Work Begins!

Work on the spillway at DuBois Center has begun! Last Thursday, heavy equipment rumbled into camp. To protect the existing dam, the water level needs to be about 5 feet below the current spillway pipe. This is to provide more than adequate room to dig out and replace the old pipe and spillway grate. To accomplish this, the road and dam were cut open and an 8-inch pipe temporarily installed. Using “siphon power” the pipe is drawing water out of the lake and depositing it in the creek below on the back side of the dam. The gouge in the road was temporarily refilled so that vehicles, people and horses can still cross from one side of camp to the other. There are groups at DuBois Center, riding horses and participating in other activities on the far side of lake through the end of November, so access is critical. If the weather holds and the siphon continues to do its job, actual installation of the new spillway grate and pipe could begin as early as this week or next. Watch Facebook and Instagram for updates!
THANKS to every church and individual who donated to Operation Shimmer! We reached our goal of raising $50,000 new money for this spillway project and the installation of air-conditioning in Oak Lodge just last month. Note: $10,000 had been donated previously for the Oak Lodge piece of the project, bringing the total to over $60,000.
    

Join us for a Service Saturday on November 2!

Stretch your muscles! Breathe fresh fall air! Hang out with friends and lend a helping hand!
Youth and adult fellowship groups, individuals, families – everyone is invited to our second Fall 2019 Service Saturday on November 2.
Projects vary, depending on the skills of those involved and the weather. Stacking wood, painting, cleaning and raking leaves are on the list, as are a variety of skilled labor projects. The work may not be glamorous, but it really does make a BIG DIFFERENCE!
Click here for a flyer to post and share, and here for a typical Work Day schedule. Please let us know in advance if you plan to attend. It would be a shame if we ran out of paint, nails or fresh-baked cookies! Contact DuBois Center at 618-787-2202 or dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org.

Confirmand Power!

It’s amazing what a group of Illinois South Conference confirmands and chaperones can accomplish in just 90 minutes!

The crew attending the ISC Confirmation Retreat took the service aspect of their weekend to heart. Happy horses are now munching on green hay because one team unloaded and stacked 640 bales. The wood shed was also emptied, reorganized and is now ready for winter. And posts and rails were painted for upcoming fencing projects.

Positive attitudes, willing hearts and many hands definitely make the load lighter for all. THANKS for all your hard work!

Green DuBois Team News

The next team meeting will be Tuesday, Sept 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at DuBois Center. The next Stewardship Day will be Sat, Oct 12, from 8 a.m. to noon, with a focus on removing invasive species and working on the camp recycling hub. No special skills needed, just bring your own gloves.
The Green DuBois Team welcomes anyone who is interested in the outdoors.  We have many upcoming projects focused on promoting the biodiversity of DuBois Center, maintaining our forest, and building on our ecologically sustainable practices. Anyone can be part of the team, regardless of church affiliation. Come to a meeting or stewardship day, or email for more information: greendubois@aol.org.
We also welcome donations to support this work, which can be sent to the Conference office marked for Green DuBois. Thank you!

Green DuBois Team News

Green DuBois would like to welcome anyone who is interested in the outdoors to join the cause!
The next team meeting will be Tuesday, September 24 from 6:30 pm – 8 pm at DuBois Center. The next Stewardship Day will be Saturday, October 12, from 8 am-Noon, with a focus on removing invasive species and working on the camp recycling hub. No special skills needed, just bring your own gloves!
We have many upcoming projects focused on promoting the biodiversity of DuBois Center, maintaining our forest, and building on our ecologically sustainable practices. We also welcome donations to support this work, which can be sent to the Conference office marked for Green DuBois.
Anyone can be part of the team, regardless of church affiliation. Come to a meeting or stewardship day, or email for more information: greendubois@aol.org.

Fall at DuBois Center

Hot off the presses and soon to be delivered to churches and homes near you – check out our fall activities brochure and event registration form.
Make time to take in the beauty of the season at DuBois Center! From work days to retreats to our annual Fall Festival, there’s something for everyone in the fall.
Upcoming dates you don’t want to miss:
Sept 24        Green DuBois Meeting
Sept 28        Service Saturday
Sept 30        1st Day of Nature’s Classroom
Oct 5            Fall Festival Work Day
October 6    FALL  FESTIVAL
Oct 11-12     ISC Confirmation Retreat
Oct 12          Green DuBois Stewardship Day,
                     Wrangle & Ride
Nov 2           Service Saturday

Thank You to our Volunteer Chaplains!

In June and July, we served over 400 young people in camps sponsored by the Illinois South Conference. It was an amazing summer and we are especially thankful for all the volunteer chaplains that helped make the PEACE WORKS theme come alive for our campers.
It was especially fun to see “Messy Church” techniques at play at camp this summer. Chaplains led BLAST (Bible Learning and Spirit Time), prepared vespers and provided an amazing ministry of presence – walking with our campers and staff throughout each week.
Our team was quite an eclectic bunch. Some are ordained ministers, one an in-care student. Some are school teachers, some are former campers and summer staff members. Some are retired, and some took time off work to serve with us.
Thanks so much to all the 2019 volunteer summer camp chaplains and the churches that supported their efforts. They truly had a significant impact on the faith lives of our campers and staff!:
Nicole Avise-Rouse – Epiphany UCC, St. Louis & St. Paul UCC, Waterloo
Craig Bielke – St. Paul UCC, Belleville
Rev. Katie Jo Bielke – St. John UCC, Collinsville
Joan Daab – St. Paul UCC, Columbia
Rev. Christy Eckert – St. John UCC, Trenton      
Audrey Hicks – St. Paul UCC, Waterloo
Rev. John Holst – Zion UCC, Marion
Rev. Todd Mushaney – Christ UCC, Dupo
Rev. Patrick Poole – St. John UCC, Maeystown & Zion UCC, St. Joe, Waterloo
Alaina Scherle – St. Paul UCC, Waterloo

New Life and Firm Foundation

St. Paul’s UCC in Freeburg has a unique approach to mission work, one aspect of which is a rotating two-year commitment to study, prayer and service in partnership with DuBois Center, Hoyleton Youth & Family Services and Kindercottage. In 2019 and 2020, DuBois Center is again blessed to be the focus of their energy.
Six years ago, the congregation designed and built the new chapel in main camp and made a significant donation towards the new docks. This time around, they have taken on a variety of projects – including the renovation of the three Deer Run cabins.
Over the coming months, in collaboration with Green DuBois, these buildings will be transformed into an environmental education library and resource center, a nature blind for observing and photographing wildlife, and a day-use retreat space. First on the list – shore up the building foundations, then double the size of the decks, next upgrade the electric.
The last two Saturdays, teams from St. Paul’s have been hard at work – despite the heat. Most of the foundation work is complete and the decks are taking shape. Everything looks amazing! THANKS so much to St. Paul’s for all their hard work and support. They are truly breathing new life into the Deer Run cabins!

Welcome Team – Join Us in July

We have had great turnouts for the Sunday Welcome Team in June. Now we are gearing up for July! In addition to our summer staff, 12 to 15 volunteers are needed each Sunday to ensure the process runs smoothly!

Volunteers assist with greetings, parking, the camp store, registration, health screenings, dock duty and people-moving. They arrive by 1:15 pm and are done by 4 pm.

Please consider joining our Sunday Welcome Team. You are invited to wear a church or camp t-shirt and show your spirit. Even consider bringing a team from your church! RSVP by Wednesday to 618-787-2202 or dcinfo@duboiscenter.org.

Volunteers Needed: July 7, July 14 and July 21. The spots for July 7 & 21 are nearly full, but there are lots of opening for July 14.

Are You a Yard Sale Enthusiast?

Plans are coming together for DuBois Center’s annual Fall Festival. One area still in need of an implementation team is the Upscale Resale Shop & Silent Auction. Volunteers to pick-up, store and deliver items to camp are already in place. Now a team is needed for Saturday and Sunday, October 5 and 6 to set up and run the shop.
Tasks include unpacking, setting up, pricing, recruiting cashiers and managing the shop and silent auction the day of Fall Festival. No need to start from scratch, helpful hints will be provided. If your church or fellowship group might be interested, please contact Nancy Wagner, chair of the Outdoor Ministries Team, at 618-444-2835 or nancywagner1958@gmail.com, or DuBois Center at dcinfo@DuBoisCenter.org or 618-787-2202.