responsible for organising the summer programme for the largest group of children in Bermuda.

Despite the size of his task, he talks with real enthusiasm of his plans for the summer activities at Bermuda's two youth centres, one on Angle Street in Hamilton, the other on Water Street in St. George's.

The secret to success for such a large project, he says, is advance planning.

"We start in January and by the beginning of May we have a plan in place,'' he says.

During the months of July and August each centre takes 70 to 80 children from primary one to primary seven, and Mr. Smith's unspoken objective is to ensure that no-one, parent or child, regards those centres as dropping-off points for kids -- somewhere for them to be dumped during the long holidays.

"We have bowling, swimming, competitions with the other centres, talent shows, a fair, arts and crafts, and visits to those places in Bermuda that the kids never see in school time.'' "We take the kids' opinions too,'' adds Mr Smith. "If they have a good idea for an activity then we'll consider it for the next time.

"Response is tremendous and we always are over-subscribed.'' The supervisors are adults or college age and upwards. A 50 page handbook tells every supervisor what he needs to know from crisis counselling and drugs, to planning the programme and looking after the keys.

There is an overnight camp for a week, a camp-out on one of the islands: Ports, Darrells, or Paget. "They're really popular,'' enthuses Mr. Smith. Mr.

Smith would like to expand the programme, but each community and each parish, he explains, differs in what it needs. "We need to grow carefully,'' he cautions.

SUMMER DAY CAMPS Colleague Mr. Danny Seymour, a former national team soccer player, works across the street from Mr. Smith but the two organisers of such similar programmes liaise extensively.

Mr. Seymour's camps are also for primary school children and this year he will be using eight of the Government schools (the availability of Government schools depends on what repairs need to be done in each during the summer).

These eight day camps accommodate over a thousand children from Somerset to St. George's and the hours are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Mr. Seymour is as keen as his colleague, Keith Smith to emphasise one important point: "We are not a drop-off, nor a babysitting service. We try to move the kids around and get them to feel the pulse of the community.

"But we don't want to be a duplication of school. And we have visitors come in and visit, too -- those who make the community tick such as policemen, firemen, nurses.

"We give the kids as many different experiences as we can. A bit of horse riding, snorkelling, tennis, bowling -- whatever we can organise, so that later in life they can make their own informed decisions on what sort of sport or activity they want to participate in.'' Each year the summer day camps has a theme such as "Self-esteem'' or "Achievement.'' This year's will be "Special kids and special people'' to help break down the myths about the handicapped in Bermuda society.

"We have a captive audience,'' grins Mr. Seymour, "so what better time to hit them with a positive message.'' Safety is a vital keyword in the programmes with all counsellors using the same 50-page handbook provided by Government.

Staff ratio is ten pupils to one supervisor. "Adult supervisors, of course, but we sometimes give practical training to those over 16 years of age who we think we can use and trust.'' "This is our 20th year, but we could not produce such a programme without our absolutely super staff -- in particular summer day camp director, Mrs. Dorothy Trott, my right-hand.'' Guiding the whole of the Government's summer activities for children is Mr.

Brenton (Tony) Roberts who sees the need for a diary of events -- a calendar listing all of the organisations, both voluntary and other, that provide the many summer activities for children.

Mr. Roberts feels that his Department has done its share in producing "Leisure Time Activities,'' a booklet that lists the dozens of organisations involved in year-round activities.

And he hopes that a "Summer Activities'' equivalent will be published by some voluntary organisation.

"The survey that we conducted showed that nearly a third of Bermuda residents did not know what was available in the way of leisure activities,'' he said.

"There are a number of small camps for children that this department never hears of. Some are conducted by churches for the children of their parishioners and others are open to everybody.

"A handbook is needed. Someone, it seems, should take up the challenge.'' LEADING THE WAY -- The men behind Government's Youth and sports summer programmes, from left, Mr. Danny Seymour, Mr. Keith Smith, Mr. Brenton Roberts and Mr. Tom Smith. The camps, they insist, are much more than a summer babysitting service.