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Early Bird Deadline in Less Than Two Weeks!

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Do you have your 2018 summer camp registration in yet?

All you need to be singing a happy “Early Bird” tune is a completed 2018 Summer Camp Registration Form and $50 non-refundable deposit. Save $20 on full-week sessions and $10 on part-week sessions.

Register and pay online, or postmark your registration form and deposit by April 5. If your church pays part of the camp fee, we will send them an invoice later in the summer.

To receive a summer camp brochure – check in your church office, view it online, download it along with this registration form, or contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

Meet Our Summer Staff – Laura

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Welcome Laura Renken to our 2018 summer staff team! This will be Laura’s second summer on staff; she will again be serving as a Counselor/Activity Specialist and utilizing her skills as a seasoned lifeguard.

Laura hails from Hamel, Illinois and is an active member of Salem UCC in Alhambra. She is a student at Eastern Illinois University where she is studying elementary education. At school, she is active in a Bible study group that has helped her to grow in her ability to share and discuss her faith with others. They have also, “helped me a lot with being proud of my faith and not feeling like I needed to hide my faith in order to fit in. I can be proud of who I am and who God has made me to be.”

When asked about future plans, five years from now, Laura hopes to be teaching second or third grade. Not a surprise! Working with children has long been a priority for her. Before serving on our summer staff, Laura was a regular VBS volunteer. She also completed our Counselors in Training (CIT) Program and served as a camp volunteer.

Laura is returning this summer because, “Working with the campers was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.” Her favorite place at camp is Meditation Point. She loves seeing all the stars and the lake at night in a “very humbling place” where she feels “immersed in God’s presence.” In addition to starry nights, Laura loves swimming in the summer and biking whenever it’s warm outside. She likes to doodle, knit, crochet, sing and practice her ukulele and guitar. Her favorite foods are oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, watermelon and grapes – all staples at summer camp.

Laura 1

Why International Staff?

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Have you ever wondered why we hire international staff? The answer is easy – because they’re great!

Each summer, DuBois Center recruits four to six international staff members, both through recruiting agencies and from Eden Seminary. Recently, they’ve journeyed from Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Poland, South Africa and the United Kingdom. With accents that make them easily approachable and stories about life in their home countries, it’s easy to see why our international staffers are much beloved by campers and American staff alike. We appreciate the perspectives they bring, the games and songs they teach us, and the unique opportunities they provide just by spending the summer at DuBois Center.

Spring 2018 Work Days

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Stretch your muscles, get a little dirty and make a difference! Help spruce up the grounds for our busy spring and summer seasons. We can’t do it without YOU! This spring, we have two workdays planned – one for March 24 and another for April 21.

Service Saturday 2

Projects vary, depending on the weather and the skills of the workers – carpentry, cleaning, painting, raking and more. We may even remove or install a dock. Serve together with friends and family, and gain a sense of satisfaction.

We’ll gather around 8:30 – 8:45 a.m. and conclude by 4 p.m. each day. Lunch is provided, as well as necessary tools. Check out this flyer for more information. RSVP to DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.

Service Saturday 1

Meet Our Summer Staff: Troy

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Summer staff recruitment is in full swing, and we will be introducing members of our 2018 team through Weekly Connection and Facebook. First up is Troy Mcrae.

This will be Troy’s second summer on staff. He will again make the long trek from Western Australia to DuBois, Illinois. Troy grew up in the “Aussie countryside” in the small town of Manjimup. Active in his church youth ministry and camping programs, he grew from youth participant to young adult volunteer leader. Troy loves being outside and spent a year as a trainee and instructor at an outdoor school. Canoeing, lifeguarding, “bush walking expeditions,” food prep and equipment maintenance were all part of his experience there.

Thinking back to 2016 when Troy last served with us, his big smile, gentle nature and amazing height come to mind. Yes, he occasionally had to duck when going through doorways. When asked about his desire to return to DuBois Center, Troy commented, “I just felt drawn back to the overwhelmingly positive atmosphere at camp. It’s impossible to finish each day without a smile on your face.”

Troy brings skills as an effective canoeing instructor, accomplished guitar player and caring camp counselor. His long-term goal is to become a professional outdoor educator. Aussie meat pies are Troy’s favorite food. Two of his favorite hobbies are cycling and larping (think Lord of the Rings meets football, with a bit of theater improv thrown into the mix). He describes himself as a massive “pop culture nerd (in the best of ways).” Welcome back, Troy!

Troy 1

Wrangle & Ride – April 21

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Join our equestrian team on Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a full day of fun with the DuBois Center herd! Designed for both beginner and experienced riders, this is a horse-intensive day of grooming, tacking, riding, instruction and other horse-related activities. Beginners will be introduced to basic skills, while experienced riders work on more advanced options.

The cost for this event is $60 with lunch included. Register by March 31 and save $5. Final deadline is April 7 – if space is still available. Click here for a flyer and reservation form. Online registration begins February 15. Questions? Contact DuBois Center at dcinfo@duboiscenter.org or 618-787-2202.

 

Bunco and Beans

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Don’t forget to bring your food donations for a special challenge at this year’s Bunco Night! For each item you donate, you will receive one raffle ticket – the more items donated, the more chances to win. The prize? A super fun basket of items for all ages! Plus, the church or community group that donates the most food items will get to pick the food pantry all of the donations go to at the end of the night.

So grab your food donations and your friends, family, neighbors and church groups and join Region 2 for Bunco Night at St. Paul UCC Columbia, IL on Feb. 24. Bunco is an engaging dice game that is easy to learn – children as young as 10 can have a good time! Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and play begins at 7 p.m. The cost to play is $10 per person. Proceeds from Bunco play will benefit DuBois Center.

Father-Son Retreat – April 13 – 15

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Fathers, grandfathers and uncles – save the date and plan now to bring your sons, grandsons and nephews to DuBois Center for a weekend of quality guy time! Fish, hike, canoe and just hang out together. Make cool crafts, share in vespers and work on your archery skills. Horseback riding is available for an additional fee.

This is also a perfect opportunity for churches to extend their family or men’s ministries. Gather a group from your congregation and join us – engaging faith sessions led by Rev. RJ Morgan, our chaplain for the weekend, will be held throughout the event.

Lodging is in heated cottages and Hickory Lodge. Activities are planed from Friday evening through early Sunday afternoon, April 13 – 15. All ages are welcome, though activities are geared for boys ages 5 and older. Registration opens February 15. For more information and a paper registration form, click here.

High School Week – June 17 – 22

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High School Week is BACK for summer camp this year, from June 17 – 22. The week offers two great options – Wranglers and X-Plore. Campers experience all of the favorite DuBois Center activities, plus more! More fun, more adventure, more friends and with an extra special treat – more meals served in the Rustic Village. Plus, “Choice Times” return with even more great options.

If you have completed grades 8-12, this is a great week to build community, grow closer to God, experience nature and have some great unplugged FUN! Plan now to attend and watch for details in the coming weeks.

Thank You Zoar UCC VBS!

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This year, as part of their Campout, Getting S’more of Jesus VBS program, our friends at Zoar UCC collected a wonderful variety of supplies and cash for DuBois Center to use throughout the year. Thanks to them, we now have piles of construction paper and ribbon for crafting, hats and ties for dressing up, beach balls and bandannas for playing, glue sticks and scissors for creating, and even a bag of food for the barn cats.

Donation 2

Amid the boxes and bags that were delivered, a number of backpacks and water bottles were also included. There are always summer campers, many from low-income families, who arrive without these critical items. This gift will help replenish those supplies for next summer.

Sending a shout out to the Zoar UCC VBS team – “campers,” parents, teachers and helpers: THANK YOU for keeping DuBois Center in your thoughts and prayers, and for this very fun and timely gift!