Getting the balance between fun and informal learning is always tricky, especially during the school holidays when most young people simply want to kick back. Top-down funded projects from central government in particular face a challenge. With high-profile schemes, there is added pressure to show money is being spent wisely and the scheme is producing discernable "positive outcomes" for young people.
That's why it's good to see programmes such as the Do it 4 Real summer camps, where the emphasis was mainly about having fun and making new friends (see p14). Some of the activities - namely paintballing and laser-clay shooting - will no doubt raise a few eyebrows given the recent tragic gun-related deaths, but the overall notion that young people should have a chance to do something fun for fun's sake has to be welcomed.
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