The Salvation Army's character building camps supplement the character building ministries that occur year-round in the local corps community center. Sunbeams, Girl Guards and Adventure Corps are all accounted for. It is a great way to "check out" the character building programs. If interested, please call Kim Herivel-Walter at (402) 898-5921.
Sunbeam Camp
Sunbeam Camp usually lasts between three and four days, during which Sunbeams from various Salvation Army locations come together to learn more about God, and work on different emblems that they might not be able to earn in their home towns. Astronomy (star study) and various outdoor oriented emblems are favorites at this camp, but the outdoor activity doesn't stop with emblem earning. During free time, the girls have a chance to further enjoy the outdoors by swimming, boating, playing tennis or basketball or just lounging around in the sun and talking with friends. In the evening, all the Sunbeams meet together and enjoy programs focused on entertaining the girls while still relaying a positive Christian message. Every night the leaders share a devotional thought with the Sunbeams, and the girls have devotional times in their cabins before bed. For many girls, Sunbeam Camp is their first time away from home. Some girls even learn to make their beds for the first time. Indeed, Sunbeam Camp is a growing experience for all who attend.
Girl Guard CampGirl Guard Camp is Sunbeam Camp all grown up. Instead of staying at camp for three or four days, these young women stay at camp for about a week, participating in a variety of activities. Emblem earning is a big focus at this camp. Oftentimes emblems offered at camp might be in particular areas that would be difficult to teach within the boundaries of a Salvation Army building, such as Hit the Trail (a camping emblem) or Swims Like a Fish (the swimming proficiency emblem). Emblem study is combined with free time, where girls can swim, boat, play basketball, tennis or just hang around the cabin and shoot the breeze. In the evenings the girls attend programs that are focused both on entertaining and teaching the young women about God. After the program it's snack time, and then off to the cabin for devotions. The girls are placed into cabins based on which Salvation Army Community Center that they've come from but within that cabin each girl will most likely have the opportunity to meet a young person from another Salvation Army location--often someone that they never would have met if it hadn't been for their experience at Girl Guard Camp.
Adventure Corps/Junior Boys Camp
The Adventure Corps camping experience is split into two groups--Explorers and Rangers. The Explorers are younger and stay at camp approximately three days, whereas the older Rangers enjoy the camping experience for up to a week. While at camp the boys focus on earning four emblems, while also participating in a wide variety of activities that might not be available within the walls of a Salvation Army Community Center. The older Rangers camp offers boys the opportunity to camp out in tents during their entire stay, whereas Explorer camp offers a mix of cabin and tent life. The older boys also learn to cook food outside while camping, in addition to getting necessary nutrition from meals provided by the camp dining hall. While at camp all campers attend programs that entertain while also teaching the practical message of God's love.