INA, Ill. (August 4, 2025) — Rend Lake College offered kids an opportunity to unplug from devices and to learn through exciting, fun activities. RLC’s Community and Corporate Education offered camps for children in kindergarten to 7th grade. This year’s camps included Minecraft Camp, Golf Camp, Blastoff Camp, Bertie Ham's Chefs of Tomorrow, Sparks & Splatter, LEGO camp, and Outdoor Life Camp.
Blastoff campers ready to launch their model rockets.
RLC's Dean of Arts and Sciences Division, Greg Hollman, led the campers in building, decorating and launching their own model rockets, reaching heights up to 1000 feet at the Blastoff Camp. These campers also viewed videos produced by NASA, discussed the possibility of life beyond Earth and participate in activities that bring the solar system to scale.
Pictured in back (L-R): Incoming golf freshman, Chase Cole (Christopher) and Daven Cook (Centralia), Golf Head Coach Corey Phillips and Assistant Golf Coach Casey Rhine with golf campers.
RLC Golf Head Coach Corey Phillips, along with Assistant Golf Coach Casey Rhine went through the fundamentals of the game of golf with the campers, including grip, stance, back-swing and through-swing. The Golf Camp kids participated in drills that had them practicing their skills, learning course etiquette and playing on a course.
Camp Instructor Matt Jackson guiding campers through the world of Minecraft.
This one-of-a-kind Minecraft Camp, instructed by RLC's Matt Jackson, introduced campers to the exciting world of 3D design. Campers learned to build real-world structures in Minecraft, developed spatial awareness, and explored the basics of 3D modeling and printing.
Campers receive shelter-building advice from a Park Ranger.
Campers joined Park Rangers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to learns basic outdoor skills such as building a fire, making shelter, learning basic knots, and more at the Outdoor Life Camp! This camp ended with the campers celebrating their new learned skills with a meal cooked over the fire.
RLC's Rebecca Curry beginning Sparks & Splatter with a 'Magic School Bus' book.
From colorful chemical reactions to hands-on projects that turn everyday junk into masterpieces, Sparks & Splatter got campers' imagination buzzing. Campers had a chance to mix, build, and design as they experience how science and art collide.
Campers learn how to make pizza dough from Chef Jeff Fairbanks.
Campers learned the basics of safely cooking and how to cook lunch for themselves at Bertie Ham's Chefs of Tomorrow under the leadership of RLC's Chef Jeff Fairbanks and Chef Daniel Brock. Each kid was able to take home samples of their cooking to share will their families.
Bertie Ham was well-known for her love and passion for education, cooking and children. Bertie Ham’s Chefs of Tomorrow is being sponsored in Bertie’s memory, by her family and friends. Each camper will receive some of Bertie’s famous recipes.
Minecraft Lego campers cool off with some sno cones before headed back to Lego bingo.
Campers of the LEGO camps, partnered with Metro East Bricks, explored the challenging world of Minecraft and the galaxy of Star Wars by using LEGO Bricks to build some of the popular game figures, constructed motorized LEGO models, and other builds. Campers built and took home a personalized LEGO mini figure.
LEGO® is a registered trademark of the LEGO® Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse these programs.
Interested in Kids Camp for next summer? Visit rlc.edu/community-corporate-education to see upcoming workshops, trainings, classes, and camps!
