A local youth camp is announcing several changes and expanded programs for the 2018 summer and beyond.
Western Illinois Youth Camp was founded exactly 70 years ago under the name of Western Illinois 4H Camp and works to provide fun, educational, and healthy activities for both adults and children. As the year 2018 trudges on, the youth camp’s Board of Directors is announcing who will be co-directing this year’s Summer Camp.
Board President Bob Large says Tanell Anders, a first grade teacher at Eisenhower Elementary School, along with Crossroads Learning Center staff member Drew Comstock will serve as co-directors for the 2018 camp. Large explains Comstock made for an ideal counselor.
“Drew Comstock was with our former director about four years ago and was out there a couple of summers and we were really excited to have him out there with his elementary teaching experience and working with children. He was unable to be with us the last two summers, so he’s excited to come back. We approached (Comstock) when we were looking for a director. We wanted somebody with experience with our kids and with experience with the Western Illinois Youth Camp, and Drew certainly fit that bill,” Large explains.
And as for Anders, Large says she brings plenty of skills to the table.
“Tanell Anders has been with us for I think approximately six years every summer, very experienced. She basically took over as interim director for the last month of our ten-week summer program last year and did a great job, so it was a perfect fit. And she wanted to be co-directors with (Comstock), so we made sure that we had the leadership coverage on site whenever children were there,” says Large.
As for the other changes with Western Illinois Youth Camp come as a result of increased interest and inquiries in regards to outside rentals at the camp. Due to this additional interest, Western Illinois Youth Camp’s Board of Directors is entering into an agreement with Hamilton’s Catering to manage all rentals of the camp, including weddings, receptions, reunions, parties and other special events.
Large discusses this need, and the group’s agreement with Hamilton’s.
“The problem is finding someone who is good at being a summer camp director and also good at renting and organizing weddings and parties and events. The best in Jacksonville, in our opinion, is Hamilton’s catering. It’s a complicated world out here and it takes a lot of coverage to make sure everyone is safe and cared for, and Hamilton’s provides that kind of expertise and professionalism. So from now on, Hamilton’s catering will be handling all outside rentals,” Large says.
For those interested in attending the Western Illinois Youth Camp, contact the camp after February 15th at 217-673-3771, or by going online to wiyc.net. And for inquiries regarding weddings and other rentals, contact Hamilton’s at 217-675-2720, or visit them online at hamiltonscatering.com.