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Summer Camp

Eagle Project

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At DuBois Center during May, guest groups are in and out nearly every week and weekend, and work crews tackle final projects before our busy summer season. On Memorial Day weekend, scouts from Troop 9, Ship 9 and Crew 9 took on a number of projects at the waterfront. They worked on erosion issues, cleared the trail between the swim beach and boating dock, and constructed a “landing” for benches and shoes. Campers now have a great place to stow their shoes before jumping in and heading for the water mat or loading into canoes.

Eagle Project2The estimated cost of the project was $841. Christ UCC, Belleville – home base for these scout groups – donated $180; pavers, blocks, food for the hungry workers and tools were also donated. The project was designed and the work coordinated by James Taylor as his Eagle Project. He enlisted the assistance of the St. Louis Job Corps cement pre-apprentice program, which provided the custom pavers. Making the pavers provided practice in forms, mixing concrete and finishing work for Jobs Corps members. A total of 26 people, including a number of troop members, assisted with the project. Together they logged 259 hours of service. THANKS to James, his crew and supporters! Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Know someone who might be interested in an Eagle Project at DuBois Center? The best time to contact us and begin the process is from Aug 15 – Sept 15.

Welcome Team – Join Us June 9

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Our summer season kicks off on Sunday, June 9 and we will be welcoming over 70 eager, excited and perhaps nervous campers and their families. In addition to our summer staff, 12-15 volunteers are needed to ensure the process runs smoothly!

Please consider joining our Sunday Welcome Team on Opening Day. Volunteers assist with greeting, parking, the camp store, registration, health screenings, dock duty and people-moving. They arrive by 1:15 pm and are done by 4 pm. Consider bringing a team from your church! All are invited to wear a church or camp t-shirt and show your spirit.

It is requested that you RSVP as far in advance as possible. Contact DuBois Center at 618-787-2202 or dcinfo@duboiscenter.org. FIRM commitments are greatly appreciated as we keep recruiting until the spots are filled. If this date doesn’t work for you, additional Sunday opportunities are available.

Prayers for our Camp Staff

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On Wednesday, May 29, our summer camp program staff officially arrived for nine days of intensive training covering topics such as health and safety, faith formation, activity leadership, behavior management and so much more! They came from local Illinois South Conference churches and from communities of faith around the world.

Please keep the leadership team, program staff and site staff in your thoughts and prayers. They have an awesome task in front of them! We also ask that you keep our international staff and their families close to your heart. These staff members have traveled from Finland, New Zealand, Peru, Poland and Tanzania, and will be far from their homes for three months and even longer for some. Thank you!

Meet Our Summer Staff – Ryan and Jack!

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Welcome back to Ryan Goetter from Collinsville and Jack Lockhart from Motueka, New Zealand!
Ryan – AKA Shark Bait – is returning for this fifth summer on staff. We celebrate his recent graduation from Missouri State University with his bachelors degree in music education and his new teaching position at DuQuoin Middle School. Another highlight – the designation of Ryan’s chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha as “Chapter of the Year.” An honor in itself, but even more so because Ryan was a founding brother early in his college career. Ryan is an active member of St. John UCC in Collinsville and long-term DuBois Center camper. His favorite childhood memories are from his adventures at camp. When asked why he has such a passion for working at DuBois Center, Ryan wrote, “I grew up at camp! It’s such an amazing and magical place and I want an opportunity to give the kids a great experience like I had!”
Jack – AKA Chip – is returning for his second summer on staff. He had such an incredible time last year, he couldn’t wait to return! Jack is a certified lifeguard, and volunteers with the rural fire department back home. Serving others is in his DNA. Jack is excited to be back at DuBois Center because he loves the “family atmosphere” and wants to gain more experience working with young people and families. His goal after completing university is to work with youth in the criminal justice system to make a difference while there is still an opportunity for significant life changes. Jack enjoys all camp activities – especially those involving water or horses. He was a rookie last summer, but quickly grew his grooming, tacking and riding skills.
5_31 Staff 2

Peace Works – This Year’s Camp Theme

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What do the parables of the Great Feast and the Good Samaritan have in common with Bible verses about Spiritual Gifts and sharing God’s Peace, or the stories about Isaac blessing Jacob and Jesus washing the feet of the Disciples? All have something to do with love, peace or reconciliation, and the work required to build a peace-filled world “on earth as it is in heaven.” This summer, scripture will be paired with words from around the globe such as Aloha, Agape, Heiwa, Shalom and Ubuntu as we explore how each of us can be faithful peace-makers. For more information view our brochure online.

Meet our Summer Staff – Rachel, Catie and Georgia

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Welcome Rachel Kinzinger, Catie Goetter and Georgia Agan to our 2019 summer staff leadership team! Rachel is returning for her 9th summer on staff and will be serving as our Program Coordinator. This will be Catie’s third and Georgia’s first summers on staff, and they will both be serving as Program Specialists with our riding program.

Rachel’s home church is St. John’s UCC in New Athens, where she is on the Board of Christian Ed and works with the youth group. She just completed her third year as a special education teacher at Marissa Jr-Sr High School. Rachel wrote, “Camp has always been home to me, from the time I was a young camper. It’s brought me friends, laughter and lifelong memories!” Her favorite things about camp include watching campers try new things, overcome their fears and homesickness, and fall in love with DuBois Center just like she did!

Catie just completed her junior year at Missouri State where she is majoring in elementary education. She is from Maryville, IL and grew up attending St. John UCC in Collinsville. She now regularly attends Schweitzer UMC in Springfield, MO. At school, Catie is a section leader for the MSU marching band and is a child care provider for the park district. When asked what she loves about camp, Catie replied “as a camper, I loved all of the activities, being in nature, and meeting new people. As a staff member, I love watching and helping kids overcome fears (because I still have some too), try new things, and become passionate about camp.”

Georgia is a local girl from Venedy, IL. She has experience working with children and youth in a variety of settings. Georgia studies general agriculture with a focus in equine at Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College, where she barrel races and is a member of the school’s rodeo team. Her mom had her on a horse since before she could walk, and she has been passionate about horses ever since. Georgia was blessed to find a wonderful faith community in Oklahoma. She attends Miami Friends Church which is a very small, close-knit congregation. Georgia is “so excited to work at DuBois this summer, because I remember my experience as a camper, and I had the time of my life!”

MIDDLE SCHOOLERS in Main Camp – June 16-21

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It’s Middle Schoolers ONLY in main camp the week of June 16-21 – middle school fun from the comfort of the main camp cottages. Whether it’s a camper’s first summer or fifth, there will be new adventures for everyone. Along with family group activities, there will be a number of “choice times” when campers pick from a variety of fun activities. They can get super crafty, spend some leisurely time fishing, try a bit of sport from the other side of the pond with Kwik Cricket, learn about another country, take aim at the archery range, explore the trails and the creek, or hang with the horses.

Middle School campersThere are two great options from which to choose: Splash! – with a special focus on water-based activities, and Trail Mix – a great mix of DuBois favorites. To learn more, pick up a camp brochure at your UCC church or download one. To receive a brochure by mail, contact DuBois Center at 618-787-2202 or dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org. Ready to register? Click here.

We Still Need Volunteers!

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Volunteers are the heart of strong and healthy outdoor ministry programs. At DuBois Center, volunteers serve throughout the year on committees and teams, at the barn, in the office, on work projects, as retreat leaders and fund raisers. During the summer, there are a variety of ways to be involved and make a difference in the lives of the young people we serve. Join us for a few hours on a Sunday afternoon, a couple days during the week, or a full session of camp. Volunteers work hand-in-hand with paid summer staff to provide our fun, engaging and faith-filled program.
Summer 2019 opportunities include:
● Cabin Counselor
● Chaplain
● Nurse
● Barn Helper
● Sunday Welcome Team
● Activity Specialist
● Photographer

Contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202 with questions. More information and volunteer applications can be found here. We hope to see you at DuBois this summer!

Sign Up for Camp!

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There are still openings throughout the summer and lots of new friends to be made! But don’t delay, spots are filling quickly, and a number of sessions are already full. To learn more about summer camp at DuBois Center, check out the camp brochure online or pick one up at your UCC church. To have a brochure sent by mail, contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202. Click here to register online.

Meet Our Summer Staff – Kristian, Laura and Bailey

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Welcome Kristian Avise-Rouse, Laura Renken and Bailey Reichert (pictured above, left to right) to our 2019 summer camp leadership team! This will be Kristian’s fourth and Laura’s third summers on staff – both will be serving as Village Coordinators. Bailey will serve as our Waterfront Coordinator during her second summer on staff this year.
Kristian is from Waterloo, IL and attends Epiphany UCC in St. Louis. He is a student at Illinois Wesleyan University, where he is focusing on music education. His goal is to become a high school choir director. Growing up, Kristian looked forward to going to camp every summer. His favorite part now is “watching kids build lifelong friendships like I was able to do during my many years as a camper!”
Laura studies elementary education at Eastern Illinois University; her goal is to teach second or third grade. She is from Hamel, IL and is an active member of Salem UCC in Alhambra. Laura loves working with children and was a regular Vacation Bible School and summer camp volunteer before joining our staff. Camp has been a second home for Laura since she was a young camper. “It is a safe place where I feel free to explore my faith and be myself. My favorite part of camp is the people that you make connections with when you come together.”
Bailey grew up in Columbia, IL and her home church is St. Paul UCC in Columbia. She is also a student at Illinois Wesleyan University, where she studies biology and psychology. After graduation, she has her sights set on graduate school and a career as a Physician’s Assistant. Some of her favorite things are coffee, swimming and female empowerment. Bailey volunteered for two summers at camp before joining our staff. Bailey loves “watching campers learn to love camp just as much as she does and seeing the impact it has on them!”
Welcome back Kristian, Bailey and Laura!