Students enrolled at Niles Community Schools will have the opportunity to participate in a new free program designed to keep kids active, engaged and learning throughout the summer.

The program, entitled “Summer My Way,” is a collaboration between the Berrien County 4-H, City of Niles, Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce, Lake Michigan College, Southwestern Michigan College, Lakeland Health Care, Niles-Buchanan YMCA, Niles Community Schools, Niles District Library and the United Way of Southwest Michigan.

Niles students in grades kindergarten through fifth will be able to sign up for eight weeks of full-day classes that run five days a week June 16 through Aug. 8.

The program is free for those enrolled in Niles Community Schools, but students from other districts can

register for a fee. Niles students can sign up now, but open registration for children who attend other school districts doesn’t begin until May 4.

Organizers are encouraging people to sign up as soon as possible, as space is limited and open on a first come first served basis.

Nancy Studebaker, director of the Niles District Library, said Niles students can attend for free because Niles Community Schools has made the largest donation of resources to the program. This could change down the road if other school districts come on board.

“We want that to happen,” Studebaker said.

The program will be split up into four two-week sessions. Children can select one of what organizers are calling three “tracks of interest” for each of the two-week sessions.

The “Moving and Fueling” track will focus on health, nutrition and safety. The “Mad Scientist” track will introduce children to the fun side of science. The “Around the World” track will make geography and social studies come to life.

Denise Peters, YMCA vice president of programming, described the sessions as skill-based learning.

“It’s not sitting in the classroom learning,” Peters said. “It is hands-on and kids will be involved in doing different things.

Sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at Ballard Elementary School in Niles.

Transportation will be provided for those who qualify. Organizers said transportation details are still being worked out.

Peters praised all the organizations for coming together to make this happen.

“It is about the kids,” she said. “It’s a community wide effort to offer something unique in order to improve academic performance, increase social responsibility and improve healthy living.”

Organizers are getting ready to ramp up efforts to recruit both student and adult volunteers needed for the program to be a success.

Those interested in volunteering should fill out an application at the YMCA. The Y will also post an “items needed” list after April 30.

For more information, contact Peters at the YMCA at (269) 683-1552.