In its first year, the Seahorse Explorers Summer Program was a success, says coordinator Kate Oleson.

“As far as growing pains go, we got really lucky,” said Oleson.

Explorers was Mattapoisett Recreation’s first foray into a multi-week, full day summer program. And unlike other local camps, it used Mattapoisett Village as its backdrop.

No doubt many people in town this summer saw the kids and counselors walking through the streets of town on their way to Center School, the beach or the library.

The six-week program, which ended Aug. 8, had kids doing activities at all three locations most days.

“It’s not very often you can do a craft, a game and a tennis lesson every day,” said Oleson. “[The program] gives the structure that children needed while being flexible and understanding their needs as well.”

Allowing kids to be part of the group while also giving them space and accommodating their individual needs was a priority for Oleson and her staff.

Some kids with special needs or challenging situations had extra one-on-one help.

“We tried to accommodate to what does the child need the most,” Oleson said. “If we can’t get the child what they need, then they’re not going to want to come. It should always be a safe fun place to come play.”

Mom Debra Nettles appreciated that thought that went into the program. Her daughter, Emilia Cantwell, came with a helper each day and was given the space to take a walk if she needed it.

“They were very flexible with us,” said Nettles.

Emilia has participated in several camps before, but Nettles said they weren’t as good of a fit for her daughter.

“I just wanted to give MattRec a chance. You have a 50-50 shot with anything that’s new,” she said. “We’ll definitely do it again next year.”

Oleson said the program also shifted to accommodate the interests of the kids.

What started as a week-long activity teaching sign language ended up extending into the rest of the program.

“One group figured out an entire camp song in sign language. It was amazing how much the kids picked up on,” Oleson said.

Speaking of songs, it’s likely anyone spending time in the Village this summer heard the kids and counselors belting out a variety of tunes as they walked from location to location.

“The kids sang everywhere they went,” said Oleson.

That put smiles on a lot of faces in town, especially one elderly man. In poor health, he told his nurse he wanted to be able to hear the kids when they passed by his house, said Olseon.

“All he asked every day was just to hear the kids singing as they went by,” said Oleson.

With kids, parents and the community responding well to the Seahorse Explorers, Oleson said the program will continue next summer. And she plans to return too.

“I definitely want to be back,” she said.