Banishing those summer blues

Kids need stimulation during the holidays, and there's no better place to get it than at summer camp, be it kayaking, tennis, art, film-making or cookery. They might not want to come home, writes LOUISE HOLDEN.

AS THE "summer" holidays approach, parents are gearing up for kids at home, and possibly indoors. Confiscating the DS and getting out the poster paints will only take you three days into July before everyone gets cabin fever. A week (at least) in a summer camp is a welcome break for everyone.

Fortunately the range of summer camp options has grown again this year. There's a greater spread for younger children, who need more structured and supervised activities, but who have been traditionally underserved by the summer-camp market.

According to Marie O'Reilly of Primary Times, this season has lots of new exciting camps on offer with some specifically designed with five- to eight-year-old in mind.

"Art, music and stage and drama are good choices for the younger ones to dip their toes in the water, to see and develop any natural ability and early love of the arts," says O'Reilly. "Artzone have 32 camps with weekly courses across 15 venues in Dublin, Kildare and North Wicklow featuring painting, drawing, pottery, collage, 3D, print and more for every new season." Read on for more in drama, dance, sport and computers for all ages.

ADVENTURE CAMPS

Killary Adventure Co

Residential summer camp programme for eight-year-olds upwards. Range of activities such as hill-walking, rock-climbing, kayaking. Non-residential summer camp also. Leenane, Connemara, Co Galway. Tel: 095-43411, www.killaryadventure.com

Horizon's Westport Summer Camp

Based in Wilson's College, Mullingar, this is an American-style summer camp with diverse activity in a residential setting for eight-year-olds and up. Horizon's Wilson's Summer Camp Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

Tel: 098-50290, www.horizonireland.com

Camp Rockwell

The longest-running multi-activity camp in Ireland has now been taken over by Horizons, but still runs at the Rockwell campus. Featuring indoor heated swimming pool, two gyms, a nine-hole golf course. Rockwell College, Cashel, Co Tipperary Tel: 098-50290

Delphi Adventure Company

Adventure holidays for unaccompanied eight- to 17-year-olds. Leenane, Connemara, Co Galway.

Tel: 095-42208, www.delphiadventureholidays.ie

Let's Go Multi Sports Camp

Camps all over the country for five- to 13-year-olds. Separate programme of activities for the five- to six-year-olds and the seven- to 13-year-olds.

Tel: 021-4877111, www.letsgo.ie

Westwood Club Leopardstown Racecourse

July and August. The multi-activity camps include basketball, swimming, soccer and hip-hop dance for ages five to seven and eight to 12. Participants can take a one-week course or more, up to eight weeks. Leopardstown, Dublin 18. Tel: 01-2191827

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Whizzkids Summercamp

Fun with technology for children from nine to 15. Using state-of-the-art computer facilities, children learn how to design their own websites, use digital cameras and make films. Camps in DCU, UCD, UCC and NUIG. July and August. This year, there is a day and residential camp running in UL from August 13th, with an emphasis on film-making. Tel: 061-339178, www.whizzkids.ie

Anyone 4 Science?

Summer camps for children aged between seven and 12 during July in IT Tallaght, Rathgar, Bray and Ashford (more venues to be confirmed). Tel: 087-6749608, www.anyone4science.com

ENIVRONMENT

Wild and Wonderful Art

Nature trails and arts and crafts for ages eight to 11 in August. Airfield adventure camp runs from July 7th on for five- to 11-year-olds. Airfield House, Dundrum, Dublin 14. Tel: 01-2984301

Kippure Education Centre

Activity-based learning programmes for school and youth groups. Kippure Estate, near Blessington, Co Wicklow. Tel: 01-4583873, www.kippure.com

COOKERY

Food Active Summer Camp

Week/fortnight cooking and nutrition course with Garth McColgan and L'Écrivain's Derry Clarke. With sports/activity in the afternoon. St Conleth's College, Dublin 4. Tel: 086-8066111, www.foodactive.ie

Taste

For girls and boys aged eight to 13 (with a programme for kids up to 16 on the week starting June 30) the Taste programme runs during July and August. Rathdown School, Glenageary, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin.

Tel: 086-8571074, www.tinadunne.com

Junior Chef Cookery School

A four or five-day course where the children learn how to cook healthy food in a fun environment. Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin. Tel: 01-2780382, www.juniorchef.ie

Fairyhouse Food Wine School

Three day camp in July and early August. Billie O'Shea and her team provide small group teaching sessions with demonstrations of cooking techniques.

F' Camp, Fairyhouse Road, Ratoath, Co Meath.

Tel: 086-8831124, www.fairyhousecookery.com

Busy Bee Summer School of Cooking

Starting 9 June to mid-August (four courses overall). Kids aged 11 to 16 can learn culinary secrets and cooking techniques. Run by Bee Mannix-Walsh. Ballinclea Heights, Killiney, Co Dublin. Tel: 01-2858674

SPORT

NIB Summer Soccer Schools

The official soccer schools of the FAI are open to boys and girls aged seven to 15 and will take place this year in 220 venues nationwide. Tel: 1890-653653, www.summersoccerschools.ie

Blackrock/Templeogue/Ballsbridge soccer and rugby

Intensive soccer and rugby coaching for ages five to 14. June and July and August at Blackrock RFC, Stradbrook Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin; St Mary's RFC, Templeville Road, Templeogue, Dublin 6 and Wanderers FC, Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Tel: 01-2882111

SportWays Hockey 2008

Featuring top international players and coaches. For players of all abilities from nine to 16. Limited places left. Reserve your place online. Contact: Andrew Kenny.

Tel: 087-8207538, www.sportways.com

Parks Tennis

Tennis lessons at courts in public parks, schools and community centres in 28 counties in the Republic and Northern Ireland. Boys and girls ages six to 17.

Tel: 01-8338711 www.parkstennis.com

Mick Smyth Tennis Camp

This well-established tennis camp based at Terenure College, Dublin, is for social players, beginners and intermediate players aged six to 18, July and August.

Tel: 01-4505341

Basketball Camps at the National Basketball Arena

Week-long senior and junior camps, July and August.

Tel: 01-4590211

GAA Vhi Cúl Camps

Running throughout the summerin all 32 counties. For primary school children aged seven to 13 years. www.vhiculcamps.gaa.ie or contact your local county co-ordinator.

Centra Summer Scrummage Camps

Seventy-five nationwide rugby summer camps (20 more than last year) for boys and girls between the ages of six and 13 in association with the IRFU. Tel: Leinster 01-2693224, Connaught 091-561568, Munster 021-4323563, Ulster 028-90493222, www.irishrugby.ie

UCD Soccer Club

Their highly popular Summer Soccer Camp for children aged 5-14 years begins its fifth year in July . www.ucdsoccer.com

Multi Sports Camps

Newpark School Sports Centre runs a fun-filled summer camps with a fully equipped gymnasium, 25-metre heated swimming pool, sports hall and health suite.

Tel: 01-2883720

ESB Sportsco

Sportsco offers a wide range of activities for children aged 4-12 years. Tel: 01-6687022

Rockbrook Summer Camp

Games/adventure/computers for boys ages nine to 12 years. Tel: 01-4933204, www.rockbrook.ie

Community Games

The Community Games caters for most ages up to under-17 in various events. Contact your local area games secretary to check if your locality is entering teams in any events. Tel: 01-8728203

DCU Sports Club

Four programmes to choose from: Adventure Camp, Swim Gym Camp, Bohemian FC Soccer Camp Pre-school Camp. Tel: 01-7005797

LANGUAGES

Gael-Linn Summer Irish Schools

Gaeltacht Summer Colleges located in the Cork, Mayo and Donegal Gaeltachts for students aged 11 to 18. Tel: 1890-675675/01-6751200

Ógras

Five-day Irish Language Summer Camps for six- to 12-year-olds in July and August. Venues in Dublin, Mayo, Kildare, Derry, Donegal, Cork, Galway, Kerry.

Tel: 01-4751487, www.ogras.ie

Linguaplay

Fun, games and learning in Spanish or French for four- to 12-year-olds. Indoor and outdoor activities, songs, arts and crafts, painting, stories, sports, cooking, in a foreign language while discovering culture and language. International School Pembroke Road, Dublin.

Tel: 087-7809000 www.linguaplay.ie

SAILING AND SURFING

Irish Sailing Association

Young sailors and windsurfers can take lessons at one of the many sailing centres throughout the Republic.

Tel: 01-2800239, www.sailing.ie

Westport Horizon Centre

Wet and Wild surfing camp, Westport. Residential programme for one, two, three weeks or three, 8- to 17-year-olds. Tel: 098-50290, www.horizonireland.com

Oceanic Manoeuvres Surf Summer Camps

Gremmie Turtle Club for six- to eight-year- olds. Surf and beach camp for eight- to 14-year-olds. Team Zone for 11- to 17-year- olds. Red Cottage, Tramore, Co Waterford. Tel: 051-390944

Fingal Sailing School

Sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and powerboating both in Malahide and Monkstown. Kids Summer Camp in an ISA, IWC ICU credited centre. Tel: 01-8451979,

www.fingalsailingschool.com

Shearwater Sea Kayaking

Sea kayaking for teenagers and adults - specialist sea kayaking instruction company based in Howth. One day introductory to weekend wildlife and exploration courses in Connemara and Kerry. www.shearwaterseakayaking.ie

ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY

The Ark Cultural Centre for Children

Summer projects theme of 'Masks'. July and August. Workshops and performances. Tel: 01-6707788, www.ark.ie

Pine Forest Centre

July and August. Two-week courses for ages five to 12 and 13 to 16. Also two-week and four-week portfolio preparation courses for ages 17+ in August.

Tel: 01-2941220, www.pineforestcentre.com

Artzone

Thirty-two camps with weekly courses across 15 venues in Dublin, Kildare and North Wicklow. Painting, drawing, pottery, collage, 3D, print and more. www.artzone.ie

Krafty Kiddies Art Camp

Four five-day camps in August for five- to seven- year-olds. Blackrock, Co Dublin. 087-7579116

MUSIC AND DANCE

Children's Summer Series at the National Concert Hall

Specially devised programme, from June 30 to July 4, suitable for ages seven to nine, and will feature a variety of musical and fun activities. Tel: 01-4086789, www.nch.ie

Ballet Ireland

Week-long courses on the theme of The Golden Goose. Various venues around the country. See www.balletireland.com

Kinder Summer Camp

From the Wicklow School of Music and Drama. Age four up in July. Music classes use fun activities to teach all elements of music. Tel: 0404-42244, wicklowmusicdrama.com

Soul Glow Gospel Workshop

Programme for children aged seven to 12 teaching vocal technique, microphone technique, performance style and movement. Enniskerry Greystones areas.

Tel: 087-9539348, www.soulglowworkshops.com

DRAMA

Stagecoach Theatre Arts School

Three weeks of workshops for ages four to 16, featuring drama, dance and singing, plus rehearsals for the live performance. 01 2043814, www.stagecoach.co.uk

Irish Academy of Dramatic Arts

Acting workshop for ages seven to 18. This year features a specialist mime workshop by visiting tutor, actor and director Vincent O Neill who trained under the legendary Marcel Marceau. Tel: 01 2302691, www.irishacad.com

For more ideas on local summer activities for kids, visit www.primarytimes.ie and check out the free quarterly magazine delivered to 40,000 families and teachers through primary schools and libraries.