Keeping Kids Busy, Keeping Kids Safe, and Keeping Kids Strong!!
This resource is for parents and students to spread the word about summer activities that are being offered in the Effingham area. Research shows keeping students involved in supervised summer activities will help keep them from getting involved in drugs, alcohol, and violence. This page shows the majority of activities offered to students of our community. Below you will find links and information about activities offered by the following groups: Effingham Park District, Helen Matthes Library, area churches, 180 and Club 56, Effingham summer food program, Lake Land College Summer programs, various camps, and many other opportunities.
To use this link, please scroll down the page and view the various descriptions of activities offered for kids in Effingham County. Click on any available link to view detailed calendars, camp forms, and other information about activities.
Transportation
Below you will find the information for a FREE ride, through CEFS, to the Summer Food Program at West Side School. In order to get a FREE ride you must register 24 hours in advance by calling 1-877-360-4085. After you are registered, you must call the same phone number to let them know what days you want them to pick you up for the Summer Food Program. CEFS is planning on making multiple stops throughout the community for transportation to the program.
At the bottom of this web page is more information about Central IL Public Transit.
SUMMER FREE FOOD PROGRAM
The flyer below describes the FREE lunch program at West Side School. Along with a FREE lunch daily, with the help of the Effingham Park District, there will also be supervised activities for the kids to do after or before they eat lunch. The program runs from 11am to 1pm Monday thru Friday. Remember transportation is FREE if you call ahead 1877-360-4085
EFFINGHAM PARK DISTRICT
Many summer sports and programs are available to participate in through the Effingham Park District. Below you will see a couple different links that will take you straight to the Park District’s webpage where you can view upcoming activities. The Park District has something for every child, from baseball to cooking and crafts. The cost for these programs are low but if you need assistance please call and ask about their scholarships at (217) 342-4415.
For Programs and Sports:
Click on Programs, and under programs you can look at various activities or sports that the Park District is offering this summer.
Also, you can view the entire summer calendar.
Transportation Available in Effingham through CEFS (Central IL Public Transit). Call 1-877-360-4085
Open to Everyone, Office hours are 8:30am 4:30pm. Transportation routes run from 6am to 6pm.
- Need to call and give 24 hour notice
- $1.00 per one way stop, each stop is one way (10 mile radius)
- $2.00 per one way trip (11-25 mile radius)
- Children 12 and under are 50 cents per one way trip
- Monthly and one way passes are available for purchase
HELEN MATTHES LIBRARY
Each month, the library host a variety of events for children, tween, and teens, including lapsits and story times, movie events, Art Attack, games, and so much more!
If you have any questions about the library’s children’s programs or ideas for future programs, please contact Sara Smith at 217-342-2464, ext. 31.
Mon – Thurs 9AM – 8PM
Fri – Sat 9AM – 6PM
Sunday Closed
Click on this link to go directly to the Library’s monthly calendar, full of activities for ALL AGES and all are FREE.
Effingham Unit #40 Summer Camps Sports Camps
Effingham Junior High Softball Camp Jully 11-13th from 8am-12pm
Effingham Jr. Hearts Football Camp July 23-27. This is for students entering the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade, they also will be accepting 10 cheerleaders and 2 mascots. Call Rick Schmidt @ 217-536-5304
Fee assistance is available.
Effingham Girls Basketball Camp May 21st-23. This is for grades 1st-8th
Effingham Boy’s Basketball Camp May 29th-June 1, for students entering grades 3-9th.
Effingham Girl’s Volleyball Camp June 11-14th For students entering 5th-8th grade.
Other Effingham Community Camps/Activities
Effingham Performance Center is offering a Summer Theater Camp. This camp is for students aged 8-18. For more information call 217.540.2788, or go to http://the-epc.org/index.html
Lake Land College is offering various activities for students. Activities such as arts and crafts, food and fun, discover and learn, and science adventures will be offered through the college with some of these activities at the Kluthe Center at 1204 Network Centre Blvd., in Effingham. Call 217-234-5219 for more information or click to view the activities.
Ballard Nature Center
A great place to have outdoor fun with the kids, they also offer some summer camps. Visit their site at http://www.ballardnaturecenter.org/index.htm. Located at 5253 E. US Highway 40, Altamont, Illinois 62411, Phone: 618.483.6856.
First Christian Church of Effingham 217-317-3800
For Students in Kindergarten to 6th Grade: 05/27/12 @ Noon – God Made Us Celebration.
Come and enjoy a day of games and activities at the church. We will serve hot dogs and some great snacks. This event is free of charge.
07/01/12 @ Noon – Knock Them Down!!! We will meet at the church and then go to the bowling alley. All children & their parents are invited to join us for an afternoon of Bowling. This event is free of charge.
07/22/12 to 07/27/12 @ 5:30pm – Amazing Wonders Aviation (VBS Program): Come and enjoy as we follow a flight plan of games, crafts, friendships, snacks, and lessons around the world, learning about God’s amazing creations. This event is free of charge.
08/26/12 @ Noon – God Knows Us Celebration: Come and enjoy a day of games and activities at the church. We will serve hot dogs and some great snacks. This event is free of charge.
09/30/12 @ Noon – Columbus Day Celebration: Come and enjoy a day of games and activities at the church. We will serve hot dogs and some great snacks. This event is free of charge.
For 7th to 12th grade activities, every Wednesday, we have Youth Group starting @5:30PM. We have games and study a lesson. The themes of this summer are: 05/23 – 06/20: Made to Make a Difference: Can You Really Change the World? 06/27 – 07/18: No Plan B: God’s Remarkable Plan to Rescue the World 08/08 – 08/29: King David: Trials, Temptations, and Triumphs .09/05 – 10/03: Courage: Do You Have What it Takes?
ON 07/01 @ 5:30PM, we are meeting at the church and then going Bowling. (the church will pay for the shoes and lanes). ON 08/19, We will go as a group to the movies. Time TBD.
New Hope Church, Effingham
ONEIGHTY meets on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month 6-10 pm. ONEIGHTY is a teen outreach that exists to provide a safe, interactive environment where youth can build positive relationships with peers, volunteers and most importantly, God.
http://www.180effingham.com
Club 56 This event is for all 5th and 6th graders and their families. The purpose is to welcome the new 5th graders to Club 56. Location: ONEIGHTY
Click here for their complete calendar of events http://newhopechurch.cc/events/new-hope-calendar
Cornerstone Christian Church, Effingham (217)-342-6770
Click here for their entire calendar http://www.effinghamcornerstone.net/calendar.php?pageID=5
SKY Vacation Bible School – June 10-14th, 6:00-8:30 PM for ages 3 years-5th Grade. Online Registration available at: www.effinghamcornerstone.net
https://www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/effinghamcornerstone/gpgs/Home.aspx
Jr. High VBS in conjunction with SKY available for 6th-8th Grade. Contact nloker@consolidated.net for more information.
WAM Camp: Worship, Arts, and Music Camp – July 16-20th, 9-11:30 AM for Kindergarten-5th Grade. Email lorettadavis@consolidated.net for more information.
Fellowship for Christian Athletes 2012 Day Camp
- For boys and girls entering 5th-8th grade
- June 18-20th and it is FREE
- 9am to 2:30pm at Eff. High School
- A full day of activities are planned including a free shirt and bible
Call Coach Rod Wiethop at 217-663-6068 or Tom Morgan at 618-593-6756. Forms are available at Eff. Junior High or the Summer Food Program.