MANSFIELD — Approximately 120 Mansfield kids, ages 8 to 14, have taken field trips to the movie theater, gone swimming and learned many skills like cooking and dancing. It’s all part of the UMADAOP summer youth program.

“The whole idea of the summer camp is to enrich their experience,” said UMADAOP outreach director Erskine Braggs. “It’s unfortunate that kids who live in Mansfield have never been to places like Kingwood Center, and we wanted to change that.”

The camp, which lasts from June until August, takes place at the Community Outreach Center on North Trimble Road. There is no cost of attendance and materials, breakfast and lunch are provided to the campers free of charge.

Themes like “Great Outdoors” and “Party in the USA” determine what sorts of activities the kids will do each week. Last week’s theme was “mad scientist.”

In one classroom, counselor Morgan Hall showed a group of kids how to blow up a balloon using baking soda and vinegar.

“We did lots of experiments this week like making slime and silly putty,” said camper Kimaya Hood.

Hood is 9 years old and this is her second year at the camp.

“It’s the best camp ever. All the teachers are the best,” Hood said, grinning from ear to ear.

Campers also have the option to join a variety of clubs catered to their unique interests. Some participate in a dance class taught by an instructor that comes twice a week. Others opt to participate in fishing trips to North Lake park and the Clearfork Reservoir. The off-site fishing trips are led by mentors who are part of UMADAOP’s year-long mentoring program.

Janet Kushing, a cook at the UMADAOP Community Center, helps lead the cooking club.

“Some of the kids are naturals and they’ve all done pretty well,” Kushing said.

At one table, Isaac David, 14, and Myles Bradley, 13, chopped broccoli for a pasta dish. Meanwhile, Zy’quia Manns, 11, minced garlic. The meals are a team effort and the campers must learn to take turns and work together.

“The kids are learning life lessons, they’re learning when to listen and when to talk. We aren’t just a babysitting service,” Braggs said.

Many kids said their favorite part of camp was the field trips. So far destinations have included the downtown Carousel District, Gorman Nature Center, and the Mansfield YMCA. According to Braggs, the purpose of the trips is to expose the children to places in the community they may not have had the opportunity to see otherwise.

Last week, several older campers went on a tour of the OhioHealth Mansfield hospital. They talked to nurses, doctors and pathologists.

“It’s like a watered-down version of job shadowing,” Braggs said. “It’s good for the kids to see all the job fields that are out there.”

Braggs noted that since the camps first run last summer, the number of campers has doubled and the variety of clubs, activities and field trips has grown. He added that much of this success was due to the overhwhelming support from Mansfield UMADAOP executive director Dennis Baker.

“His vision is our vision,” Braggs said. “(Baker) actually said ‘I don’t care how many kids we have, we’re never going to charge.’ He is very proud of what we have been able to do here.”

The camp ends Aug. 4, but Braggs and the camp staff are already planning and looking forward to next year.