DENISON, TX-- For the third year in a row, one local church is opening its doors for a free summer camp. It's called Project Transformation, and it brings interns from across the country to Denison to serve as positive role models for local kids.

"We come here, thinking that we're going to grow, and teach them. But throughout the whole summer, they teach us," Christina Hannan, said.

Hannan is an intern and the sites reading coordinator. She said there was no other way she would want to spend her summer, than by returning to the camp where she says she was transformed, last year.

"I found out what my calling was, and made life changing memories, that I'll never forget."

In partnership with Americorps and several Dallas based churches, Project Transformation has worked for 12 years to partner 1st through 6th graders with interns from across the country.

In addition to several camp sites across Dallas, Denison's Trinity United Methodist Church became a project transformation site three years ago, and now helps 95 local kids.

"There's a preference for people who are on government assisted programs,” Site Coordinator, Erin Medin, said. “But that isn't a definite; there are a wide range of people coming here from many different backgrounds and socioeconomic levels."

Students participate in arts and crafts, recreational activities, and get the experience of simply interacting with older students.

"There’s activities and they're nice, and they smile at you and they smile back," camper, John Cooper, said.

Interns write the curriculum and read one on one with the students four days a week.

But volunteers from grades 7 through 9, also stop by to encourage the kids.

"We just got back from our mission trip, and when we got back, I felt like I needed to do something to help people," volunteer, Riley Walters, said.

The camp is free and also serves warm lunches provided by the North Texas Food Bank.

Medin was an intern last year, and returned in her new role this year, because she says the program provides life changing memories, for everyone involved.

"Everyone takes away a little something, and for the interns, I would say it's almost always a lot of something."

Nearly 150 college students applied for internships this year. 90 were chosen to be stationed throughout Dallas, and 10 were placed at the Denison site, and spend their summer living on the Austin College campus.