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Summer Camp

Summer Camp Staff – Kristian

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Welcome back Kristian Avise-Rouse! Kristian is returning for his second summer as a Counselor/Activity Specialist. His home base is Columbia, IL where he is a member (and ‘Pastor’s Kid’) at St. Paul UCC. Kristian attended summer camp and youth events at DuBois Center regularly while growing up. He attributes much of who he is to his weeks as a camper and his first summer as a counselor.

Kristian’s previous work with children and youth includes an internship with the Actor’s Attic’s Musical-in-a-Week program and various church activities. Currently, he studies nursing at Illinois Wesleyan University. He also runs for the school’s cross country and track & field teams, sings in the school’s choir, takes voice lessons, plays trombone for pep band and is involved in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Kristian’s favorite part of summer camp is “the love!” Kristian is amazed by the number of campers, staff and volunteers who “…bring and share so much love for one place full of amazing people.” He says, “It truly is the happiest place on Earth (sorry, Disney World)!!” Kristian knows he will always cherish the memories, friendships and laughter of camp and is very excited to return. Kristian will be taking a short break from camp this summer to serve as one of your ISCUCC delegates to General Synod.

Camps Perfect for Younger Children

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Children who have completed grades 1–3 are often looking for ways to gain independence and experience life like the “big kids.” Parents are looking for opportunities for their children to gain self-confidence, critical social skills and a greater awareness of God’s world. At DuBois Center, we have six part-week sessions designed with this in mind.

New adventures under the watchful eyes of caring, safety conscious leaders and smaller group sizes are ideal for this age group. Despite the length of these sessions, there is still time to ride a horse, explore the creek, swim in the lake and make lots of new friends. This summer, choose from Boy Meets Camp, Camp Quest, Discovery Camp or Girl Power. These sessions vary a bit in length and/or content:

Younger Children 2Camp Quest – June 14, 16 & June 28 – 30: Offers a taste of camp life from Wednesday afternoon to Friday afternoon.

Discovery Camp – June 25 – 27 & July 16 – 18: Slightly longer than Camp Quest, campers arrive Sunday afternoon and leave Tuesday evening after dinner.

Boy Meets Camp – July 19 – 21: Just for the boys and packed with camp adventures!

Girl Power – July 23 – 26: Laugh, dance, play and explore – all in the spirit of sisterhood!

Check out page 6 of the camp brochure for more details. And, remember, the early bird deadline is tomorrow (April 5)! Register online or drop a form in the mail to save $20 on these part-week sessions.

Register NOW to Save on Camp Fees

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All you need to be singing a happy Early Bird tune is a completed 2017 Camp Registration Form and $50 non-refundable deposit. Save $20 on full-week sessions and $10 on part-week sessions. Postmark or submit registration and deposit online by April 5. Any UCC “church share” of the camp fee may be paid separately. For added convenience we can bill churches for all their campers at one time.

To receive a summer camp brochure – check in your church office, click here, or contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

Meet our Summer Staff – Pieter

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Welcome Pieter Fourie to DuBois Center’s 2017 summer staff team! He will be serving as a Counselor/Activity Specialist. Pieter lives in Pretoria, South Africa and speaks both English and Afrikaans fluently. He currently works as a camp counselor at Sugar Bay Holiday Camp, where he has developed skills in a wide variety of camp activities. He has significant experience in child care, behavior and conflict management, team building and lifeguarding.

An aspiring actor, Pieter loves to entertain family and friends; he often plans games and activities for family gatherings. In his free time, he auditions for acting roles. He also enjoys traveling, learning about other cultures and soccer.

This summer Pieter hopes to “teach [campers] new skills, form bonds, grow true friendships and encourage others to do what they dream to do.” He is very excited to bring his skills and talents to DuBois Center and to gain many more while serving with us. Ask him about Poi Spinning! Pieter is a Christian who walks his talk, as reflected in these excerpts from one of his references: “He is a young man of upstanding character… Pieter is charming, honest and has a sound set of values. He is courteous and humble… He is principled and lives his life by Christian values.”

We are looking forward to Pieter’s arrival in May!

Volunteer at Camp this Summer!

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Volunteers are the heart of strong and healthy Outdoor Ministry programs. At DuBois Center, they serve throughout the year on committees and teams, at the barn, in the office, on work projects, leading retreats and raising funds.

During the summer, there are a variety of ways to get 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 week of camp. Volunteers work hand in hand with paid summer staff to provide our fun, engaging and faith-filled program. For more information, contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202. Additional information and volunteer applications are available here.

Summer Volunteer Options:

  • Cabin Counselor
  • Barn Helper
  • Activity Leader
  • Chaplain
  • Nurse
  • Photographer
  • Sunday Welcome Team

Those looking to volunteer who are 15 – 16 should consider the CIT (Counselor in Training) program, June 25-30.

We Need a Golf Cart!

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Planning to replace your golf cart this spring? Have one that is just taking up space? DuBois Center is in need of a 4-seat golf cart – gas or electric. Our nurses currently use a two-seat gator to respond to medical situations and deliver medication. If a camper needs to be transported back to the health center for treatment, there is no room for a third person.

Renting a golf cart for the summer is very expensive, so we are exploring other options. You can help with this critical need and, perhaps, save some on your taxes. Donations are tax-deductible. For more information contact Shirley at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202. Thanks in advance!

Meet Our Summer Staff – Ryan

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Welcome, Ryan Goetter, to our 2017 team! This will be his third season on summer staff. Ryan grew up near Collinsville IL, an avid member of his high school band and active member of St. John Evangelical UCC. He attended summer camp at DuBois Center for many years, including our C.I.T. (Counselors in Training) program in 2013. While in high school, Ryan volunteered as a teacher for 4-H groups. That experience has proven to be valuable as DuBois Center began partnering with 4-H of Southern Illinois for their summer camp program. This summer, Ryan will be coordinating our staff team for that endeavor. In addition to serving as a Counselor/Activity Specialist for DuBois Center, Ryan also counsels for Camp Phoenix, the summer camp for the Episcopal Dioceses of Missouri.

Ryan is a student at Missouri State University where he studies Instrumental Music Education. This has given him even more experience working with youth through practicum credit hours. On campus, Ryan works in the business office of the medical clinic and is actively involved in Lambda Chi Alpha. He is the Director for Drug and Alcohol Awareness for the MSU chapter of FSLSA (Fraternity and Sorority Leaders of Social Awareness).

Ryan is passionate about summer camp – from the magical “escape from the real world” to the wacky songs and the spirit-filled worship circles. The wonderful, often off-beat, interactions with campers and the enduring friendships with fellow staff members – he loves it all!

Early Bird Registration Deadline – April 5

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In less than three months, the first week of summer camp at DuBois Center will be in full swing! It’s time to THINK SUMMER! Register for 2017 Summer Adventures by the Early Bird Deadline and save $20 on full-week sessions and $10 on part-week sessions. Completed registration (online or by mail) and non-refundable deposit are required for this discount. The Early Bird Deadline this year is Wednesday, April 5.

View the brochure online or download it along with a registration form. You may also contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202 to receive these by mail, or register online here.

Meet Our Summer Staff – Meredith

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Introducing Meredith Ellis, one of our returning Counselor/Activity Specialists! Meredith grew up in Glen Carbon, IL and is an active member of Troy United Methodist Church. She first came to DuBois Center for summer camp with a friend when she was in the sixth grade. She instantly loved it and returned year after year as a camper. In 2013, she participated in our CIT (Counselor in Training) program and then volunteered the next year. She dedicated the summer of 2016 to serving on our summer staff.

She has “wanted to be a counselor ever since [she] was a camper” and had an amazing experience in that role last summer. She is looking forward to “being back in such a beautiful place” and seeing her past campers again! Meredith’s experience, beyond camp, includes working with family programs and teaching youth tennis lessons at the YMCA. When not at camp, Meredith studies Political Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. At school, she is a student worker at her university library and is involved in campus ministry, a campus sexual assault education program and Alpha Delta Pi. In her free time she likes to read and drink tea. Welcome Meredith to our 2017 summer staff team!

Meredith Ellis

Job Opening – Summer Barn Coordinator

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Enjoy working with children? Have significant experience with horses and barn management? Apply NOW to be a member of the DuBois Center summer staff team. We are searching for a hard-working, early-rising, horse-loving individual to lead our summer barn team as Barn Coordinator. You’ll get to work hands-on with the horses all summer, and will also have the chance to lead campers as well as fellow staff members.

Click here for general information on joining summer staff, and download the position description for more details. Learn more by contacting the DuBois Center office at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-22202.