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Family Camp – July 21-24

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Don’t let the kids have all the fun this summer! For this camp, the whole gang’s invited! The relaxed atmosphere and flexible activity sign-ups allow you to set your own pace – from the waterfront to the barn, from the Craft Grotto to the creek. Take time for an afternoon nap or wake up early for a hike to your favorite fishing spot. Family members participate in most activities together. DuBois Center provides activity leadership, families provide supervision of family members.

Pricing varies depending on the age of the family members, your choice of lodging (Hickory Lodge, Main Camp Cottages or even Rustic Cabins), and the number of people in the living unit. There are different flat rates for each type of living unit. Whether you have 3 or 8 in a Rustic Cabin – the lodging price is the same. Whether you have 3 or 8 on a side of a main camp cottage – the lodging price is the same. Add the per person charge for meals and program fees and you’ve got the total. Check out the Reservation Form for specifics. Reservation and registration is by MAIL and EMAIL ONLY this year. Lodging will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

WELCOME TEAM — Join Us! This Sunday, June 9

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It’s time! Our summer camp season kicks off this Sunday and over 70 eager, excited and perhaps nervous campers and their families will make the trek to DuBois Center. In addition to our summer staff, 12-15 volunteers are needed to ensure the process runs smoothly! Volunteers assist with greetings, parking, the camp store, registration, health screenings, dock duty and people-moving. They arrive by 1:15 pm and are done by 4 pm.

Please consider joining our Sunday Welcome Team on Opening Day. You are invited to wear a church or camp t-shirt and show your spirit. Even consider bringing a team from your church! RSVP by Wednesday to 618-787-2202 or dcinfo@duboiscenter.org. If this date doesn’t work for you, consider June 16, July 7 or July 14.

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.

Summer Camp Volunteers Needed

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Consider a week (or even a few days) at DuBois Center and join our Summer Camp 2019 team! Wanted: fun, engaging and caring volunteers to serve as nurses, cabin counselors, activity specialists and barn helpers. Minimum age is 18 for most positions; young adults and older adults are welcome. Give of your time and talent, make a difference and gain a wonderful sense of satisfaction!

For more information, go to the volunteer page of our web site or contact Shirley at shirley.director@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

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.

Make New Friends – 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 618-787-2202 or dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org.

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

THANKS to the Happy Quilters and St. John UCC in Mascoutah

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The Happy Quilters of St. John UCC in Mascoutah have done it once again! Each year this group creates a beautiful kid-friendly quilt to celebrate and raise funds for DuBois Center. But that’s just the beginning! Teams of quilters then hit the road and visit churches throughout the conference on Sunday mornings bringing goodwill and selling quilt tickets. Ticket sales raised $1760. St. John UCC matched this amount dollar for dollar, bringing the total donation to $3520. This year, the proceeds are designated for the spillway and AC projects that comprise Operation Shimmer.

Thanks so much to the Happy Quilters (Kay, Beth, Nancy, Marion, Muriel, Treva, Dorothy, Lou Ann and Kim) for all their hard work and to all the members of St. John UCC in Mascoutah for their support. Thanks also to the following churches for hosting the traveling quilt: Christ UCC in Dupo, Grantfork UCC in Grantfork, St John UCC in Trenton, St. Paul UCC in Lebanon, St Peter’s UCC in Okawville and Zion UCC in New Baden. The quilters have been known to go to great lengths to sell tickets. In fact, this year the winning one was purchased – not at a church or the Quilt Fair – but at a family Easter meal at which one salesperson sold $60 worth of tickets. Congratulations to quilt winner Ronald Ostrom of Fairfax, Virginia!

Mission Week 2019

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Since 2014, members of Dupo Christ UCC have made  two annual pilgrimages to DuBois Center. In the fall, they help set up and break down before and after Fall Festival. In the spring, they take on a variety of work projects. This crew is a testament to what can be accomplished by a small team of dedicated folks. It’s hard to imagine getting ready for summer camp without them! A HUGE THANKS to members of Christ UCC in Dupo: Bob, Clifford, Larry, Marvin, and Pastor Todd and Pete from St. Paul UCC in Belleville. Watch for additional photos on the DuBois Center Facebook page.

 

Here’s an overview of their 2019 projects:
●  Rustic cabin screens and doors checked and repaired
●  Upgrades to the Beach House completed
●  Stage area of the chapel in main camp extended
●  Decrepit dock at Deer Run removed
●  Brighter & more efficient lighting installed in Rustic Shower House
●  Safety enhancements and other projects throughout camp
●  Benches built