New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart was the main attraction Saturday, hosting a one-day football camp in Westport.
"I was like crashing out, I'm going to crash out," said one breathless child moments after meeting Dart. "This feels like a dream."
With most of the campers used to watching Dart on TV, or from a few hundred feet away in the stands, this was a new, more personal experience.
"I said hi, and I told him my name," another camper smiled.
Besides meeting Dart, the children had the chance to take pictures, exchange high-fives, and share a huddle with the 23-year-old before hitting the field and catching passes from him.
"I'm going to be the hyped the next time I see him on TV," another camper said.
"I was a kid their age once, just having people that I looked up to, so it's fun just to be in this environment," said Dart, who had a smile on his face as well for most of the day.
Organizers said nearly 500 children signed up.
"(Dart) is a super popular guy and talented, and this and that, and at the end of the day, he's in here throwing passes to people, having a blast," said Brian Steinhauer, who brought two children to the camp.
"We don't get to interact as much with them when they're in the stands and at games, so being able to put a face to things, and for them to meet me and me to meet them, it's just a whole lot of fun," Dart said.