 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Current Events Who We Serve Application & Forms Employment @ TONEC TONEC Overview Staff Directory Map & Directions Freeberg Scholarship Touch of Nature Environmental Center Mail Code 6888 Southern Illinois University 1206 Touch of Nature Road Makanda, Illinois 62958 Phone: 618 | 453-1121 Fax: 618 | 453-1188 Email: tonec@siu.edu |
|
Conference Services
Imagine an outdoor recreation center in the woods, on a lake, surrounded by thousands of acres of national forest. In the middle of these natural settings, Touch of Nature's Conference Services Program offers event services for business meetings, academic and professional conferences, family reunions, overnight lodging, weddings, and retreats.  Located just nine miles south of Carbondale and part of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, this 3,100 acre wooded retreat is a perfect place to host your group's gathering. Our Conference Services are flexible and willing to accommodate special requests at reasonable prices year round. Touch of Nature has an experienced conference staff who are ready to help you plan and organize your event.  Little Grassy Lodge is the perfect place to hold a retreat. This attractive center will accommodate 36 people in 18 rooms, all with private baths.
 Shawnee Lodge is a self-contained, rustic dormitory style accommodation for up to 22 people. There are separate shared bathroom arrangements for males and females except in the leader room that has a private bath. The lounge may be used as a meeting room for 10 to 15 people or as a comfortable place for just relaxing after an active day. There are both indoor and outdoor stone fireplaces.
 Morris Lodge is also a self-contained rustic dormitory style accommodation. It sleeps up to 18 people, but has a large common area comfortable for up to 25 people.
 L.B. Sharp Lodge is the dormitory style accommodation with bunk beds that sleeps up to 18 people. There is one leader room with a private bath. The common area extends the length of the lodge and has an indoor and an outdoor stone fireplace.
 Camp I Cabins are winterized and range in sizes that can accommodate from six to 20 people each in bunk beds. Electricity is available. Total occupancy for Camp I is 135. Two group shower houses serve this area. (Note: These cabins are regularly used for residential camps such as school groups).
 Camp II Cabin occupancy ranges from eight to ten people in single and bunk beds. Electricity is available. Group shower houses serve three areas of cabins. Total occupancy for Camp II cabins is 140. (Note: These cabins are regularly used for residential camps such as school groups).
Camp I Dining Hall will seat up to 120 people for meetings and banquets. It also has a stone fireplace and large windows that face a stand of tall pines.  Freeberg Hall is the large dining and meeting building. It accommodates up to 160 people for dining or 250 for standing room only. This hall serves as the primary dining area for Camp II. A stone patio complements the main hall.
 Sledgefoot Lounge, in Freeberg Hall, can house meetings and banquets for up to 80 people. It contains a large stone fireplace and windows on three sides. There is also a stone patio immediately adjacent to this room.
 The Indian Building is well suited for groups of up to 75 people. The native stone building has a fireplace and is convenient to Little Grassy Lodge.
 The Friends Room has become the most popular dining and meeting room. Located in Little Grassy Lodge, its windows provide a view through the trees of Little Grassy Lake. This attractive room can accommodate up to 200 people for an auditorium set-up or 110 as a banquet hall.
 Camp II Amphitheatre area looks over Little Grassy Lake, and offers another scenic place for an outdoor wedding or meetings. It will seat up to 100 people.
 The Learning Center, located near Camp II, is a classroom building that is updated with classroom tables and chairs comfortably seating up to 35 people. It features forest viewing and a library of environmental books.
 Beaches are located in Camps I and II and may be scheduled for use by registered groups. Lifeguards are required when using the beaches. Lifeguards can be provided for a fee.
Chartwells Catering Service with Touch of Nature offers a variety of menu selections ranging from "camp food" to elegant sit-down dinners that can be adapted to your taste and budget. Whether you are planning a casual or formal affair, our staff is ready to assist you. Touch of Nature is widely known for its Buffalo Tro, which is carefully seasoned flank steak marinated for 48 hours and cooked outdoors on a bed of hardwood coals in our version of the Plains Indians method. Your appetite never had it so good. For more information about our Conference Program, please contact the Conference staff. If you would like information on other Touch of Nature programs, please e-mail us at tonec@siu.edu. |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||