Students won’t have to worry about falling behind in school this summer. Wareham will continue to combat the “summer slide” for the 230 students enrolled in its free CARE program, which begins July 6.

CARE stands for Community, Academic, Recreation and Enrichment. Program Co-Director Jane Fondulis said the program’s target population are students at risk academically, low-income students, and students with disabilities. The program serves students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.

The program, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., is funded through the national 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant, and focuses on science, technology, engineering, arts and humanities, and mathematics. Since it began four years ago, Fondulis said, each year has had a theme. She said this year’s theme is construction and “the science of duct tape.”

“The students will be involved in duct tape art, so they will be creating whatever they want to do,” Fondulis said. “I think the middle schoolers are looking to build an obstacle course out of duct tape.”

Fondulis said the program has a variety of courses for students to take. The morning block alone is comprised of 17 different classes, followed by a break for lunch and some time in which students may catch up on mandatory summer reading. The last block of classes includes three different language courses, and a new music class.

“It’s a pilot program called ‘Strings ‘N’ Things,” Fondulis said. “Students learn how to play the violin.”

But the program does not just have students doing classroom work.

“A group of students goes out in the afternoons to the [YMCA], and then does a team-building activity,” Fondulis said. “The students also take tons of field trips.”

Fondulis said the data collected by the grant foundation showed positive changes in student academics and behavior. The program ends Aug. 7, and Fondulis said there will be a CARE fair on Aug. 6, where parents and the community may see what the students have been up to.

“Many of our classes sell things, so, the woodworking shop might sell birdhouses,” Fondulis said. “We will also sell popcorn, cotton candy, and there will be games.”

Though registration for CARE is now closed, Fondulis said parents of children in grades kindergarten through sixth grade may still take advantage of the Beyond School Time Kids Summer Club. The club is a fee-based program that is not part of CARE, but students may still take advantage of CARE classes. Enrollment in the club is open up until July 2, the day the camp starts, but parents may still enroll their children in the club after that, if there is space left.