Camp.

Activities included planting seeds and milking goats while field trips were organised to Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo, Westover Dairy, the SPCA, Furbert's Honey House and Terceira's pig farm.

Man's best friend also proved to be the kids' choice as they rushed to fuss over various breeds of dogs brought in daily by wardens from the SPCA to the camp's base at Tudor Farm in Southampton.

Other animals proved a bit less easy to get along with.

Organiser Dr. Susann Smith said: "Pepe the donkey is a bit of a character to say the least. He's never the same two days running.

"He makes a lot of noise when you come in at the start of the day, meaning you have to speak to him -- he wants to be recognised. If you ignore him all day, he won't be at all pleased.'' Pepe's popularity plummeted still further when he ate the scarecrow the children had enjoyed making.

Christoph Duerr, 11, said: "I loved helping make that. We made the wooden frame and then put clothes and a hat on it.

"But because it was stuffed with straw the donkey attacked it. The scarecrow's pants fell down and there were bits of him all over the field.'' Organiser Norbert Simons explained that the camp will be even better next year.

He said: "We are renovating the farm and next year there will be chickens and rabbits.'' Sean Burgess, 15, was on his fourth year at the camp and helped the adults run it.

He said: "I made sure the little kids didn't run off. I like being with animals and want to be a vet.

"Next year I'll be 16 and can help out with organisation of the camp.'' "I liked the dogs best,'' he added. "The dog warden brought all sorts in, including Rottweillers, pitbulls, terriers and mongrels.'' Keeping a log of everything that went on was Aliyyah Ahad, aged nine, who wants to be a journalist when she grows up.

She particularly enjoyed a trip to see art at the City Hall.

Mr. Simons said: "She was mesmerised and before you knew it they all were.'' Nine-year-old Neville Blake-Somner will not forget meeting the goats.

He said: "They like to rub up against you because they want to mark their territory. I thought he was being friendly. You get stinky dirty.'' The camp ended last Friday with the presentation of certificates to students for their participation.