An annual camp for teenagers is set to take place once school closes for the summer.

Firestarter Festival, which has been running since 1997, aims to provide youngsters who are currently in secondary school with a week of entertainment and a bit of freedom.

Hosted at Ardwhallan Outdoor Education Centre in West Baldwin, about 100 teenagers will have the opportunity to have a go at kayaking, coasteering, canoeing and other adventurous activities.

Tommy Harrison, one of the founders of the festival, said: ’I wanted a place where teenagers could meet up and talk to adults, be listened to and have some solid input in their lives.

’Although we are competing with the internet, the needs of the teenagers remain the same. They want a responsible adult to listen to them. That’s not changed in the 21 years that the festival has been running for.’

This year’s event runs from July 23 to 26 where the youths will be camping out for four nights.

The festival is a non-profit organisation and relies on the support of local businesses and churches to help lower the ticket prices and widen access to teenagers of all social backgrounds.

’Firestarter first started as a festival for Christians but it became so much fun that non-Christians would come along,’ Tommy added.

He explained that most of the crew members were Christian and that talks will be given throughout the festival as an open option for those wishing to strike up a debate or to listen in.

The crew members, who are all volunteers, form different teams that cover catering, security, a 24-hour cafe and games.

’Our most popular event is the huge braveheart water fight which has around 5,000 water bombs,’ Tommy added. ’It takes quite a lot of effort from our crew members who fill up every balloon.

’The most fun happens when the most unexpected things take place like our Kangaroo Court sessions where the teenagers or crew members do something "wrong" we give them a funny or unusual sentencing to fit the "crime".’

Tickets are available for anyone aged 12 to 17 at the time of the festival, and cost £75 with all meals and entertainment included in the price.

Further information can be found at www.firestarter.im or by searching @FirestarterFestival on Facebook.