The Salvation Army - Summer Associate VISTA
The Salvation Army will deploy Summer Associate VISTAs across three programs—SparkConnect Summer Camp, Family Haven youth programming, and Emergency Disaster Services—to strengthen academic retention, reduce food insecurity, and expand public‑health and disaster‑response capacity for families across North St. Louis County. Three Associates will support SparkConnect by delivering literacy instruction, enrichment activities, and mentorship for 64 youth; three will help Family Haven develop and replicate SparkConnect‑style programming for 25 children in emergency shelter; and four will bolster Emergency Disaster Services through mass feeding, sheltering, volunteer coordination, and community outreach. Collectively, these ten Associates will serve more than 1,000 people by expanding youth development opportunities, stabilizing families in crisis, and enhancing the region’s readiness to respond to extreme heat, storms, and other emergencies.
The key responsibilities of the Summer Associate VISTAs will be:
SparkConnect Summer Camp: Lead the Summer Literacy Challenge, support art/STEM/recreation activities, supervise field trips, and facilitate small‑group instruction and project‑based learning while mentoring youth and helping them discover their individual “spark.”
Family Haven Youth Programming: Assist with curriculum development, program outreach, and the creation of a SparkConnect‑style summer program for children in emergency shelter, working closely with the Youth Coordinator and partner sites.
Emergency Disaster Services: Support disaster‑response operations through mass feeding, sheltering, and volunteer coordination, and assist with community outreach efforts such as distributing hydration and cooling kits and recruiting volunteers.
Cross‑Program Contribution: Strengthen program capacity by bringing personal skills and creativity to enrichment activities, maintaining safe staff‑to‑student ratios, and helping deliver services that collectively support more than 1,000 youth and families.
Apply on my.americorps.gov.