Nine places have been allotted to Bermuda families interested in travelling to Canada in August for the second camp for special needs children.

Last year four families participated in the pilot project which saw them spend a week at Canterbury Hill Camp in Ontario last August. Three of the families had their expenses covered by sponsors last year.

Marni Williams-Oram, who founded the charity, C.O.W. Assistance for Families of the Challenged, is again organising the trip for the local families.

"The camp is getting a little exciting," said Ms Williams-Oram who works for the Chew family in St. George's caring for their daughter Coral.

The local group will leave Bermuda on August 3 and return on the 12th, which is a little longer than last year's trip.

"We have added two days onto the trip," explained Ms Williams-Oram who will be travelling again with the families.

"During the camp week we will be having the children's programme, the family programme and the workshops for the parents.

"We will finish the actual camp on August 9 but will continue on at the camp as far as housing, breakfast and dinner for the next two days when we will go on day trips. On the first day they will go to the African Lions Safari and the second day to Niagara Marineland and Niagara Falls."

This will there will be a total of ten families going to the camp, with one family joining the Bermuda group from Canada. Ms Williams-Oram explained that the funds raised in Bermuda would go towards helping the Bermuda families, while the Canada family have raised their funds. "We're trying to introduce now the international networking aspect of the programme, so that the families can get together," said Ms Williams-Oram.

"We're open to families from anywhere, but we will not send less than half of our total camp from Bermuda. The families from Bermuda appreciated hearing what was happening in other countries and that's why we are now opening it up to an international level."

One of the families that attended last year from Bermuda have made plans to attend again this year, but there are spots open for others families wishing to join them.

It is open to families with challenged children up their teens and enquiries can be directed to Ms Williams-Oram at 293-5316 or on the e-mail address cow2001logic.bm.