Campers at the Masonic Youth Center were excited to see the mayor would be serving them lunch last Thursday. The kids gathering excitedly around him wore T-shirts and shorts as he handed them their lunch bags in a suit and tie.

“That’s the mayor!” they could be heard saying while lining up by the tables. The camp has always been a part of summer at The Boys & Girls Club (WBGC), but this year Warwick is funding 25 scholarships.

The city actually had its own playground/recreational camp, but it was cut from the budget in 2010. This year the mayor looked to bring back the camp and included funding in the budget.

The Parks and Recreation Department is paying $17,282 for the campers to attend all nine weeks, and WBGC is paying 2,766 as well. The total camp budget is $140,783.

Warwick’s budget for youth recreation programs is more than $50,000 this year, with a large portion going to other city youth programs such as the Adventure Camp, run by the Police Department with Human/Youth Services. Adventure Camp is three weeks long and has 90 kids, whereas The Boys and Girls Club camp has about 180 enrolled for nine weeks.

In between serving chicken wraps and ham and cheese sandwiches, Mayor Avedisian outlined his reasoning for collaborating with WBGC rather than the city running its own camp. Instead of initiating its own camp, the administration turned to the Boys and Girls Clubs.

“This partnership gives the city the ability to access educational training programs that the Boys & Girls Clubs have in order to have a summer camp that helps keep learning happening in a fun and meaningful way,” said the mayor. There are books and other educational resources, and the camp works to teach in a way the kids will really enjoy, through what club director Lara D’Antuono calls “disguised learning.”

The nine-week program has a weekly cost of $125, including all food and use of facilities, as well as Friday field trips. Trips are first-come, first-served and travel to places such as the Newport mansions and Mystic Aquarium. Transportation to and from the campgrounds is not supplied. Camp hours are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., which organizers hope helps give parents time to get to their jobs during the day.

“We want to keep parents working,” the D’Antuono said.

Qualifications for the scholarship includes living in Warwick, as well as having working parents, so that the camp can serve as an alternative for those who cannot afford daycare. Those interested should contact the Boys & Girls Club at 467-4385. This summer is the first in 20 years that the camp is filled to capacity, but due to spots opening up there is still some limited room for applicants who qualify for the scholarship. Scholarship and enrollment is not confined to members of the club.

The grounds at the Masonic Youth Center have been used for summer campers for the past 15 years and have a variety of facilities, including a pool on the 74 acres that kids can use during their time there.

“We are the Ocean State and kids need to swim,” says D’Antuono.

There’s also a space for an activity called Adventure Treks, which leads campers on nature walks and scavenger hunts, and teaches them different outdoor games. Managing the program is a number of counselors, one counselor for every 13 campers. Counselors are 18 years old or older with extensive training and both CPR and first aid certified.

“Safety is our number one concern,” D’Antuono said.

Thursday’s visit found the kids gathered under a sheltered eating area and split into groups for lunch, because as D’Antuono warned, “You don’t want 100 kids under here. It’s the best rock concert ever.”

A healthy lunch is served along with a vegetable snack and either chocolate or regular milk, which the kids enjoy together at the long picnic tables. There’s no technology to be distracted by; campers spend the nine-hour days unplugged.

“There is electricity here,” says associate executive director Karin Kavanagh, “but we don’t use it.”

The Masonic grounds were left in the will of Mary Hodges in the 19th century and later under the ownership of the Masonic Temple. The Masons still own the property today and let WBGC pay a fee to use the facility as a space for kids to spend time outdoors and get exercise. It’s a chance to “get your body moving” and “get some vitamin D,” D’Antuono said.