NILES — When about 50 children were asked to share their favorite superhero Friday at Summer My Way day camp, those called on gave a variety of answers: Wonder Woman, Superman, Black Panther, Flash, Iron Man, Cat Woman and a grocer.

While one person from the list may not seem like the others, camp staff member Janice Townsend said anyone can be a superhero. Realizing everyday heroes, she said, was a core component of the camp’s week-long Superhero program.

“We try to incorporate and instill in them what a real superhero is: your everyday superhero,” she said.

Summer My Way is co-hosted by Niles Community Schools and the Niles-Buchanan YMCA. Area children enrolled in the program can choose from a variety of two-hour “tracks” and one-hour “specials” that they attend each day.

Last week’s superhero program is one of specials kindergarten through third-grade students could choose, Townsend said.

On day one, children discussed who they thought of when they heard the word “superhero” with Townsend and other staff. The responses, she said, were Marvel Comics and DC Comics classics, or what people typically associate as real heroes, like police officers and first responders.

During the days following, however, campers learned what it meant to be a superhero. Being a superhero is not just about bending steel, Townsend said, but having compassion, humility and a strong work ethic.

“Even at this young age, they can be superheroes,” she said.

On Friday, the last day of the class, four local superheroes — and one self-proclaimed sidekick — discussed their everyday jobs with students as a way to show them that heroics often happen in everyday tasks.

Berrien County Sheriff’s Department officers Angela Baggett, Brittany Sutherland and Amber McGaffigan were first up. They discussed why they chose to join their profession.

“I liked to help other people. I liked to meet other people, like you guys,” McGaffigan said, addressing the children. “I like to meet you when you’re really young and watch you guys grow, to see your graduation, see how you guys change throughout your lives. If there’s anything that we can do to help you, that’s what we do.”

Sutherland and Baggett, who recently joined the department, agreed. Sutherland, though, jokingly provided one additional reason.

“I wanted to be a police officer so I could drive fast cars, [have] lights and sirens,” she said.

Niles Fire Chief Larry Lamb discussed the roles firefighters have beyond putting out burning buildings, like taking care of hazardous materials, promoting water safety and, upon prompting from a child in the audience, saving cats from trees.

“None of us superheroes, if that’s what you want to call us, work alone,” he said. “We all work together.”

Last was NCS Assistant Superintendent Donna Roark, who called herself the Robin to the distirct’s Batman, Superintendent Dan Applegate.

“I assist the biggest superhero in our school,” she said. “My job is to teach your teachers.”

After the guest superheroes spoke, the children went outside the elementary school to sit in the officers’ sheriff cars and watch a firetruck shoot water.