Page 39 - Cadet review Summer 2022

MIRFIELD AIR CADETS EXPERIENCE THEIR FIRST WEEKEND CAMP SINCE LOCK-DOWN
In the middle of May, the relaxations of restrictions that the Covid-19 pandemic had necessitated reached a level where 868 (Mirfield) Squadron were able to reinstate their regular Basic Training Camp aimed at giving new members of the Squadron their first experience of camping, and some more experienced cadets were also on hand to help them through a busy weekend of activities.
Based at Fan Wood Activity Centre in Gomersall, the camp included some important practical elements of camping, camp-craft, map reading and practical navigation together with a variety of other activities: indoor caving, a low ropes course, and archery. Saturday evening saw the cadets put the map reading knowledge they had learnt at their Squadron into practice, planning a route for a navigation practice the following day, and learning about knots and rope work.
On the Sunday, after an early morning run and a hearty breakfast, the cadets set off on their planned routes which took them through the grounds of Oakwell Hall before returning to Fan Wood for a lunch break. They then were faced with some team building and initiative tasks, which called on their problem solving and collective working to achieve.
Overall, everybody had a very active and dynamic weekend. Mirfield Squadron Commander Flight Lieutenant Peter Doubell said, “We aim for this camp to be a good training opportunity for our newer cadets, in a safe environment and quite close to home, and everyone seems to have enjoyed the various activities. It forms a foundation for them to build on to experience other types of camps and to progress to some more challenging activities when we take them for an Outdoor Activity camp in the Yorkshire Dales in July.”
Navigation practice walk
Gabriella Green on the
Getting to grips
low-ropes course
with initiative exercises
CADET REVIEW SPRING 2022 39