Penny Booth: Like new puppy dogs with so much energy

Like new puppy dogs with so much energy

A summer camp for every teenager at 16 years of age... I read the reports in the newspapers and online that the pilot programme is going ahead with thousands of 16-year-olds to be sent on summer camps at a cost to the taxpayer of up to £1 400 a head. This is an ambitious plan for a national citizen service launched by David Cameron. It sounds great. Thank you.

This appears a very worthy and energy-absorbing activity (teenagers have lots of that) but I am just a little concerned that it sounds very healthily middle-class and fine if you like the goodness of scouting at 16. Most 16 years olds I have come across (I am well past that stage with my own children so this is not total exhaustion speaking here) do not have camping in mind. Maybe they should. Actually camping is not always great in the British weather (please nobody tell...

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