PERU, IL – The Illinois Valley popular Summer Science Camp sponsored by Carus has big plans to celebrate its 20th anniversary. “About 600 students have graduated from the Camp since it started in 2001. We are excited to celebrate this milestone with the community, so we are inviting all past graduates and their parents to this year’s graduation party,” said Carus Communications Manager, JoLynn Anzelc. The party will be held on July 22 at 11 am in the St. Bede Academy cafeteria. “We will have plenty of pizza, cake and a special gift for all who attend,” added Anzelc. Anyone plans to join the celebration is asked to RSVP no later than Tuesday, July 19.
A summer camp t-shirt design contest was held in May as part of the 20th anniversary. “Carus employees chose Sara Shin of Peru Catholic School as the winning designer,” according to Anzelc. “Sara showed lots of creativity and captured the spirit of the camp’s anniversary,” Anzelc added. Sara won a pizza party for her fifth-grade class.
The Carus Summer Science Camp is a popular destination for students in local counties and is sponsored by Carus. The company is devoted to encouraging and promoting STEM career opportunities in the Starved Rock Country region. The Camp is led by a team of local teachers and Carus volunteers. Parents of past graduates say the Camp has made a tremendous difference in their children’s lives:
- All three of Terrie Kruswicki’s children attended the Camp. “My oldest son, Jordon, is now in college and was so enthusiastic after he attended the camp that my other two (Bailey and Trey) begged to attend,” said Kruswicki. “The camp has sparked a passion for science in my youngest son and I credit the camp’s staff; they do such a wonderful job creating a hands-on experience for the kids,” she added.
- Carus employee Carlos Larios has volunteered at the camp and is glad his kids attended. “Both appreciated the hands-on experiments and loved building rockets to fly,” Larios said. “My kids grew up hearing me share my science experience from my work at Carus, and so it was great for them to see firsthand the magic of chemical reactions,” he added.
- Deb Bibula’s daughter also attended the Camp. “Kaitlyn really enjoyed the field trip to the LaSalle water treatment plant where she got to understand how the city treats the local water for community use,” Bibula said. She credits the camp for sparking her daughter’s initiative to do more at her school’s STEM lab.
- Ashton Mattison is now 24 and works at Carus as an electrician; he fondly recalls his Science Camp experience. “I love science and the camp provided a range of fun experiences,” Mattison said. “My career in electricity is an extension of my love for science and kids should be encouraged by parents to explore science early,” he added.
This year’s Carus Summer Science Camp is July 18 – 22 at St. Bede Academy from 9 am to noon each day. According to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for STEM occupations will continue growing with much more lucrative salaries than other fields.