Volunteer Spotlight – Week 3

We have been blessed all summer with wonderful volunteer chaplains and nurses. Week #3 was no exception!

Donna Asbridge, RN from St. Paul’s UCC in Freeburg spends most of her summer at DuBois Center caring for the health of our campers, as well as sharing her musical and pastoral skills. Rev. Katie Jo Bielke is Associate Pastor for St. John UCC in Collinsville. Nothing slows her down… even being pregnant! She returned from a youth mission trip and a day or two later headed to camp. She has a wonderful way of engaging with campers and sharing God’s message in relevant ways. For the second summer, Katie Jo shared chaplain duties with Craig, her husband who has a long history in church camping. He loves fishing and had an especially good time mentoring the little guys attending “Boy Meets Camp.” And baby? Well, baby is now well-versed in camp life and will hopefully be attending “Just You & Me Camp” in about five years!

July Camps with Openings

It’s been a busy summer already and July looks to be even busier. There are still one or two spots open in most July sessions. For the most up-to-date information on all the options available for your child, contact our registrar at 618-357-1809 or DuBois Center at 618-787-2202. More sessions are reaching their capacity each day, so don’t delay. At this moment, the camps listed below have multiple openings. Grades listed are the grade completed.
If you are ready to register – click here. Need more details? Pick up a camp brochure at your UCC church or download one here. To receive a brochure by mail, contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.
July 7-12           Settler (grades 3-5) – spots for girls only
July 7-12           Outback (grades 6-8)
July 7-12           Saddle ‘Em Up (grades 7-9)
July 14-19         Imagine That! (grades 4-7)
July 14-19         Movin’ & Groovin’ (grades 4-7)
July 14-19         Trekkin’ It (grades 5-8)
July 21-24         Girl Power (grades 1-3)
July 21-24         Pony Express (grades 4-6)
July 21-24         Family Camp

What’s in a Name?

Twig, Sparkle, Mr. T, Peanut, Croc, Simba, Minnow, Curly, Kayak, Bandit, Sparrow, Shark Bait – what’s with all the weird names?

Since 2011, “camp names” have been a tradition for summer staff and volunteers at DuBois Center. Some are silly and pulled from…well, who knows where? Others have stories behind them  – to avoid inhaling pollen and dust, Nurse Bandit wears a bandana over her nose and mouth when driving the golf cart or Gator around camp. Amani means PEACE in Swahili, a primary language in Tanzania – the home of one of our international staff members.

We use “camp names” during the summer because they are FUN, and because sometimes there are just too many Merediths, Rachels and Ryans running around. Real names are shared on the last day of each camp, and they are listed on the sign-out sheets when parents pick up their children at the end of a session. If a counselor senses that a parent is nervous about not knowing their “real name,” the leader might take them aside and share that detail in advance.

What’s in a name? A lot of silliness and camp fun!

Are You Ready for a Full Week of Camp?

If your child will complete grades 3-5 this spring or summer, then it may be time to step up to Settler camp – which includes a full week of fun!
New friends and lots of fun are just the beginning. Campers run, play, sing, eat, jump, act, create, splash, pray, hike, explore, build, ride and finally… sleep! Growing and playing together, exploring God’s creation, building a Christian community – that’s Settler camp at DuBois Center.
There are three dates from which to choose: June 9-14, June 23-28 and July 7-12. Sessions are filling quickly – so don’t delay. Pick up a camp brochure at your UCC church or download one here. To receive a brochure by mail, contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202. If you are ready to register, click here.