Im currently supposed to be on my second week. The whole program, from a collective view of my experience is designed to keep teens on their best behaviour and to give us something to do. I got told the program is nothing like school, which is a complete lie. Everything feels the same from going to dodgy cheap accommodation to having to follow set routines.
I spent week 1 in dormitories that reminded me of my most unpleasant high school residentials. There was very little punishments for those who did push the boundaries, but I think they all assumed we would all behave. Some of the activities the centre boasted weren't even being run, and about 7 of the activities ran involved heights. I went home after lunch on the 3rd day and skipped the other days.
I'm not even doing week 2 on medical grounds. But from the people I know doing it, you get too much freetime with the occasional lectures from charities you can help. This evening there was also a performance by a local band. Yes okay its fun, but I'd rather feel like I'm enriching myself with new skills and being productive rather than being forced into being social for periods of time much longer than I like.
I guess the whole point of the programme is to make new friends, but when you're the type of person who likes being social in small amounts, being around so many people can be daunting.
If you're about to go onto the programme this year have fun and enjoy yourself. But I'm telling you now the programme advertises itself as being so much more than it actually is. You'll find yourself getting more out of the other young people around you than NCS itself.