The Summer My Way Program kicked off last week, with more than 250 children enrolled.

The six-week program for kindergarten through fifth-graders lasts from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Northside Childhood Development Center. The free camp is offered through the Niles-Buchanan YMCA. Through partnerships with several organizations, the camp will take on a number of educational topics and healthy activities.

In their first week, campers got the chance to visit Fernwood Botanical Gardens, where they took a nature walk to see the St. Joseph River and check out the many animals that inhabit the garden’s nature center.

Campers also got the chance to have some fun while exercising and played a game called “Ga Ga Balls.” The sport is played inside an octagonal pit.

Dance parties and healthy snacks were also on the camp schedule.

The camp is led by 25 staff members and 30 mentors. Additionally, more than 30 program activity groups occur each day, which seeks to create a unique experience for the individual camper.