Summer Camp

Welcome back! In the Summer of 2026, we’ll be offering a variety of sessions for campers age 5-18. We’re excited to welcome you back, or for the first time! 

PDF version of Summer 2026 Schedule

Register Now for your Summer 2026 Adventure!


Helpful links and Info:

How to Prepare for Camp

Register before February 14th and save $20 for part-week sessions and $40 for full-week sessions. 


SESSION INFORMATION

Just You and Me – a half-week session for young campers with adult chaperones 

For Adults & children ages 5-8 years 

Session #1: June 28-30

Session #2:  July 20-22

Cost: $250 per person

Spend quality one-on-one time with a special child in your life: son, daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew, godchild. Choose some activities you both enjoy, like canoeing, crafts, creek walks, and horseback riding. Play games and laugh together. Make new friends on a hayride and share meals around the table. Explore God’s love together.

Housing: Hickory Lodge & Main Camp Cottages

Schedule: You and your camper companion choose your activities to fill free-choice activity blocks each day. While meals and some evening activities are for the entire group, there are blocks of time through the day for you to explore fishing, crafts, canoeing, creek walks, sports games, and our horse barn. It is always an option to rest in your bunk, take a quiet walk, or self-direct if needed.  

Parking: We provide parking for adult chaperones in specified areas. You will be directed to the designated lot upon arrival. 

Packing list for Just You and Me

Half-week camps for Grades 1-3

We offer bite-sized camp options to our younger campers to build confidence and a love for camp. Many of our half-week campers come back to full-week sessions and feel more prepared to handle a full week of new friends and adventure.

Camp Quest

For campers who have completed 1st – 3rd grade or equivalent

Session #1: June 17-19

Session #2: July 15-17

Cost: $310

Housing: main camp cottages

Our shortest adventures for boys and girls on their own. Riding a horse, exploring the creek and jumping in the lake (or even wading) may seem like simple fun, but in reality, campers are gaining critical social skills, independence, a healthy spiritual identity, and a greater awareness of God’s creation. Wednesday afternoon to Friday afternoon.

Packing list for Camp Quest

Discovery

For campers who have completed 1st – 3rd grade or equivalent 

Session #1: June 14-16

Session #2: July 12-14

Cost: $335

Housing: main camp cottages

Sunday afternoon through Tuesday evening – a little longer than Camp Quest. Campers enjoy more activities and one last dinner, then participate in a closing circle together with their parents. Please note: for Discovery, check out is 7:00 pm Tuesday. 

Packing list for Discovery

Half-week camp for Grades 4-6

Rustic Sampler

For campers who have completed 4th -6th grade, or equivalent

June 24-26

Cost: $310

Housing: rustic cabins

First (or second) time rustic campers take their DuBois experience to the next level! Fill your days with playing on the watermat, horseback riding, shooting archery, or a yummy cookout and experience screened-in, breezy cabins each night – try it all in a few short days on rustic!

Packing list for Rustic Sampler

Summer Camps for Grades 3-5

Settler

For campers who have completed 3rd – 5th grade or equivalent 

Session #1: June 14-19

Session #2: June 21-26

Session #3: July 12-17

Cost: $640

Housing: main camp cottages

Leap into a full week adventure at DuBois Center! You’ll get to play on the water mat, ride a horse, jump in the gaga pit, create a craft, hook a fish, roast hot dogs and marshmallows and make memories with new friends.  Our Settler camp is designed to help you settle in and get to know DuBois Center and all it has to offer.

Packing list for Settler

Summer Camps for Grades 5-8

Horse Play

For campers who have completed 5th – 7th grade or equivalent

June 14-19

Cost: $655

Housing: rustic cabins

Horse fanatics will have a boot scootin’ good time with daily horse interactions! Alongside traditional camp activities, campers could also participate in horse painting, horse baths, or making horse treats. Perfect for campers who want to play at DuBois and hang with our herd! Includes 1 extra ride time for a total of 3 rides during the week.

Packing list for Horse Play

Splash!

For campers who have completed 5th – 7th grade or equivalent

June 21-26

Cost: $640

Housing: rustic cabins

Make waves exploring the lake or spend the afternoon building an epic sand castle. Whichever floats your boat, this camp has something for you. With extra time at the waterfront, you never know what cool adventure might drift your way; chill out on the water mat or play fun canoe games. Jump in and make a splash!

Packing list for Splash!

Trekkin’ It

For campers who have completed 5th – 7th grade or equivalent

July 12-17

Cost: $640

Housing: rustic cabins

Grab your gear, hop on a pontoon boat and head over to the Rustic Village. Campfires and nine square, fishing, canoeing, archery, a dinner cooked over the fire – don’t miss out! It’s an exciting adventure for the camp lovers who want “a little of everything”!

Packing list for Trekkin’ It

Art Explosion

For campers who have completed 5th – 8th grade or equivalent

June 21-26

Cost: $640

Housing: main camp cottages

Free your inner artist and come make the world a little more colorful this week with a camp geared towards the creator in all of us. Find ways to express yourself and get in touch with your artsy side as we pursue projects in various mediums. Our projects will still leave time for your other favorite activities, so join us for Art Explosion!

Packing list for Art Explosion

Base Camp

For campers who have completed 6th – 8th grade or equivalent

June 21-26

Cost: $640

Housing: main camp cottages

Spend your days splashing on the watermat, riding a horse, playing in the mudpit, making new friends and creating fun memories. Then return each night to your base camp – a main camp cottage (now with A/C window units!)

Packing list for Base Camp

Giddy Up

For campers who have completed 6th – 8th grade or equivalent

July 12-17

Cost: $685

Housing: rustic cabins

Horse riders who’ve completed 6-8th grade, git on down to DuBois Center! If you’re ready for rides every weekday, then you are ready to Giddy Up with us! In addition to your ride time, there’ll also be time for swimming, hiking, and other adventures on foot! Campers should be comfortable riding at a trot.

Packing list for Giddy Up

Summer Camps for Grades 7-9

Dunk’d

For campers who have completed 7th – 9th grades or equivalent 

July 12-17

Cost: $640

Housing: rustic cabins

Dive on in to Dunk’d! Our newest addition to DuBois Center’s aquatic adventures is full of possibilities. Tackle a Dock-to-Dock swim, play canoe games, enjoy a beach-front Vespers – camp is your oyster! There will still be time for dry activities too – horseback riding, archery, maybe even Kiddie Pool Kickball!

Packing list for Dunk’d

Outback

For campers who have completed 7th – 9th grades, or equivalent 

June 14-19

Cost: $640

Housing: rustic cabins

More adventure with a night of camping under the stars. Join this outdoor-adventure focused session so you can try your hand at fire building, hammock camping, campfire cooking, and shelter building. Explore God’s creation in a whole new way!

Packing list for Outback

Saddle ‘Em Up

For campers who have completed 7th – 9th grades, or equivalent 

June 21-26

Cost: $685

Housing: rustic cabins

Join the DuBois Center herd for grand horseback adventures. Some mornings, it’s “up and at ‘em” long before chow time – the horses need to be fed and groomed before breakfast. You’ll be rewarded with a morning ride off into the sunrise. If you’re ready for tackin’, groomin’, ridin’, and muckin’ – then join us as we Saddle ‘Em Up! Campers should be comfortable riding at a trot.

Packing list for Saddle ‘Em Up

High School Week

HIGH SCHOOL WEEK: July 5-10

For campers who have completed 9th – 12th grades – or equivalent

High schoolers will be the only ones in the Rustic Village!

This week is full of adventure, making friends, and building community! In addition to our usual structure of your favorite activities with your family group, you’ll also mix it up with choice-time activities. Learn some line dances, lend a hand to a service project, or take a hammock nap – who knows what else the week might bring!

 Drenched! 

High School Week: July 5-10

Cost: $640

Housing: rustic cabins

Get Drenched during High School week in the Rustic Village! Have a blast with beach parties, boating challenges and soaking up the sun – all your camp favorites with an emphasis on the waterfront. Explore something new or revisit a classic during choice time activities.

Packing list for Drenched

Wrangler

High School Week: July 5-10

Cost: $685

Housing: rustic cabins

Giddy-up and get a move on! Our older and more experienced riders will enjoy traditional camp activities with the other High School Camps but when it’s time to hit the trails, they’ll mount up and ride their trusty steeds to greener pastures. This is an equestrian experience for horse lovers who already know their stirrups from their spurs.

Packing list for Wrangler

X-plore

High School Week: July 5-10

Cost: $640

Housing: rustic cabins

X-Plore camp community with High School Week in the Rustic Village! Expect to experience things like cooking dinner over a campfire, kayaking into the coves, a horse ride on the trails, and hammock camping under the stars – don’t forget about choice time activities! X-Plore has it all!

Packing list for X-plore 

Summer Camp for Aspiring Future Staff

LIT: Leadership in Training

For campers who have completed grades 11-12

June 14-19

Cost: $227

Housing: Blended

Nothing is more rewarding to DuBois Center than watching campers become a part of the summer staff team. LIT campers gain skills that will help them grow as positive leaders while making new friends and building their own community. Together, LIT campers will learn to create a fun and safe environment, teach basic camp activities, and master techniques to aid in becoming a great summer staffer. This program is designed to set LIT campers up for success in becoming a DuBois Center Camp Counselor or Barn Helper!  … Did we mention how excited we are to have more campers become staff members?! [LIT has an additional application packet to be completed before registration can be finalized. Please contact the Camp Office for more information – 618.787.2202 or dcinfo@duboiscenter.org] 

LIT Application Materials

Packing list for LIT

 

Read more Summer Camp

DuBois Property Policy during this transition time…

Please note: The Conference Council has closed the DuBois Center grounds to everyone except maintenance and animal care staff until such time as a new Acting Director is hired. While we have people on the grounds, they cannot supervise visitors or do the COVID-level of cleaning required to host guests of any kind right now. This reduces liability and safety issues for both people and property. We all know and enjoy the beautiful campgrounds, and we expect to open them again very soon.

Spring and Summer Programming…

Although we will likely not have programming in the winter months, Outdoor Ministry Team along with Executive Committee, and Conference Council will be working together to determine the programming for late Spring and Summer months of this year. Although much will depend upon when we find the right person for the Acting Director’s position, we are committing to creating a Plan A, B, C and a variety of contingency plans. We know much like what we have all experienced together in the past year, there are many unknowns, and so we covet your patience, prayers, and support. But please know, we will also do our best to keep you up to date and informed about what is happening at YOUR camp.

And if you have questions, please ask. You can connect with the chair of our Outdoor Ministry Team, Nancy Wagner at nancywagner1958@gmail.com, the chair of Property Committee, Priscilla Self at pjj48@hotmail.com, our Conference Moderator, Dr. Jill Baker at jabaker5@aol.com, or our Conference Minister, Rev. Shana Johnson at sjohnson@iscucc.org.

The Search Begins…

The Search Committee for the Acting Director has been named, has met and will soon be conducting interviews for the position. We are working hard to get the word out about this wonderful opportunity, and we welcome your help. If you know someone who might be interested in applying please reach out directly to our Conference Minister, Rev. Shana Johnson at sjohnson@iscucc.org.

DuBois Center Gift Certificates

 

CloverLooking for a unique gift for someone special in your life? Not sure you want to shop in a crowded mall or store this year?  Consider giving a gift certificate for a future DuBois Center experience.

About 13 years ago, Don and I began the tradition of giving an annual DuBois Center camp experience to each of our grandchildren. We love the opportunity to give them the chance to unplug, connect with nature, make new friends, learn new skills, and grow in their faith. The excitement in their eyes as they make their personal camp choice, their anticipation of going to camp, and hearing their enthusiasm about their camp experience is priceless!
Pastor Don & Nancy Wagner

 

 

RoadsideDuBois Center Gift Certificates are available in any amount. Adding an item from the camp store, such as a hat, plush toy, or water bottle, along with your special personal message, would make an attractive package which can be available for pick up or mailed to the address of your choice. For more information and details, please call: (618) 787-2202 or visit our website.

The Outdoor Ministry Team is busy putting plans in place to offer safe in-person camping experiences in 2021. Hope to see YOU there!

A Visit From St. Nick – Covid style

T’was just weeks before Christmas, when all through the town, not a person was stirring, morale was quite down.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, but with shopping a challenge, we feared they’d stay bare.

Children are adjusting to new daily grinds, with so much technology occupying their minds.

While sitting, relaxing in flannel and fleece, we ponder the question, When will this all cease?

When suddenly outside we heard a strange noise, we’ve missed having visitors, one of our joys.

Away to the window we opened the blind, but weren’t quite sure just who we might find.

The moon put its glow on the leaves on the ground, which made us amazed by what we just found.

Squinting our eyes with all of our forces, what we began to see was DuBois Center’s horses.

With Sharon, Bre, Scott, Sandy, and Larry, showing that horses are friendly and not at all scary.

With saddles & bridles, and walking so tame, they whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now Thunder, now, Zephyr, now Cocoa and Apache! On, Clover, on Phoenix, on Sunny, and Classy!

Around the arena, and past all the bales, they trotted and trotted through all of the trails.

But that wasn’t all we spied with our eyes, there were other camp things adding to our surprise!

There are counselors leading campers on fun nature walks, and chaplains on hand for devotions and talks.

The lifeguards are ready to make swimming safe, and plenty of opportunities to grow in one’s faith.

Kids making new friends, while enjoying the sun, and yummy s’mores ‘round a campfire when the day is done.

There’s archery with bows and targets to hit, and exercise a plenty in the lively gaga pit.

No Chromebook, or cell phone for children to pack, but they sure enjoy GORP, a famous camp snack.

New songs, a cute skit, or learning meal graces, puts plenty of smiles on all the kid’s faces.

So, no need to worry, and no need to fret, no shopping mall necessary, the perfect gift we can get.

What does all this mean – perhaps a sign from above? We can give a camp experience to those that we love!

So that’s what was meant by this evening’s surprise sight, So, Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

© Nancy Wagner

Fall Festival Challenge Update

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!

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

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!

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