Summer time is fast approaching. And parents are once again faced with the arduous task of finding activities not only to keep their youngsters busy, but interested.

Not to worry -- whether you have children fresh out of kindergarten or budding teens, there's plenty for kids to do this summer.

In fact, the number of services available to young people have grown. And the Ministry of Youth, Sport & Recreation have filled last year's gap where teenagers are concerned.

Only two summer clinics for teens were available last year, a variety camp and a fashion, dance and drama camp. But at the request of parents, the Ministry together with The Centre has organised 15 teen camps this summer.

Minister of Youth, Sport & Recreation the Hon. Pamela Gordon said: "The Ministry must change with the times and accommodate people's needs. We're more than willing to create new programmes and policies to suit the community.'' The Ministry continues to offer primary student level camps around the Island.

And a myriad of summer programmes for all ages are offered by organisations like the Salvation Army, Young Life, Outward Bound and the Aquarium. As well, many clubs and groups provide children with summer camps, which offer both specialised and general activities.

Still, many youngsters complain about the lack of things to do in the summer.

Part of the problem, said Miss Gordon, is in the apathy of our young people.

"We have so many recreational activities in Bermuda and kids have a lot of choices. But often, they don't take the time to focus and make a decision as to what they want.

"Also, because of our affluence, children have a lot of distractions in things like electronic games and television, which don't require a lot of mental activity,'' she noted.

"But when you compare programmes offered elsewhere to here, we definitely do not have a dearth of activities. There's a lot for young people to do.

"But we need to change young people's mind sets,'' she said, adding that many kids find structured organised activities boring.

"We have the challenge of finding a way to stimulate them. It's an ongoing process. If we find that young people are turned off of some activities that we offer, we try to find out what they want instead. A change in our programme depends on their interest and response,'' she said.

The Ministry's basic premise is to provide youngsters with a safe place, keep them stimulated and keep them from being idle, noted Miss Gordon.