By Kyla Hurt
Photos/Kyla Hurt and Special to The Source
School is only just recently back in session, so many kids still have “summertime brain.” And that is understandable.
Summer is a magical time for children — staying up late, playing outside with friends, having sticky fingers from popsicles, frolicking in the endless daylight and catching fireflies when the sun finally goes down.
It’s a time of added freedom.
Another memory-maker over those three quick months is camps.
I loved going to camps as a kid. I hold special memories that remain vivid in my mind all these years later.
I remember art made by placing leaves on special paper that we left outside to let the sun do the rest. I remember sitting around the campfire with new friends — each of us cooking our dinner in a tinfoil pack on the grates. There were these wonderful leather rounds that we stamped and made into necklaces. And, oh there were the delightful camp songs.
Some of these memories are from camps held out around our own Lake Jacksonville.
The amazing part is camps are still held out there. I had the pleasure of going out to visit Western Illinois Youth Camp (WIYC), located on the southeastern shore of Lake Jacksonville. I took photos and talked to kids who shared their own take on memories and fun.
Simply as an outsider and parent, there were several things that I really liked about this camp.
The first is simple: The kids are in nature. Whether on a hike or just walking around the grounds, there are cool things to experience. It’s flora and fauna galore — neat mushrooms or animals that kids don’t generally encounter in town.
Two: There are no electronics.
Three: When I first walked onto the grounds that afternoon, counselors saw me and were quick to ask what I was doing there. Now let me be clear that this was done in a quick-to-respond and caring fashion because these counselors love these kids. It was all about the kids’ safety.
Four: The kids were a variety of ages. However, they all interacted well and were inclusive, regardless of age differences.
Five: WIYC gives children the opportunity to explore new things — away from parents or guardians — creating more independence and individual growth.
The 2026 summer camp schedule at WIYC offered eight different camp themes over an equal number of weeks. Plus, overnight camps were available for older kids during a couple of those weeks.
WIYC Camp Director Tanell Anders shares, “This summer was a wonderful adventure full of fun and memories! We met several new campers and welcomed back several returning campers. We welcomed an incredible & positive staff that helped keep our campers engaged, safe, and having fun! Being outdoors, away from electronics, and taking in nature and all it has to offer has always been key and we had a terrific summer doing just that and meeting new friends along the way!
“Keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for next summer’s details and early bird drawings for those registered early!
“Next up is our WIYC Fall 5k Run & our Annual Steak Fry. Both are set for Saturday, October 10 with the 5k in the morning (more specifics to come on our Facebook) and the steak fry at 5:30 p.m. We hope you can join us for fun and fellowship! If not able to attend, donations are always welcome as we work to improve camp and send even more kids to camp!”
So, make a reminder to look for the WIYC camps next summer. Find out more at wiyc.net.
