CHILDREN'S OUTINGS

IF you're looking for a way to give your children an entertaining history lesson, head for the capital's newest theme museum, at the Dublin Viking Adventure centre on West Essex Street, Temple Bar. Following an audiovisual presentation, visitors will be taken around the Viking village by people dressed as Vikings, who describe their homes, jobs and way of life. Tickets are £4.50 for adults and £2.75 for children. Opening times: Mondays and Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and Sundays 11.30 a.m. to-5.30 p.m.

Dublin Zoo's second summer camp this season goes ahead from August 19th to 23rd. Suitable for four to 14 year olds, the programme includes animal trails, arts and crafts, drama classes and the zooolympics (running and relay races, football championships and other olympian challenges). It runs from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. daily, fee £55. And for those with only one day free, check out the Young Zoologist Days (face painting, movie making around the zoo, train rides, etc) on next Thursday and, Friday, admission £10. Booking in advance essential on tel: 01 6771425.

Another summer school currently taking bookings for its final two weeks is the Busy Bee Summer School of Cooking in Dalkey, Co Dublin. Open to boys and girls aged 11 to 17, the classes include demonstrations and hands on Course runs from 10.30 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 2.30 p.m. - 5 p.m. daily from August 19th to 31st, fee £98. Tel: 01 2858674 for details.

The next Teddy Bear's Picnic at Sonairte, the National Ecology Centre at The Ninch, Laytown, Co Meath, takes place on Sunday at 3 p.m. Activities for four to seven year olds include discovering some secrets of the earth in the centre's organic garden and on the nature trail. The full three hour programme including light picnic costs £5 per child. The last Teddy Bear's Picnic of the season goes ahead on Wednesday, August 21st at 11 a.m. Booking for both picnics on Tel: 041 27572.

Finally, the lively UK samba band, Inner Sense, will give a free family concert in Meeting House Square, Temple Bar on Sunday at 4 p.m. - doors open at 3.30 p.m. (Tickets available in advance only (maximum four tickets per person) from the Temple Bar Information Centre, 18 Eustace Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 6715717.