As the long summer months push on, many children are looking for positive things to do during the hazy days.

The Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation is offering its annual camps and a few others have created activities geared toward expanding children's knowledge of the world around them and turning them on to potential future careers.

For some young people, computers have broadened their eyes to the possibilities of technology.

Regency Computer Training instructor Lee Talbot said he did not see the facility's summer programme as a camp, but rather an "opportunity''.

Mr. Talbot said the content of the courses changed weekly and were "designed to give the young a view of the different careers in computers''.

Children learn the ins and outs of building and maintaining computers, database designing, computer-based graphic arts and Web design.

Mr. Talbot noted that the participants used expensive equipment so the cost of the courses appeared high, but were reasonable. He added that there were spots still available for upcoming courses and said the programme was expected to run through into mid-September.

But if your child has a knack for drama, then the Performing Arts Camp may be their ticket to stage dreams.

Run by the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs, the camp is supervised by Von-Rica Dickenson.

She said the goal of the camp was to expand the vision of the young toward the arts, whether it be through dance, acting or learning the fundamentals of performing.

She said: "We are targetting every part of the arts.'' The 30 participants in the camp are going through the many facets of dance, focusing on hi-tech performances and multicultural dances, which they are planning to present at an up coming Camp-a-Rama.

Participants range in age from 11 to 15. Ms Dickenson noted that there were considerably more girls than boys.

The participants are also developing their own skits.

She said: "We want the skits to touch on issues, so that they will be relevant to society.'' If the ocean is the place to be for your young one, then the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute has something exciting for them.

The Dabble in the Deep Ocean Discoveries camps are split into one week and two-week camps and touch on a number of interesting aspects of the marine environment.

Educational department head Crystal Schultz said campers looked at everything from sharks and shipwrecks to prehistoric sea monsters.

At the end of each camp participants are led on discussions of marine pollution and ways to prevent it.

Mrs. Schultz said: "We're hoping to motivate learning and get kids turned onto something.'' Events are intended to be fun and she described the camp as being one of the best ways to get kids interested in and excited about the ocean.

The camps focus on a host of marine activities and run until August 25.

Another camp is planned for November.

But for those kids who love both land and sea animals, the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo's camp is where they should be.

The camp is an ecological based programme which has participants interacting with turtles, dolphins and other animals.

Participants experience a range of activities from investigating the shore line ocean life to touring Walsingham Caves and Nonsuch Island. They also attend several lectures.

The campers range from tots to Primary Six students. The camps are full except for a few spots during the last week from August 21 to 25.

Finally, for those business savvy young entrepreneurs in the family, the Bank of Bermuda is planning a business camp.

The week long test camp will run in August and will take 18 teenagers ranging in ages from 15 to 19.

The camp will focus on entrepreneurship and business fundamentals with the aim of supplying future executives with the basic skills of economic literacy and leads on writing their own business plan. Interested participants should apply by July 28 to the bank.