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Fall Festival Challenge Update

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Winter Horse

Thank you for your most generous support of the DuBois Center 2020 Fall Festival Challenge. Being a major fundraiser for DuBois Center, we knew that the necessary cancellation of the annual Fall Festival due to COVID-19 safety concerns would produce a financial hardship. The negative impact was reduced thanks to the extravagant gifts of those of you who responded. A portion of the proceeds from this challenge has been used to purchase much needed helmets and saddle blankets for the vital ministry of our equestrian program.

Nancy Wagner, Outdoor Ministry Team Chairperson

Matthew 6:21: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Giving Thanks!

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Thanks1

This week we give thanks for program volunteers! They touch the lives of every summer camper and retreat participant at DuBois Center! They share their special gifts and talents in the cabins and the health center, at the barn and during worship. Serving as chaplains, camp counselors, nurses, activity specialists and on the equestrian team, they tend to our minds, bodies and spirits. They teach us about bees, horses, fishing, science and so much more, as they share their passion for the gospel, Christian community and all of God’s creation. In the words of Mother Teresa, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

THANKS to all those whose ripples can be felt at DuBois Center and beyond. Featured here are (top l to r) Donna Asbridge – volunteer nurse and first aid instructor, Craig & Rev. Katie Jo Bielke – volunteer camp chaplains, (center) Larry Reeble, long time horse volunteer and (bottom center) Luke Volmert – former camper and current volunteer camp counselor.

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Virtual Family Retreat Reboot

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Fire

In October, the leadership team that has traditionally developed the programming for our annual Mother-Daughter Retreat created a virtual day of activities to help fill the void. Lots of folks checked in and the posts on Facebook were well received. With the holidays taking on a different flavor for many this year, we thought some virtual activities from DuBois Center might be a great addition to the mix.

Families celebrating in different locations can share their results online and with us. Despite being designed for mothers and daughters prior to Halloween, many of the activities can be adapted for Advent and Christmas. Links to videos and PDFs are included on our website. Join camp leaders for crafts, a yoga session, and more. Close out the festivities with songs and stories around the campfire. There are even recipes for two camp favorites.

Intrigued? Intrigued by the photos? Check out the fun!

JarFoot

Floral Expressions

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Queen Anne's Lace

The Universe speaks to us through flowers. For instance, a Queen Anne’s Lace blossom could represent God.

Each floret is exactly like the entire blossom or in other words,made in the image of the whole.

What a great way of visualizing the scriptures that say we are made in the image of God. Scriptures materialized for us by a Queen Anne’s Lace blossom.

© Lynnette Schuepbach

Excerpt from Floral Expression by Brady Kesner & Lynnette Schuepbach

Photograph taken at DuBois Center above by Jason Petry

Giving Thanks!

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Sunset

For many, November 1 kicks off a month of daily thankfulness. Reasons to give thanks are plentiful at DuBois Center. God’s creation is majestic – the plants, the critters, the people, the seasons. Enjoy this autumn sunset at DuBois Center. In the words of Don Moen, “Give thanks with a grateful heart; give thanks to the Holy One.”

In addition to this sunset, we are celebrating and giving thanks for God’s creation with some of our favorite 60 Seconds of Solitude from this year. Get comfortable; relax your neck, shoulders and back; breathe in deeply; and know that God IS.

Dragonfly

Family Time at DuBois Center

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Fishing

Family Camping is becoming a new norm at DuBois Center, with housing and programming based around small, intact groups. Families come for the day or stay overnight in a cottage or a side of a cottage. Most activities are done in these same small groups. For other activities, masking up and frequent hand washing or sanitizing are the norm. Everyone tries to use only the restroom in his/her own cottage or another assigned area, except in an emergency. Families carry their own hand sanitizer and take their trash directly to the dumpster.

Dr. Jillian Mayer, Director of Christian Education & Faith Formation at St. Paul UCC in Waterloo was the first to organize a true overnight family camp at DuBois Center during this season of COVID. She planned grab-and-go and cookout meals for the families as well as a variety of small group activities. Horses were a part of the mix, but riders and leaders masked up when appropriate and gear was cleaned between riders.

As the OMT (Outdoor Ministry Team) continues planning for spring and summer – watch for a variety of family-oriented events. Distance when you can, mask when you can’t, and enjoy quality family time at DuBois Center.

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Log

It’s Back!

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Fence

The fence across the dam is back! Actually, a new and improved version replaced the section removed for spillway upgrades. A SPECIAL THANKS to the team from Grantfork UCC for their installation work and to all the individuals and groups that painted…and painted… and painted. There are additional boards and posts ready to go when the Grantfork team returns in 2021 to work on other sections of fencing.

Rake & Roast

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Leaves

Service! Fellowship while Distancing! Quality Time Outdoors!

It’s snowing leaves at DuBois Center, and that means it’s time to rake, blow and burn. Many hands make the task easier, faster and more fun. So, gather your youth, family or fellowship group and spend an autumn day, morning or afternoon at camp. You are welcome to bring a picnic meal or roast hot dogs and marshmallows over a campfire. If you have rakes or leaf blowers – bring them!

COVID safety procedures will be place. Contact DuBois Center for more information or to reserve a time: dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202. Current permission and waiver forms required.

Marshmallows

The Season of Giving

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DBC_Summer

Throughout the year, we give thanks for gifts that support ministry at DuBois Center. Some give in response to special request or projects, such as replacing mattresses, installing a new spillway, adding new docks. Some give in thanksgiving for gifts received. For example, a church or individual receives an unexpected gift and then shares some of that gift. Some designate memorials and even estate gifts. Some give annually. All of these are wonderful ways to support our ministry.  Another option is through budgeted monthly or quarterly gifts.

We would like to extend a SPECIAL THANKS to the following churches for their regular, ongoing support: St. Paul’s UCC – Freeburg, St. Paul UCC – Nashville, St. Peter UCC – Red Bud and Zion UCC – Marion.

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Ongoing Support

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Girl Power!

Historically, St. Peter’s UCC in Okawville has had strong ties to DuBois Center. This has been evident over the years through their support of summer campers, and their participation in workdays, Fall Festival and special fundraising efforts. They put on a great Shrimp Boil to support the new spillway and HVAC in Oak Lodge! Members have served and currently serve on ISC committees related to DuBois Center, on our summer staff, as chaplains and volunteers in other capacities.

Each spring they kick off recruitment efforts with a Camp Sunday and from there they provide significant support for their young people to attend summer camp. This year, with no summer camp, there were no campers to support. Instead, church leaders decided to allocate the $3500 that would have typically paid for summer camp fees to support DuBois Center directly. This gift will help to ensure the Center’s viability during these challenging times.

A SPECIAL THANKS to St. Peter’s UCC in Okawville!