The Salvation Army launches 8-week summer day camp to empower local youth

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — The Salvation Army launched a new 8-week Summer Day Camp aimed at helping local youth grow academically, emotionally, and spiritually.

The camp is open to students from kindergarten through 12th grade. It runs Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Jaquay Owens, organizer, said the camp blends academic instruction, character building, and Christian values to offer a well-rounded experience designed to support children both in and out of the classroom.

"One of the things I want to do is make sure it's consistent when it comes to education," he said. "I don't want them to forget how to do multiplication, division, or subtraction."

Campers will participate in daily devotionals and Bible-based lessons to help guide their spiritual growth and encourage strong community values. They’ll also engage in hands-on academic sessions focused on reading, math, science, and creative arts to help prevent summer learning loss. Weekly themes will promote key values such as respect, responsibility, kindness, and integrity.

"We see what's going on in Decatur, you always see the bad, but you hardly see the good. There are good kids out here. There are people trying to make changes," said Owens.

To track each camper’s development, The Salvation Army will conduct pre- and post-camp evaluations that measure academic progress, behavioral improvements, and spiritual understanding. Educational field trips will also be offered to help bring classroom lessons to life and introduce children to new experiences outside their everyday environment.