MANSFIELD – The sun was shining and the temperature was climbing Thursday morning as a group from Prospect Elementary School boarded a bus for an overnight camping trip.
Fifteen second- and third-graders in Prospect’s Boys to Men Club were headed to Camp Nuhop near Perrysville, accompanied by the club’s leaders, music teacher Joseph Petrak and intervention specialist Robert Casey.
The two teachers offer positive male mentoring.
“We started the club this year to emphasize respect, maturity and etiquette,” Petrak said. “At our very first meeting we talked about greeting others by looking them in the eyes and offering a firm handshake.”
Some boys who have been hesitant to express themselves or become involved are excited about the two-day camping adventure.
“We called parents last night to go over some of the final details,” Casey said. “They all said their boys have talked excitedly about the trip.”
The Richland Foundation provided funding, including use of Camp Nuhop’s facilities and the purchase of sleeping bags, pillows and flashlights that the boys will keep. The group will sleep in cabins.
“This camping experience will be about leadership skills, depending on each other and the importance of community,” Petrak said. “Nuhop has put together a program for the boys.
“After we set up at camp the bus will take us to Malabar Farm where the boys will learn GPS navigation during a five-mile hike. Several other activities are planned before lights are out at 9:30 tonight. We will be up by 7:30 Friday morning for a full day at Camp Nuhop before we return to Mansfield by early evening.”
Prospect Principal Kirsten DeVito expressed Prospect’s thanks to the Richland Foundation.
“We are very grateful to Richland Foundation for making this trip possible,” she said. “The camping experience will further the objectives of the Boys to Men Club. Many of these boys have never been camping. I am sure each of them will enjoy these two days and always remember them.”
Larry Gibbs is a spokesman for Mansfield City Schools.
