer Camp season or one more Father-Son Retreat. It’s been a rough year for all of us – but I will leave with so many great memories.

Despite the pandemic, there is still much to celebrate! DuBois Center truly is sacred ground – a place to be cherished. It is a wonderful space where people of all ages grow in their faith, live and work together in Christian community, learn about respect – respect for themselves and for others, and show God’s love by truly caring for all of creation. Together, we have been good stewards of the programs, grounds and facilities. The number of committed volunteers has grown significantly, and their efforts can be seen in every facet of life at DuBois Center. We have solid partnerships with Hoyleton Youth & Family Services and the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri. With the support of donors and volunteers, we have made a huge dent in the deferred maintenance list – the docks, the spillway, the tractor, the upgrades in Hickory Lodge… the list goes on.

While there is much to celebrate, there are also many challenges to be addressed. In my opinion, to move boldly through this decade, even more committed volunteers are needed. Capacity needs to be addressed; this is a critical piece for financial viability. Despite the work on deferred maintenance, there is still much more to be done. New partnerships need to be developed. And last, but not least, to advance and sustain these efforts, an effective staffing and support structure needs to be put into place. I have given my best effort, now it is time for fresh eyes and new energy at DuBois Center.

I wish all of you the very best as your ministry continues in this conference, your local church, at DuBois Center and with your neighbors – near and far. I close with two of my favorite quotes which encompass my hopes for you and the Illinois South Conference.

“We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly embracing one another.” Unknown

“Look Up, and Laugh, and Love and Lift.” adapted from Howard Walter

May God Bless and Keep You and Yours,

Shirley Asmussen, Director of Outdoor Ministries

Embrace a Space

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Join us to Embrace a Space! Is there a special spot at DuBois Center that you really enjoy or that brings back great memories? Are there specific work tasks that you especially enjoy? Individuals, families and groups are invited to make a commitment to a space at camp and return throughout the length of the commitment to work on that plot of earth, building or area.

The possibilities are nearly endless. Consider weeding and pruning the Rustic Chapel, painting the little hidden deck near Oak Lodge, or cleaning the Craft Grotto. Thinking bigger? Take on a building (a cottage) or a series of them (the cabins in Fish Ridge). All our buildings would appreciate some extra TLC! Over the decades, volunteers have been a significant piece of the ministry of DuBois Center.

With limited maintenance hours in general, and especially during the COVID-19 shut-down, there is a significant need for willing and able workers. Currently we have projects for individuals, family groups and small teams who agree to follow camp rules related to wearing masks and practicing good physical distancing. For more information, contact us at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618- 787-2202.

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The Great Escape

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The horses at DuBois Center are the most memorable part of camp for many. Some past campers, who are now in their 40s and 50s, can remember the names of their favorites and even which ones they rode each year. We love them, but just like children, they can be mischievous.

Last Sunday morning, a neighbor called to alert us of “The Great Escape.” The herd was found enjoying a leisurely Sunday morning brunch in our north fields. The fields, which had been freshly cut and baled, presented a smorgasbord too tempting to resist. Calls were made to semi-local camp staff and volunteers, and the horses were soon back inside the safety of our fences.

THANKS to Josh, Ryan and Tom for their extra effort!