Meet our Summer Staff – Rachel, Catie and Georgia

Welcome Rachel Kinzinger, Catie Goetter and Georgia Agan to our 2019 summer staff leadership team! Rachel is returning for her 9th summer on staff and will be serving as our Program Coordinator. This will be Catie’s third and Georgia’s first summers on staff, and they will both be serving as Program Specialists with our riding program.

Rachel’s home church is St. John’s UCC in New Athens, where she is on the Board of Christian Ed and works with the youth group. She just completed her third year as a special education teacher at Marissa Jr-Sr High School. Rachel wrote, “Camp has always been home to me, from the time I was a young camper. It’s brought me friends, laughter and lifelong memories!” Her favorite things about camp include watching campers try new things, overcome their fears and homesickness, and fall in love with DuBois Center just like she did!

Catie just completed her junior year at Missouri State where she is majoring in elementary education. She is from Maryville, IL and grew up attending St. John UCC in Collinsville. She now regularly attends Schweitzer UMC in Springfield, MO. At school, Catie is a section leader for the MSU marching band and is a child care provider for the park district. When asked what she loves about camp, Catie replied “as a camper, I loved all of the activities, being in nature, and meeting new people. As a staff member, I love watching and helping kids overcome fears (because I still have some too), try new things, and become passionate about camp.”

Georgia is a local girl from Venedy, IL. She has experience working with children and youth in a variety of settings. Georgia studies general agriculture with a focus in equine at Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College, where she barrel races and is a member of the school’s rodeo team. Her mom had her on a horse since before she could walk, and she has been passionate about horses ever since. Georgia was blessed to find a wonderful faith community in Oklahoma. She attends Miami Friends Church which is a very small, close-knit congregation. Georgia is “so excited to work at DuBois this summer, because I remember my experience as a camper, and I had the time of my life!”

RSVP for the Thank You Party by Friday!

The annual DuBois Center ‘Thank You’ Party is scheduled for Sunday, April 28. Previously held during the Christmas holidays, this event is our opportunity to share our appreciation for your prayers and support, your gifts of time, talent and treasure, and your partnership in our shared mission and ministry at DuBois Center.

Together, we have touched countless lives over the past five decades through ministry in God’s great outdoors. Volunteers, staff, supporters and friends make it all happen. If you fit into any of these categories – then YOU are invited. Churches are encouraged to send representatives.

Enjoy a yummy meal, tour the grounds by tram or pontoon boat, take a nature hike, or just sit on a dock or porch and enjoy the day. DuBois Center is beautiful in the spring, so don’t miss this opportunity! Remember to dress casually and for the weather. Activities will begin at 2 pm, with dinner at 4:30 pm. We’ll conclude by 6 pm.

Click here for your invitation. Please RSVP to DuBois Center at dcinfo@duboiscenter.org or 618-787-2202 by Friday, April 19.

Summer Jobs – DuBois Center Equestrian Program

Looking for a rewarding summer job working with children and horses? How about hands-on experience managing a trail ride program? DuBois Center has openings for a dedicated summer barn coordinator and two barn assistants/cabin counselors. Spending time with the horses is a highlight for many of our campers. In addition to caring for our 20-horse herd, our summer barn staff utilize basic riding instruction and time “getting to know the ponies” to help campers build self-confidence and learn to respect and appreciate God’s amazing creation. For those who have never experienced a horse up close, the first moments can be overwhelming. However, with nurturing guidance, campers quickly learn that they can overcome their fears and experience something wonderful. Tears often transform into giant smiles. The joy campers show is reward enough, but serving on the summer barn staff also provides hands-on work experience for individuals considering a career in an equine-related field. For more information, check out the attached flyer or contact Shirley at 618-787-2202 or email.

Employment Opportunity – Office & Event Coordinator

Enjoy connecting with people and the outdoors? Fluent in computer-speak? Looking for a position that is more than just a job? DuBois Center is seeking an Office & Event Coordinator. This is a permanent, part-time position, the purpose of which is to organize, coordinate and implement office and event functions at DuBois Center, including camper, family and guest relations, data management (financial, camper, guest group and employee), coordination of office help, assistance with marketing efforts and occasional guest group hosting. The person filling this positions will be an integral part of the ISCUCC staff overall and the DuBois Center team.

To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter to DuBois Center via email at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org. Click here for the position description.

Connections

This summer, our staff got a blast from the past – postcards from a former international summer staffer! Beth sent an envelope full of postcards all the way from Melbourne, Australia. The note she wrote to the staff as a whole reads: “Hi, my name is ConnectionsBeth. I was a counselor during summer 2004 & 2005. DuBois Center has many amazing memories that have stayed with me ever since. I hope you all keep in touch and have had an amazing summer. The Lord will use all you have sown and sacrificed these last few months. Thank you and please know that lives will be changed and kids’ lives will have become better by spending time with you this summer. God bless and have a safe trip home. Love, Beth Shanks (Reitenbach)”

The personalized postcards were a perfect pick-me-up for the end of the summer! Thanks Beth!

Summer Staff Farewell

As we close the books on another season of summer camp at DuBois Center, we reflect fondly on the group of young adults that made up the 2018 Summer Staff. They came from near and far in hopes of sharing wonderful, life-changing experiences with their campers. Whether they drove to camp from right here in southern Illinois or journeyed from the other side of the country and globe, first-timers or veterans, they all added their own unique threads to the DuBois Center tapestry. We wish them luck as they return to school, “big kid jobs”, or other grand adventures!

Not pictured: Twig (Laura Renken)

Meet our Summer Staff: Kurtwynn

Welcome Kurtwynn Trompetter from Johannesburg, South Africa to our 2018 summer staff team. Kurtwynn will be serving as a Counselor/Activity Specialist and hopes to gain even more experience and new tools for youth work. Kurtwynn wrote, “My career goal is to open a summer camp for underprivileged children in South Africa of different ages.” Kurtwynn has a variety of applicable experience. He has taught and coached football (soccer), assisted in a day care center and with the youth group at his church, and babysat for family and friends. One of his most significant learning experiences came while working with a 9-year old with Down Syndrome.

When asked about a favorite memory of the “outdoors” from his youth, Kurtwynn shared enthusiastically about an educational camp he was invited to attend while in high school. During the camp they visited an underwater marine exhibit where they learned about different sea animals and about the evolution of life underwater. The camp definitely made a lasting impression. In his free time, Kurtwynn enjoys the arts – making music, drawing and painting. He enjoys staying fit by taking part in soccer tournaments and fitness competitions. Road trips and outings with family and friends are also favorites. During a two-week visit to Mozambique, he was amazed by the beach, loved the HUGE prawns, and saw first-hand how people live in other parts of the world. It was a humbling experience. His “favourite” foods include creamy pastas and spicy prawns; he has a sweet tooth for chocolate and caramel cake.

Welcome Kurtwynn! 

Meet our Summer Staff – Ryan Goetter

Welcome Ryan Goetter to our 2018 leadership team! This will be Ryan’s fourth summer on staff. He will be serving as a village coordinator – supervising and supporting our counselors and campers, as well as coordinating activities and special events. Ryan grew up near Collinsville IL; he was an active member of St. John Evangelical UCC and an avid member of his high school band. He attended summer camp at DuBois Center for many years, including our CIT (Counselors in Training) program.

Ryan currently attends Missouri State University where he studies Instrumental Music Education. He has especially enjoyed his recent practicum experiences. During the school year he works at the Taylor Health and Wellness Center. His focus is student wellness programming, including coordinating a variety of special events. Ryan is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi – an honorary band service fraternity and a founding member of Lambda Chi Alpha. He has served his fraternity as the Director for Drug and Alcohol Awareness for the MSU chapter of FSLSA (Fraternity and Sorority Leaders of Social Awareness). Ryan has a great mentor in his father who is always involved in whatever Ryan and his sister Catie are doing.

Ryan loves the smell of fast food and the taste of hot wings. All his favorite childhood memories are from his adventures at camp. When asked why he has such a passion for working at DuBois Center, Ryan wrote, “I grew up at camp! It’s such an amazing and magical place and I wanted an opportunity to give the kids a great experience like I had!” The wonderful, often off-beat, interactions with campers and the enduring friendships with fellow staff members (his camp family) – he loves it all! One more important thing you should know about Ryan – he absolutely loves Pentatonix Christmas music and chances are he’ll be heard humming those tunes throughout the summer.

Meet our Summer Staff!

Oftentimes, due to the visa application process, international staff are hired long before our local summer staff. This week, we would like to introduce another of our 2018 team members from overseas… Alice McKinnon from Carlton, Australia. Alice is very excited to be joining us as a Counselor/Activity Specialist and is looking forward to learning more about our country and culture.

She is passionate about being outdoors, staying fit and a variety of land and water sports. Alice camps, plays netball and volleyball, studies dance – ballet, jazz and contemporary, bikes and swims. She has experience working with children and peers in a variety of capacities – babysitter, coach, mentor and teacher assistant. One of her references wrote, “Alice is an enthusiastic dynamic young woman. She lights up a room with her happy disposition.” She attended Catholic schools growing up and embraces and practices the “mercy values” she was taught. She believes that faith helps you to be “the very best version of you.”

Alice considers herself very lucky to have traveled a fair amount with her family. Their adventures include Bali, Thailand, Fiji, Tasmania, the United States and Canada. She has also traveled around coastal and inland Australia. Did you know that Australia is about the same size as the continental USA, but with a population closer to that of Texas? Favorite foods? Fresh fruit “and of course chocolate.” She absolutely adores dogs and loves watching American TV series.

Welcome to the team, Alice!

Alice

Summer Staff – Kalaba

Welcome Kalaba Kapunda to the 2017 summer staff team! Originally from Kitwe, Zambia, Kalaba lived in South Africa for the last nine years and is now a student at Eden Theological Seminary. After a successful career in community development in the private and non-profit sectors, he felt a call to ordained ministry. That call led him to study for his Masters of Divinity at Eden.
Back home, Kalaba was actively involved in his home church – Jerusalem United Methodist Church. Through his church and other organizations, he has facilitated youth groups, served as a soccer coach and worked as the youth choir director at an orphanage. Kalaba also did a short stint as a high school teacher – one of the options for mandatory government service. He is the father of his three young sons (seven, four and two years old). His family will be joining him at Eden in the fall.
In his free time, Kalaba enjoys sports, particularly soccer and volleyball. He also enjoys walking, being outside, participating in community work, singing and reading. Kalaba likes all kinds of food, but especially Pap – a favorite from South Africa, fish, rice, goat meat and vegetables. Kalaba is excited to exchange ideas and explore diversity with the campers and staff while at DuBois Center this summer. He believes “diversity can help us respect and celebrate our lives.” He is looking forward to building a team, meeting new friends, and playing together “in an attempt to create understanding, trust, and respect.”