The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit signed a partnership with Safari Club International (SCI) today, a result of the goal to enhance and expand its existing outdoor programming and youth outreach options through SCI’s expertise and funding capabilities.
At its national convention in January in Reno, the Tucson, Arizona-based SCI Board of Directors voted unanimously to officially adopt a model partnership with The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division, headquartered in Southfield. Since then, SCI chapters in Michigan have contributed more than $18,000 to The Salvation Army Outdoors, part of The Salvation Army’s youth outreach programming in Michigan.
Most of these funds were used to build a new facility at The Salvation Army Outdoors’ (TSAO) Echo Grove camp in Leonard, which gives youth a safe and exciting introduction to shooting sports, including archery and air rifles. SCI is also providing expertise through instruction at Echo Grove camp. This past summer, SCI volunteers provided certified instructors to help 32 youths earn their Hunter Safety Certification.
In addition, SCI is training leaders in The Salvation Army by providing the opportunity for the nonprofit’s instructors to attend the American Wilderness Leadership School in Jackson, Wyoming.
To solidify the partnership, The Salvation Army’s Central Territory Commissioner Barry Swanson and SCI President Merle Shepard signed an official memorandum of understanding in a ceremony at the Eastern Michigan Division’s Southfield headquarters.
“We live in a world in which children in the outdoors are becoming an extinct species. This new partnership helps us build a new mindset, a new outdoor culture. There is certainly a sense of urgency. This could be our last chance to build an active, motivated generation of outdoor kids,” SCI president Merle Shepard said.
Through camps, sports programs and after-school activities, The Salvation Army Outdoors provides children and their families with a well-rounded view of the outdoors, including wildlife management and education, fishing, boating and hiking from a mind, body and soul perspective. In Michigan, TSAO touches the lives of thousands of children and families.
“Through The Salvation Army Outdoors, each day is a new opportunity to provide a child with an experience they have never had before – learning new skills in the outdoors. This partnership will expand and improve these opportunities, and we are hopeful this model program will be adopted by other divisions and shared throughout The Salvation Army,” Commissioner Swanson said.
Comprised of 190 chapters worldwide, SCI exists to promote outdoor sports and wildlife conservation worldwide, and has dedicated an astounding amount of funding to conservation, wildlife education and humanitarian programs. For more information, visit
http://www.safariclub.org/.
Founded by William Booth in London, England in 1865, The Salvation Army is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to serving people in need without discrimination. The Salvation Army uses $.83 of every dollar raised to provide direct services to people in need each and every day of the year. For more information about The Salvation Army please visit
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/.
