FROM bushcraft and basketball to swimming or squash, there are a huge range of activities on offer for young people in the Okehampton area during the school summer holidays.

The extensive programme has been put together by OCRA, the majority of the activities being based from Parkands.

Suzanne Doidge, activity manager at OCRA, said: 'We try to run a really diverse range of activities, as well as traditional sports, for different aged children at different times.

'We are doing a lot of handball and volleyball now, especially since the Olympics, but because we do so much, hopefully there is always something to appeal — in fact, sometimes the children find it quite difficult to choose!

'The sports and arts activities are always really popular — we get anything from 60 to 80 children attending, and the nice thing is the children don't have to be particularly sporty or arty to do any of them.'

Suzanne said OCRA did a lot of work with primary schools throughout the area, which could be very helpful for children from the smaller schools.

'It can be a bit daunting when you see all these children, but they will usually recognise someone from OCRA which makes it easier for them. And because we do such a lot of the activities at the college, this can help the children's transition from primary school to secondary, because they become familiar with the surroundings.

'The activity days also help build their social skills and their self-confidence.'

Sport and art days are being held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 31, which run from 10am until 3pm for children aged 6 to 14 years. They include activities such as football, netball, swimming, squash, archery, dance, trampolining, basketball, athletics, sewing, clay making, mask making and bead paining, plus much more.

Then there are specific 'camps' available for children aged 8 to 16. The first is a gymnastics camp on July 31 between 10am and 1pm and on the same day, from 2pm to 5pm, a trampolining camp. An athletics camp will take place between 10am and 3pm on Wednesday, August 14 and a tennis camp on Wednesday, August 21.

If the wild outdoors appeals to youngsters, they can join in with a bushcraft and adventure day on Friday, August 16, when campfire making and cooking, woodland tracking and bushcraft games will be on the agenda at Alder Lake.

And for pony lovers, there is an opportunity to ride on Dartmoor, plus get involved in horse care after the ride, which takes place from Eastlake Stables.

For children living further afield, there are outreach activities planned for North Tawton and Drewsteignton in Monday, August 12.

Part of OCRA's summer programme is National Play Day, which comes to Castle Drogo on Wednesday, August 7. Entry to the event is free and follows a theme of 'Playful Places'. From arts and craft to traditional games, there is something for everyone to enjoy during a celebration of play which runs from from 2pm to 4pm.

To find out more about the OCRA summer holiday scheme, pick up a programme from Parklands Leisure Centre or go to http://www.ocrasport.org.uk">www.ocrasport.org.uk

To book a place, call OCRA on 01837 54546.