Meet our Summer Staff – Ryan Goetter

Posted on March 28, 2018 by DuBois Office — No Comments ↓

Welcome Ryan Goetter to our 2018 leadership team! This will be Ryan’s fourth summer on staff. He will be serving as a village coordinator – supervising and supporting our counselors and campers, as well as coordinating activities and special events. Ryan grew up near Collinsville IL; he was an active member of St. John Evangelical UCC and an avid member of his high school band. He attended summer camp at DuBois Center for many years, including our CIT (Counselors in Training) program.

Ryan currently attends Missouri State University where he studies Instrumental Music Education. He has especially enjoyed his recent practicum experiences. During the school year he works at the Taylor Health and Wellness Center. His focus is student wellness programming, including coordinating a variety of special events. Ryan is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi – an honorary band service fraternity and a founding member of Lambda Chi Alpha. He has served his fraternity as the Director for Drug and Alcohol Awareness for the MSU chapter of FSLSA (Fraternity and Sorority Leaders of Social Awareness). Ryan has a great mentor in his father who is always involved in whatever Ryan and his sister Catie are doing.

Ryan loves the smell of fast food and the taste of hot wings. All 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 wanted an opportunity to give the kids a great experience like I had!” The wonderful, often off-beat, interactions with campers and the enduring friendships with fellow staff members (his camp family) – he loves it all! One more important thing you should know about Ryan – he absolutely loves Pentatonix Christmas music and chances are he’ll be heard humming those tunes throughout the summer.

Early Bird Deadline in Less Than Two Weeks!

Posted on March 23, 2018 by Dubois Center — No Comments ↓

Do you have your 2018 summer camp registration in yet?

All you need to be singing a happy “Early Bird” tune is a completed 2018 Summer Camp Registration Form and $50 non-refundable deposit. Save $20 on full-week sessions and $10 on part-week sessions.

Register and pay online, or postmark your registration form and deposit by April 5. If your church pays part of the camp fee, we will send them an invoice later in the summer.

To receive a summer camp brochure – check in your church office, view it online, download it along with this registration form, or contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

Meet Our Summer Staff – Laura

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Dubois Center — No Comments ↓

Welcome Laura Renken to our 2018 summer staff team! This will be Laura’s second summer on staff; she will again be serving as a Counselor/Activity Specialist and utilizing her skills as a seasoned lifeguard.

Laura hails from Hamel, Illinois and is an active member of Salem UCC in Alhambra. She is a student at Eastern Illinois University where she is studying elementary education. At school, she is active in a Bible study group that has helped her to grow in her ability to share and discuss her faith with others. They have also, “helped me a lot with being proud of my faith and not feeling like I needed to hide my faith in order to fit in. I can be proud of who I am and who God has made me to be.”

When asked about future plans, five years from now, Laura hopes to be teaching second or third grade. Not a surprise! Working with children has long been a priority for her. Before serving on our summer staff, Laura was a regular VBS volunteer. She also completed our Counselors in Training (CIT) Program and served as a camp volunteer.

Laura is returning this summer because, “Working with the campers was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.” Her favorite place at camp is Meditation Point. She loves seeing all the stars and the lake at night in a “very humbling place” where she feels “immersed in God’s presence.” In addition to starry nights, Laura loves swimming in the summer and biking whenever it’s warm outside. She likes to doodle, knit, crochet, sing and practice her ukulele and guitar. Her favorite foods are oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, watermelon and grapes – all staples at summer camp.

Summer Jobs – Apply Now!

Posted on March 18, 2018 by DuBois Office — No Comments ↓

Is this the year for more than just another summer job? DuBois Center is searching for fun-loving and child-focused individuals with a heart for ministry to serve on our summer staff. Amazing memories + resume building skills = a summer to remember. Check out the Summer of Service flier and consider whether serving outdoors with a dynamic team might be just the opportunity for you. Open positions include cabin counselors, barn staff and coordinators. Lifeguard certification is a plus for all positions.

Questions? Contact Shirley at shirley.director@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202. Application packets are available online or can be sent by email or mail.

Block Party! – Sunday, May 6

Posted on March 18, 2018 by DuBois Office — No Comments ↓

We’re having a Block Party in the Rustic Village and your middle and high school youth groups are invited! Join DuBois Center staff and volunteers for an afternoon of fun, food, games, contests and music. One of the best parts – IT’S FREE. We’ll roast hot dogs and make s’mores, meet some of the horses, and explore the Rustic Village. Whether you are a DuBois Center camper or not, you’re invited! Load up right after church, grab some lunch and head to camp.We’ll be on the move from 1-4:30 pm, but arrive when you can.

Youth must be accompanied by adult chaperones or parents. RSVP by Monday, April 30 – we need to stock the coolers and send permission forms. For more information or to RSVP, check out this flier or contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

Why Church Camp?

Posted on March 16, 2018 by DuBois Office — No Comments ↓

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.

Learn more in our Summer Camp brochure.

Meet our Summer Staff!

Posted on March 14, 2018 by DuBois Office — 1 Comment ↓

Oftentimes, due to the visa application process, international staff are hired long before our local summer staff. This week, we would like to introduce another of our 2018 team members from overseas… Alice McKinnon from Carlton, Australia. Alice is very excited to be joining us as a Counselor/Activity Specialist and is looking forward to learning more about our country and culture.

She is passionate about being outdoors, staying fit and a variety of land and water sports. Alice camps, plays netball and volleyball, studies dance – ballet, jazz and contemporary, bikes and swims. She has experience working with children and peers in a variety of capacities – babysitter, coach, mentor and teacher assistant. One of her references wrote, “Alice is an enthusiastic dynamic young woman. She lights up a room with her happy disposition.” She attended Catholic schools growing up and embraces and practices the “mercy values” she was taught. She believes that faith helps you to be “the very best version of you.”

Alice considers herself very lucky to have traveled a fair amount with her family. Their adventures include Bali, Thailand, Fiji, Tasmania, the United States and Canada. She has also traveled around coastal and inland Australia. Did you know that Australia is about the same size as the continental USA, but with a population closer to that of Texas? Favorite foods? Fresh fruit “and of course chocolate.” She absolutely adores dogs and loves watching American TV series.

Welcome to the team, Alice!

Summer Job Opportunities!

Posted on March 11, 2018 by Dubois Center — No Comments ↓

Looking for a summer job that’s fulfilling as well as resume-building? Love being outdoors and working with kids? DuBois Center is hiring energetic, caring, fun and safety-focused individuals for our summer staff.

Out of our pool of Counselor/Activity Specialists, we try and hire at least seven to eight who are also lifeguards. Our waterfront program is based on the idea that the best fun is also safe, and our staff works hard to ensure that environment. Lifeguarding classes include the required First Aid and CPR training, and lifeguards are paid a little extra over the course of the summer to recoup the cost of the course.

For more information, check out our website page or email shirley.director@DuBoisCenter.org.

Summer Brochures are Coming!

Posted on March 9, 2018 by Dubois Center — No Comments ↓

It’s that time of year again – DuBois Center’s summer camp brochures are HOT off the presses and will be finding their way to your mailboxes and churches soon! Inside the brochure, you’ll find details on camp weeks, dates, this year’s theme and much more.

If you don’t receive a brochure and would like one, please contact the office at 618-787-2202 or dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org to be added to the mailing list, or check out the digital version on our website.

Why International Staff?

Posted on March 8, 2018 by Dubois Center — No Comments ↓

Have you ever wondered why we hire international staff? The answer is easy – because they’re great!

Each summer, DuBois Center recruits four to six international staff members, both through recruiting agencies and from Eden Seminary. Recently, they’ve journeyed from Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Poland, South Africa and the United Kingdom. With accents that make them easily approachable and stories about life in their home countries, it’s easy to see why our international staffers are much beloved by campers and American staff alike. We appreciate the perspectives they bring, the games and songs they teach us, and the unique opportunities they provide just by spending the summer at DuBois Center.

Summer Camp