Summer Camp Updates: M.A.D. camp cancelled – additional Settler camp added

M.A.D. camp for this summer has been cancelled due to low registration.

An additional Settler camp session has been added – July 10-15.  Settler camps are a classic summer camp for campers who have completed grades 3, 4, 5 or equivalent.  Register today!

The three other Settler camps are full.

Dreaming of Hillside Cottage

Take a look at this picture. Squint your eyes a bit and let yourself dream for a moment. This is the future site of Hillside Cottage, the crown jewel of the DuBois 6.0 campaign. This is where a new 20-person living and meeting space is going to be, just off the road to Coveside Cottage. It will be ADA compliant and solar powered, and just about 1,400 sq. ft. It’s going to be built with as much volunteer labor and recycled/ upcycled materials as we can muster.

Hillside Cottage will add to our overnight guest capacity, and that adds to our bottom line. As with the other projects in DuBois 6.0, this is the time for us to move. Our campaign has been in motion for only 6 ½ months of a 14 ½ month effort. We’re at 74% of our $225,290 goal. Can we do this? Of course, we can. We’ve got a good camp year on the horizon, and an even brighter future. We value our camp, and we’re investing in it. We look forward to reaching this goal, and actually exceeding it. There are projects waiting in the wings that will continue adding to our programming, capabilities, and capacity.

What can you do to support DuBois 6.0?

  • Volunteer to work on a project – the Property Committee would welcome your help.
  • Make a personal or congregational donation – we can take everything from cash to stock and cryptocurrency.
  • And while you’re at it, put our outdoor ministry center in your prayers for both a safe summer filled with fun and a successful capital campaign.

We’re building faith, building capacity and building for the next 60 years.

Meet our summer leadership staff!

My name is Laura or Twig as I am better known by my camp family. My pronouns are she/her. I have spent the last two years living in Champaign, Illinois, and teaching 4th grade, but I am excited to be moving closer to home this summer and exploring other opportunities to work with young people. A fun fact about me is that I got a cat in October! Her name is Althea, and she loves to cuddle (when she’s not biting my hands).

I am also thrilled to be returning to DuBois Center, it is what I like to call the “home of my soul.” I love being at camp and helping it continue to be a welcoming and accepting place for people to grow and be themselves.

It’s not too late to have the best summer of your life!

We still have two openings for summer camp counselors and one or two barn staff! This is the perfect summer job for anyone who loves the outdoors, working with campers, helping others, and meeting new people.

A summer working at camp includes a full summer of room & board, competitive pay,10 days of paid staff training, and lifelong memories! View the full job description and job descriptions on our website! We are on track to have record attendance this summer, so please come be part of our history!

Please contact Rylee at Program@DuBoisCenter.org – or Hayley at Director@DuBoisCenter.org for more information! The deadline to apply is May 16, 2022.

Meet Our Summer Leadership Staff

Summer Barn Coordinator – Catie Goetter (Simba)

My name is Catie and my camp name is Simba. My pronouns are she/her. In the real world I teach 3rd grade in Triad. This year, I adopted a cat named Oliver who is more like a dog than a cat. I spend a lot of time at camp outside of summer – hosting and with the horse team. A fun fact about me is that I just went to my first Blues game this season and I’m in love.

I am SO excited to be the summer barn coordinator again this summer and try out so many new specialty activities for our horse camps this summer.

Meet Our Summer Leadership Staff

Summer Unit Coordinator – Leah Hill (Kermit)

I’m Kermit and my real name is Leah, although sometimes I forget I have a real name. My pronouns are she/her. I just graduated with a Bachelors in Social Work and I am starting my master’s in social work in the fall. After I get my master’s, I want to do school social work which also means I could work at camp forever!

I love drawing, spicy food, video games, and hanging out with my dog! Camp is my favorite place in the world and just as I looked forward to coming every year as a camper, I am even more excited as summer staff! Yee haw!

We Are Still Hiring

We still need to fill several spots for counselors this summer! Our counselors are competitively paid and room and board is provided. Our 10-day, paid staff training has been revamped to provide real-world skill building and leadership opportunities. And, with a record number of registrations, there’s never been a better time to be a part of the ministry of DuBois Center. Please contact Rylee at program@duboiscenter.org or Hayley at director@duboiscenter.org SOON as spots for counselors will fill up quickly!

WE WANT YOU to be part of our summer ministry!

DuBois 6.0 Campaign

Building Faith, Building Capacity, Building For The Next 60 Years

Goal – $225,290

DuBois Center will turn 60 in 2022, marking the year we took ownership of the land. While the first 60 years have been great, she needs some maintenance and expansion to get her ready for the next 60.

This treasure is the heart of the Illinois South Conference, where thousands of campers have experienced God and creation over the past six decades. Some found their calling to ministry there. Others found summer after summer of fun and friendship. Think of the retreats, the worship, the secrets shared and the children’s laughter. So much life has occurred under the rustling leaves at DuBois Center. Now it’s time for us to prepare for the next 60 years, by improving what we have and getting ready for the future.

Please give generously. Donate to DuBois 6.0.

 

 

Reflecting on Outdoor Ministry

As a member of the Outdoor Ministry Association of the UCC’s board of directors, I had an opportunity to travel to Tower Hill Camp and Retreat Center last week for our annual board meeting. As a person responsible for creating inclusive camp communities, sometimes, I forget how transformational it is to be a part of such a community. Often, those of us who have gone into this work in a year-round or full time capacity don’t get to experience the magical moments that camp creates. As we reflected together on what makes camping ministry transformational and relevant, I got to experience many moments that reminded me of the sacredness of this work and the importance of belonging. And, I was reminded once more how the people of Illinois South Conference have taken part in many big ways in preserving and extending this vital ministry. To name a few:

  1. After COVID-19 shut down camp for more than a year, the people of Illinois South and our Outdoor Ministry Team worked tirelessly with me last year to get to a place where we could reopen for our summer camping season.
  2. We have raised more than $165,000 toward our $225,000 goal for DuBois 6.0. At a time when many churches are choosing not to invest in their camps, we are fixing deferred maintenance, adding capacity, and increasing programming offerings.
  3. Our teams have worked tirelessly to write new health center policies to ensure full compliance with camp standards and best practices.
  4. Each day, we work collectively to build more inclusive practices. We are actively living into our commitments of hospitality, welcome, and inclusion as UCCers.

It is a gift to be a part of a team that sees the value in camping ministry. Thank you for all of the ways you stay involved with DuBois Center and the work of the wider church.

Hayley Elliott, Acting Director of Outdoor Ministry