The Salvation Army’s youth programs help kids have fun, grow into adults

OMAHA, Neb.—For Lt. Melissa Christiansen, watching kids grow and develop is a joy.

As The Salvation Army Western Division’s Divisional Youth secretary, Christiansen oversees the youth programming in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, and the Quad Cities.

"The Salvation Army here in the Omaha metro has a variety of youth programs available to the community, including archery, basketball programs, after-school tutoring, just general after-school care.”

She said there are similar opportunities across the Western Division’s coverage area, with more than 340,000 kids taking part in in them.

“We also have our summer camp up in South Sioux City—that I get the enormous privilege of helping run every summer—where we see hundreds of kids come and get to be outdoors and make memories and build potential.”

Character building is one program she highlighted.  It is split into several groups. 

Moonbeams are those in preschool and Kindergarten.

“They have badges like art and colors and reading,” Christiansen said.  “Cooking is always a fun one.”

Those who are in first to fifth grades are divided between Sunbeams and Explorers—girls and boys, respectively.

“They have very similar badges, where it is things like laundry, how to help around the house, art, sports, cycling and cycling safety—things that help build just real-life skills, as well as having fun.”

Nineteen-year-old Nyamal Chut was one of those participants, starting at age 5.

"There weren't enough kids to have a Moonbeam class, so I was put in with the Sunbeams,” Chut said.  “And I remember that day, we were making a collage with magazine paper."

She added that it was fun, as well as a good way to strengthen her relationship with her friends – and also strengthen her faith.

For those in grades six to 12, the girls become Girl Guards and the boys become Rangers.

“They're focusing on learning new things, developing skills,” Christiansen said.  “They have auto know-how—where they can learn how to change a tire on a car."

"We also have character-building rallies that we would have once a year,” Chut said.  “Usually, we do skills like reciting bible verses."

She added that the big lesson was using teamwork to accomplish the tasks.

"We'd always take turns doing what we knew and using each other's strengths."

Christiansen also highlighted The Salvation Army’s music program.

“At many of our locations, you'll see beginner brass bands that the kids can take part in.”

Chut said she was around 9 years old when she took beginner brass.

“I play trumpet for college—although in church, I play the cornet often, as well,” she said.  “I've played the E-flat soprano cornet for a couple years now; and from time-to-time, I play tuba for our youth band whenever it's needed."

Chut is currently a freshman at the University of Nebraska-Omaha majoring in music education.

"When I'm a sophomore, I'll be doing practicum,” she said.  “So I'll be student teaching at certain schools around the metro area."

She added that while she does want to teach, she is also interested in music therapy.

"Music can help induce happy memories."

Overall, Christiansen believes the youth programming is particularly important.

"It provides an opportunity for kids to build relationships, recognize that they have potential—and to help them reach that potential—make memories that will last them a lifetime, and just achieve things that they might not be able to otherwise achieve," she said.

For her part, Chut said she does not know where she would be without The Salvation Army.

"The Salvation Army is definitely a big factor for who I am today.  That's how I first found my love for music and the people who are closest to me, and just who I am as a person.”