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Western Illinois University students, and even regional high school students, will get a bit of a summer hiatus from winter next week on the WIU-Macomb campus. Well, maybe not quite — but a bevy of information about summertime job opportunities for students will be on campus from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28 via WIU's Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration (RPTA) 45th annual Summer Camp Job Fair (SCJF).
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This year, as in many years past, Gordie Kaplan, executive director of the American Camp Association (ACA), Illinois section, will be in Macomb to assist Western faculty and staff with the SCJF. Kaplan has been helping out with the SCJF event for more than 30 years. To honor his service to Western, in 2001, Kaplan was named the recipient of the WIU Department of RPTA's Distinguished Service Award.
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Dale Adkins, who retired Dec. 31, 2015, has been integral to the WIU Summer Camp Job Fair over the years. Adkins formerly served WIU as the associate dean for academic affairs, research and innovation in the College of Education and Human Services and former chair of the WIU Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration. His service at WIU is being honored at a retirement reception from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27 (see www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=13229).
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WIU RPTA Summer Camp Job Fair Set for Jan. 28; Annual Event Has Long History of Providing Students with Educational Opportunities

January 25, 2016

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MACOMB, IL — Western Illinois University students, and even regional high school students, will get a bit of a summer hiatus from winter this week on the WIU-Macomb campus. Well, maybe not quite — but a bevy of information about summertime job opportunities for students will be on campus from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 28 via WIU's Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration (RPTA) 45th annual Summer Camp Job Fair (SCJF). The SCJF will take place in the University Union Grand Ballroom.

According to RPTA Assistant Professor Jeremy Robinett, the event is one of the largest camp job fairs in the U.S. This year, the SCJF will feature more than 40 camps from across the Midwest and from other locations in the U.S., with camp personnel recruiting students from all majors and disciplines for a variety of summer camp positions.

"Personnel from day and resident camps, including a large number from the Chicago area, will visit Western's campus to interact with students," Robinett said. "Attending the fair provides students in a wide variety of majors with employment possibilities and networking opportunities with camp directors," he added.

Service Stand Outs: Kaplan and Adkins

This year, as in many years past, Gordie Kaplan, executive director of the American Camp Association (ACA), Illinois section, will be in Macomb to assist Western faculty and staff with the SCJF. Kaplan has been helping out with the SCJF event for more than 30 years. To honor his service to Western, in 2001, Kaplan was named the recipient of the WIU Department of RPTA's Distinguished Service Award.

"In 1983, I contacted then RPTA Chair Frank Lupton and asked if the ACA sections from Illinois, Iowa, St. Louis and Wisconsin could participate in planning and promoting the event. Other than one of two years when I was ill, I have attended the SCJF every year since 1984 to assist RPTA faculty and students in every possible way. I have also mentored RPTA undergraduate and graduate students for their required internships with ACA Illinois over the years," Kaplan said.

"Gordie is an outstanding professional who has endeared himself to Western Illinois University. He is a true Leatherneck at heart. He has mentored many students over the years. His love of learning and being a part of Western will be missed," noted Dale Adkins, recently retired associate dean for academic affairs, research and innovation in the WIU College of Education and Human Services (COEHS) and former chair of the WIU Department of RPTA.

Kaplan has a long history of service with the ACA, for which he has also served as the ACA St. Louis section. He has more than 49 years of experience in administration, mentoring and training and has worked with many Western faculty members, including Adkins, over the years to develop a variety professional-development camping field opportunities for Western students.

"In 2004, Dale, with my help and the assistance of several other Midwest American Camping Association professionals, initiated, the Student Camp Leadership Academy (SCLA). The SCLA was a weekend experience for undergraduate, graduate and recent grads from anywhere in the country to explore a career in the camping field. The 2015 SCLA was the 10th consecutive event, and during the years several WIU students have participated."

Adkins, who retired from WIU Dec. 31, 2015, came to Western in 1992, after serving as assistant professor in the department of physical education and recreation at Western Kentucky University. A retirement reception for Adkins is set from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, a day before the SCJF. (For more information about Adkins' contributions to Western, see www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=13229).

A list of camps that will be represented at the SCJF is included below.

For more information about the SCJF, contact Robinett at (309) 298- 2817 or via email at JL-Robinett@wiu.edu.

WIU Department of RPTA Summer Camp Job Fair 2016

American Youth Foundation – Miniwanca: www.ayf.com
Camp Anne: www.ahrcnyc.org
Camp Anokijig: www.anokijig.com
Camp Eastman/Saukenauk Scout Reservation: www.mississippivalleybsa.org/camping
Camp Fire Iowa/Camp Hantesa: www.campfireiowa.org; hantesa.wordpress.com
Camp Henry Horner, JCYS: www.jcys.org/chh
Camp Kearney, a ministry of South Side Mission of Peoria: www.southsidemission.org/camp-kearney/
Camp Kupugani / Camp White Eagle: kupugani.com
Camp Liberty (Camp Liberty is in Scott County, IA, near the Quad Cities)
Camp Lincoln for Boys and Camp Lake Hubert for Girls: www.lincoln-lakehubert.com
Camp Newaygo: campnewaygo.org
Camp Nicolet, Inc.: www.campnicolet.com
Camp Sacajawea/Camp Tanglefoot/Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa Summer Camps: www.girlscoutsiowa.org/en/camp/our-camps.html
Camp Shaw-Waw-Nas-See: www.campshaw.org
Camp Tapawingo, Camp SOAR, Camp Widjiwagan, Camp Kiwanis, CampTastic: www.getyourgirlpower.org
Camp Wyoming: http://campwyoming.net/
Cheerio Adventures /Camp Cheerio: cheerioadventures.org
Cub Creek Science Camp: MoScienceCamp.com
CYC - Camp Rosenthal: www.camprosenthal.org
Dickson Valley Camp: www.dicksonvalley.com
Easter Seals Wisconsin Camps: camp.eastersealswisconsin.com/
Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois-Camp Dean, Camp Far Horizons, Camp McCormick: www.girlscoutsni.org
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast: Camp Silverbrook/Camp Alice Chester: www.gswise.org/Home.aspx
Great Oaks Camp: www.greatoakscamp.org
Holiday Home Camp: www.holidayhomecamp.org/
House in the Wood: houseinthewood.org
JCYS Camp Red Leaf: www.jcys.org/redleaf
Life Adventure Center of the Bluegrass: www.lifeadventurecenter.org
McGaw YMCA Camp Echo: mcgawymca.org/campecho
Menno Haven Camp and Retreat Center: mennohaven.com
Meramec Adventure Learning Ranch: www.meramecranch.org
North Star Camp for Boys: www.northstarcamp.com
Northern Tier High Adventure Programs: www.ntier.org
Pilgrim Heights Camp and Retreat Center: www.PilgrimHeights.org
Presbyterian Camp Carew: www.campcarew.com
Stronghold Camp & Retreat Center: www.strongholdcenter.org
The Country Experience: www.thecountryexperience.com/
True Friends - Camp Courage, Camp Friendship, Camp Eden Wood, Camp Courage North: www.truefriends.org
Union League Boys & Girls Clubs Camp: ulbgc.org/camp
WeHaKee Camp for Girls: wehakeecampforgirls.com
Wisconsin Badger Camp: www.badgercamp.org
WIU Summer Enrichment (Camp programs include science, web design, art, Harry Potter, and girls' math camps at Western Illinois University): www.wiu.edu/sao/outreach/youth_enrichment/
Wonderland Camp: www.wonderlandcamp.org

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing