CARBONDALE - She is going to turn 7 in a few weeks, but Katie Schultz's wish on Monday was not birthday related.

"I need more birds," she said loudly as teachers and counselors assembled pictures from magazines and journals of mammals for children like Schultz to look at, select and paste.

The little girl had already pasted a neat picture of seagulls. She correctly identified the red bird she had just pasted as a cardinal. And now she was eyeing a trumpeter swan.

When she finishes her task, the pictures she has selected and pasted will be laminated into an eventual placemat.

Schultz's work was part of opening day for Eco U summer nature day camps being hosted by Southern Illinois University Carbondale at Touch of Nature.

Thirty children were divided into three groups and they were taught creative ways to view nature and the ecology though fun hands-on activities.

"Tuesday we will be studying birds and Wednesday we will be looking at reptiles and amphibians," said Lauren Wyatt, a camp instructor who graduated in December from SIUC with a degree in zoology about this weeks Eco U program, "Animal Adventures - In Every Nook and Cranny, Animals are Amazing."

There are four sessions daily that children rotate through - Artistic Expression which is arts and crafts oriented; Rousing Recreation that allows for games and movements; Love to Learn which deals with facts; and Simply Sense-Ational that gives children a chance to experience nature with their senses, said instructor Christa Zimmerman.

Children also paddle at the lake twice a week, said Kate Hellgren, program coordinator of environmental education at Touch of Nature.

People who want more information about the camp can call Hellgren at 618-453-1122, ext. 250.

scott.fitzgerald@thesouthern.com

618-351-5076