Midland Corps' Intentional Leadership Development
Each summer The Salvation Army Midland, Mich., Corps holds its SHARE (Summer Health and Recreation Experience) day camp. Last year, a record 427 kids were enrolled at four sites. This year the corps hopes to break that record with a fifth SHARE site!
To make it all possible last year, SHARE required 38 counselors, four site directors, two office staff, a community program development director, a "lunch lady" supervising meal service and volunteers, two cadets from The Salvation Army College for Officer Training (seminary) and the corps officers.
Being on staff is much more than being a day camp counselor; it's an intentional leadership program in spiritual and personal development. The program is designed to employ college students returning to the community for the summer. Counselor candidates must write a short essay on why they'd be good additions to the program and each must have a pastoral recommendation. After one year, staff may apply for site director or office staff positions. After two years, they can apply for the program director position.
SHARE staff members participate in peer mentoring plus accountability and discipleship groups led by the corps officers, the cadets and spiritually mature corps soldiers. A weekly praise and worship meeting for staff is also held early each Friday morning. Each staff member is also required to participate in a community service project and a fundraiser that summer.