school students.

But Youth and Sport Ministry camp organisers yesterday told The Royal Gazette that slots were still open to older students in the summer programmes which begin on Monday.

Hilary Boden and Keith Smith, who will oversee the running of the camps at The Centre in Hamilton, Sandys Community Centre, and St. George's Community Centre, explained that seven of the camps put in place this summer will be for primary students from five to ten years old and four "Next Step'' camps will be held for children aged 11 to 13.

Activities for the five-to-ten-year-old camps will include art, music, dance and sports on a daily basis. The theme this year is "Under the Sea With You And Me''.

Mrs. Boden said the purpose of the camp was to provide recreational, educational, and social experiences for children in Bermuda.

And she noted that special events for the camps included a "Mini Cup Match'' to be held at Devonshire Recreation Club on the Thursday before the real Cup Match and a "Camp-O-Rama'' on August 9.

During "Camp-O-Rama'', students in all the camps get together at Bernard Park in Pembroke to show off their talents in a variety of activities, including gymnastics, music and jump rope.

Mrs. Boden said the number of children participating in this year's summer camp was 640, down from 900 the previous year because some schools are under renovation and cannot be used for camps.

Nevertheless, she said there should be no shortage of fun activities to keep children around the Island busy all summer.

In addition to the camps for younger children there will be an all-girls camp called "We're coming out'' which will run from June 30 to July 30, and an all-boys camp titled "Boys to Men'' which will be held between July 14 to August 15.

Mr. Smith will be heading specialty camps at The Centre entitled Splash '97 from June 30 to July 11 which will deal with just about everything connected with water sports such as Kayaking, Scuba diving, snorkling, water skiing & life saving skills.

Other specialty camps will include a performing arts camp, Style '97 -- a fashion-based camp dealing interior design and proper etiquette, and Bermuda Flavour 1997 -- a stage production intended to "provide the opportunity for young persons between the ages of 7 to 14 to learn the skills needed to put on a stage production...''. Bermuda Flavour 1997 will run from July 7 through August 15.

There will also be an Overnight Camp from August 17 to 23 on Paget Island.

And national cricket coach Allan Douglas and former Bermuda captain Wendell Smith will host a cricket camp for boys interested in the national sport because organisers said they felt the need for the infusion of young people into the game.

Spaces are limited all the camps and full payment is required at the time of registration.

For more information contact The Centre at 292-1343.

CRICKET CHAMP -- Wendell Smith