Home › News & Events › Page 4

New (to us) Hay Elevator for the Barn

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

The hay elevator at the barn isn’t used weekly or even monthly. But when we need to load hundreds of bales of hay into the hay loft it is invaluable. Our old hay elevator had been on its last leg for a while – rotting tires, rusting supports, broken gears, etc. Our wonderful maintenance staff nursed it along for close to a decade. By the Fall of 2020, we decided it was time to look for a replacement before it fell apart completely.

Steve McClay from our Outdoor Ministries Team offered to help us with the search. He monitored auctions and in February of 2021 found a used elevator that might work. Unfortunately, we were outbid this time around. Another possibility was found in July 2021, but it would have needed too many repairs. This February, Steve won the bidding on a used hay elevator for camp!

There is even more good news. Steve spoke with his church council, and they agreed to cover the cost (over $800) of the hay elevator and donate it to camp. Many thanks to Steve for his dedication and perseverance and to the members of Addieville Zion UCC for their support for DuBois Center!

Honoring Sue Reeble

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

On Saturday, August 6, a Celebration of Life was held at DuBois Center for Sue (Larry) Reeble, who was a long-time volunteer with the horse program there. Sue and Larry spent much time sharing their love of the horses and DuBois Center, so it was the perfect place to honor her life and the time she donated to DuBois Center. In lieu of flowers, Sue requested that donations be given to DuBois Center by check to Illinois South Conference, 1312 Broadway, Highland, IL 62249 or online. Please note that the donation is in memory of Sue Reeble.

Volunteers like Sue and Larry Reeble have made DuBois Center a place to find the love of God through nature.

DuBois Center will be open for summer camp next week (July 17-22)

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

Camp Update: DuBois Center was closed to campers last week July 10-15 due to COVID exposure the week before. Our staff responded properly to this and are taking the necessary measures to have a healthy week of camp.

We feel comfortable welcoming back campers for the camp sessions starting Sunday, July, 17–as the PCR test results for our staff have been negative.

Our staff and volunteers will be required to wear masks during check-in and when indoors with campers not in their cabin groups.

Similar to last summer, cabin groups will form a pod or family unit for the camp session. At this time, we recommend masks for campers, but it is not required. If we were to require masks for campers, masked time daily would be MINIMAL as almost all activities are outdoors or with cabin groups only. For safety reasons, masks are NOT to be worn while sleeping.

Potential COVID exposure during summer camp week 5 (July 6-8)

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

We recently learned a staff member and a volunteer tested positive for COVID-19. Both were around campers and staff during last week’s summer camp from July 6-8, and have since reported experiencing flu-like symptoms. Further details and recommendations have been shared with our campers’ parents and guardians. Summer camp has been cancelled this week. We are still evaluating whether we can safely move forward with summer camp next week.

We are committed to transparency about our response, and to protecting the privacy of all those involved. We appreciate your patience as we continue to follow our safety protocols and evaluate the situation going forward.

Camps Cancelled for next week (July 10 – 15)

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

Out of an abundance of caution, we are cancelling all of next week’s summer camp sessions (July 10 – 15, 2022).  Our lake has been treated, but is not yet safe for campers.  There is also a chance some staff members were exposed to COVID.  All camper parents and guardians have been notified.

At this time, we expect camps to be back on track the following week (July 17 – 22).  Thank you for your understanding.

WELCOME TEAM – Join Us!

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

June 19, 26, July 10, 17

On these Sundays, scores of campers will arrive at DuBois Center eager and excited to begin their time at camp. Several volunteers, plus summer staff, are needed for each of these Sundays to ensure the check-in process runs smoothly! Volunteers assist with greeting, parking, distributing t-shirts, health screenings, etc. They arrive by 11:15 pm and are done by 2 pm. Please consider joining our Sunday Welcome Team on one or more check-in days. Even consider bringing a team from your church!

Let us know in advance when you can help; contact the DuBois Center office at dcinfo@duboiscenter.org or 618-787-2202.

Donate to DuBois Center’s Scholarship Fund

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

Each year, DuBois Center serves hundreds of campers who are both part of our Illinois South Conference churches and our area neighbors. For some, attending camp would not be possible without the generous gift of a camp scholarship. Each week, campers enjoy countless activities including horseback riding, water mat play while swimming, gaga ball games, campfire cook-outs, and creek walks. They also have a chance to step away into nature, form lifelong friendships, and experience faith formation in a lasting and fun way. Simply put, camp changes lives through radical acceptance, risk-taking in a safe environment, and the chance to step away from busy lives, sports schedules, and all of the things that often distract our attention.

Consider supporting the transformative power of camp this summer by donating to our scholarship fund. This allows us to continue to provide this needed space to our neighbors. You can mail checks to the office or consider an online donation. All funds designated to our scholarship fund will help us provide the camp experience to those who may not be able to experience it this summer otherwise.

Summer Camp Updates: M.A.D. camp cancelled – additional Settler camp added

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

M.A.D. camp for this summer has been cancelled due to low registration.

An additional Settler camp session has been added – July 10-15.  Settler camps are a classic summer camp for campers who have completed grades 3, 4, 5 or equivalent.  Register today!

The three other Settler camps are full.

Dreaming of Hillside Cottage

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

Take a look at this picture. Squint your eyes a bit and let yourself dream for a moment. This is the future site of Hillside Cottage, the crown jewel of the DuBois 6.0 campaign. This is where a new 20-person living and meeting space is going to be, just off the road to Coveside Cottage. It will be ADA compliant and solar powered, and just about 1,400 sq. ft. It’s going to be built with as much volunteer labor and recycled/ upcycled materials as we can muster.

Hillside Cottage will add to our overnight guest capacity, and that adds to our bottom line. As with the other projects in DuBois 6.0, this is the time for us to move. Our campaign has been in motion for only 6 ½ months of a 14 ½ month effort. We’re at 74% of our $225,290 goal. Can we do this? Of course, we can. We’ve got a good camp year on the horizon, and an even brighter future. We value our camp, and we’re investing in it. We look forward to reaching this goal, and actually exceeding it. There are projects waiting in the wings that will continue adding to our programming, capabilities, and capacity.

What can you do to support DuBois 6.0?

  • Volunteer to work on a project – the Property Committee would welcome your help.
  • Make a personal or congregational donation – we can take everything from cash to stock and cryptocurrency.
  • And while you’re at it, put our outdoor ministry center in your prayers for both a safe summer filled with fun and a successful capital campaign.

We’re building faith, building capacity and building for the next 60 years.

Meet our summer leadership staff!

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

My name is Laura or Twig as I am better known by my camp family. My pronouns are she/her. I have spent the last two years living in Champaign, Illinois, and teaching 4th grade, but I am excited to be moving closer to home this summer and exploring other opportunities to work with young people. A fun fact about me is that I got a cat in October! Her name is Althea, and she loves to cuddle (when she’s not biting my hands).

I am also thrilled to be returning to DuBois Center, it is what I like to call the “home of my soul.” I love being at camp and helping it continue to be a welcoming and accepting place for people to grow and be themselves.