by Christi Mathis
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Imagine a summer filled with fun, thanks to the camps and programs offered for all ages, abilities and interests at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The 2023 lineup is large and diverse, assuring something for everyone, and includes the debut of new camp experiences and the return of many longtime favorites.
SIU’s Events and Outreach is coordinating a wide variety of enriching, educational, enjoyable camp experiences giving children and youths the opportunity to learn, check out new things, enhance their athletic skills, create unique artwork, build, explore the great outdoors, make music, design the future, soar through the skies, get their game on, explore careers in medicine and much more. All the while, it’s a chance to make new friends and have a great time.
The university also offers adults numerous options for personal and professional development and hundreds of continuing education online course options.
All new in ’23
The summer camp schedule for children in first grade through high school includes a vast array of academic, athletic, craft and music camps.
SIU Athletics will be offering a golf camp for the first time this year. Details are coming soon.
Any high school age youth pondering a career in the medical field won’t want to miss Pathways to Saluki Medicine, a new overnight camp.
Dozens of choices
That’s just the beginning, though. The always-popular series of Lego camps, including Lego Mindstorm, Lego Engineering and WeDo Robotics Lego camps, are all happening this summer. The archeology, history and gamification camps premiered in 2022 to rave reviews, and they are back this year along with aviation, architecture, esports, Challenge to Excellence, SOAR accounting camp, Ag Leadership, Involving Girls in STEAM and others.
In addition, a diverse assortment of Craft Shop art camps will feature everything from mixed media and wearable art to drawing comic books and taking art outside. Participants in grades 1-8 can design their own board game, work with fibers and print, sew, create with clay and more.
Numerous music camps are on tap for individuals and groups of different ages as well. Youths can enhance their skills on the piano, as drum major or color guard, as percussionists or during high school or junior high band camps.
Saluki Athletics and Events and Outreach are also offering an assortment of athletic camps for various sports, including football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, cross country, track and field, soccer, cheer and dance.
Coming soon
New camps and additional camp information are being added continuously, so keep an eye on camps.siu.edu for the most up-to-date schedule and details. Explore all of the SIU 2023 academic, adventure, athletic, art and music summer camp options and find online registration there.
The camps are led by professionals who are experts in their fields with assistance from Saluki students, in some cases.
Nearby John A. Logan College is also offering a complementary lineup of summer camps with details coming to their community education page soon.
Lifelong learning
SIU offers appealing opportunities to expand your horizons and learn, regardless of your age. Check out the numerous online continuing education courses, sign language interpreter courses and a variety of other in-person and continuing education and professional development programs.
For more information about any of the Events and Outreach adult programming, visit the website, call 618-536-7751 or email conferenceservices@siu.edu.