Youth Services

The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Center provides children and families with opportunities to discover and develop passions and talents within their own neighborhood. This state-of-the-art community facility provides arts, education, and athletic opportunities for children, adults, and families.

For many kids, summer camp is the first time they will see the world outside of their neighborhood. Each year, we enable thousands of children from low-income families to enjoy fresh air, exercise, and new friendships through our annual summer camp programs. This camping experience is more than just a few days away from home. Here, children learn new skills and self-reliance. Trained counselors, who understand their emotional needs, help them mature and grow. Camp activities include learning to swim, scouting, arts and crafts, music development, and sports.

Healthy minds and healthy hearts are vital for kids at every age. We provide safe activities that are either free or at a low cost to meet the needs of youth in each community.

The arts are being cut from schools facing budget restraints or treated as an elective. We disagree. Music, dance, and art are crucial for youth development and enrichment. Our diverse programs offer instrument training, painting, drama, dance, poetry, and more.

We bring children into an environment where learning continues long after the bell rings. The Salvation Army operates after-school programs to give kids a safe place to play, do homework, and pursue extracurricular goals. During a time where they could otherwise be at risk, we open our doors to kids for growth in literacy, sports, arts, music, and more.