Remember the super cute “Max & Duke” quilt? The Happy Quilters of St. John UCC in Mascoutah raised $2,003 toting it from church to church and selling tickets this spring. St. John UCC matched the amount raised dollar for dollar, bringing the total donation to $4,006. AMAZING! Thanks so much to Kay, Nancy, Marion, Treva, Muriel and Beth for all their hard work and to St. John UCC for their support.
Thanks also to the following churches for hosting the traveling quilt on a Sunday morning: Christ UCC, Dupo; St John UCC, Fairview Heights; St John UCC, Trenton; St. Paul UCC, Lebanon; St Peter’s UCC, Okawville; and Zion UCC, New Baden. The traveling team… “enjoyed meeting new people and worshiping with them; they were so welcoming and supportive. It is a great experience.”
Ticket sales wrapped up at the church’s annual Quilt Show in April, which was again quite the event with over 200 quilts on display and activities for novice and skilled quilters alike. The lucky winner was Michael Engelman of Mascoutah. The big winner was DuBois Center.
In the story of the vine and the branches, we learn that we have two responsibilities: staying connected to the vine and bearing fruit. Join us this summer as we discover ways to do both! With daily scriptures to guide us, we will explore the vineyard and ways to experience God’s love as we grow as branches. We’ll practice seeing with our hearts, listening for God and reconnecting with Jesus, ourselves and friends at camp. It will be a grand adventure, grounded by deep roots and braced by our strong vine – Jesus Christ.
Welcome Laura Renken to the 2017 summer staff team! Laura hails from Hamel, Illinois and is a member of Salem UCC in Alhambra, where she sings in the praise team choir. She has also served as a Vacation Bible School volunteer for at least the last 5 years. Laura attended summer camp at DuBois Center for a number of years. She completed our Counselors in Training (CIT) Program in 2014 and last summer volunteered as a cabin counselor.
When not at camp, Laura is student at Eastern Illinois University where she is studying elementary education. She also works at the front desk of her dorm. Her favorites include: smell – spearmint, color – sky blue, food – tacos, and she loves to sing.
Her favorite childhood memories include summers swimming at her grandparents’ and coming to camp. “I loved coming to Camp DuBois growing up, and it was always a dream of mine to work here when I got older. I always felt that this was a place of love and acceptance where I could really be myself. I wanted to have the opportunity to make Camp DuBois that place for other people as well. I am excited to make memories with everyone and to be a part of such a loving community. I am excited to get to know my campers and to play games and sing songs. I am excited that God has granted me the opportunity to work in a place that means so much to me.”
Older youth (completed grades 8-12) take over the Rustic Village June 18-23. Two great options – Wrangler and X-Plore! Highlights of the week include great experiences with your family group, meaningful worship and study times, and choice activities to customize your week.
Choice activities are a great way to spend time doing things you love – or maybe discovering a new passion – while making new friends or hanging out with old friends in other family groups. Opt to climb a tree, ride horseback in “the bottoms,” get super crafty, fish at Deer Run or get “sporty” with International staff. Adventure Tree is back! Meals on Rustic are back! In fact, this year most meals during this week will be served in the Rustic Village – less walking, more community time!
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 – sessions are filling quickly.
It was a soggy Earth Day, but nothing dampened the spirits of the hardworking crew that turned out for the April Service Saturday. A HUGE THANKS to volunteers from Christ UCC in Dupo, Evangelical UCC in Highland, St. Jacob UCC and St. Paul UCC in Waterloo.
Painting projects ranged from fence boards and picnic table seats to cottage bathrooms. Grimy chairs were deep cleaned, drop ceiling tiles replaced, and new fascia installed on some of the rustic cabins. This down and dirty work makes a significant difference! We are thankful for the new friends and their gifts of time and talent.
Welcome Olivia Cruthis to DuBois Center’s 2017 summer staff team! Olivia is an avid swimmer, lifeguard and horse lover – all helpful traits when serving as a Counselor /Activity Specialist. She is from Lebanon, Illinois and is a DuBois Center veteran, attending summer camp for nine years, including our CIT – Counselor in Training program in 2014. Last summer, Olivia returned to volunteer as a camp counselor.
A student at Illinois College, she is majoring in secondary English education, with a music and theatre minor. She is also on the swimming and diving teams there. Olivia loves gymnastics, reading, artistic endeavors and Mexican food. It’s not unusual to find her singing (perhaps even screaming) and dancing to Disney tunes in her dorm room.
An active member of St. John UCC in Mascoutah, Olivia credits Rachael Berth, Minister of Youth and Christian Education, with nurturing her on her faith journey. “[She] has inspired me since she walked into my life when I was a freshman in high school; we were in the church choir together. She has helped me strengthen my relationship with God as well as help me find who I truly am.”
Olivia can’t wait to spend the summer “praising God with all the kids and staff.” She applied for the position because she loved camp so much as a kid, and as she got older, she saw the impact that the DuBois staff had on the campers and she wanted “to be a part of this amazing group of people.”
In honor of these curious crustaceans, enjoy these fun facts: