Misc, 'SW Area Summer Camp', Brecon, Aug 2009, ID 823

South West Area Sea Cadets

200+ Sea Cadets and 70 staff from the SW Area Sea Cadets attended their annual summer camp at Sennybridge Army Training Camp, just outside Brecon, in August. The camp was headed up by Lt Cdr (SCC) Scott Bradbury RNR the Area Training Officer for the SW Area Sea Cadets who said "Our aim for the camp is to go back to good old fashion Sea Cadet fun - it is not all about gaining qualifications it is about having fun learning new life skills, team work and setting out individual challenges".

Over 200 cadets arrived on the Saturday afternoon, not knowing what to expect. Having split the cadets into five different groups and, with no time to waste, group one was whisked off carrying a backpack, sleeping bag and a sheet of plastic. Sent out into deepest darkest valleys of Sennybridge training area, the cadets were left to build a bivvi for the night under the stars (or should I say the clouds and rain). For most cadets this was the first time that they had ever slept in such a remote area, never mind under a home made shelter. Leading Cadet Jade Hastings (16) said "It was amazing, I had never been to such an area. I was lying on my back looking at the stars and it was as if you could reach out and touch them. I built a bivvi out of a plastic sheet but was then tasked by a member of staff to build a shelter out of natural materials".

Having spent a night out in the wind and rain, the group returned back to the camp for a nice big breakfast and a hot shower. Following a short break, the group jumped into a minibus and spent a more relaxed day in Brecon going swimming and having a ten pin bowling competition before spending the afternoon walking along the river in Brecon and finishing off in the ice cream parlour for a four scoop chocolate and vanilla ice cream.

Day three saw things speed up again with the cadets attending an outdoor centre in order to take part in abseiling and climbing activities. Some cadets climbed to a height of 75ft followed by speeding back to the ground via a zip wire. In the afternoon the cadets went outside for horse riding.

On Day Four back at Brecon the cadets spent the morning canoeing up the river to the local rapids, working on their canoe skills with some cadets working towards their BCU qualifications. Following the morning paddling, the cadets returned back to Brecon where they were split into teams and spent the afternoon working together in order to build a raft. After several failed attempts a group of very wet cadets built a raft that managed to keep 20 cadets afloat!

Day Five: the cadets had a second day of taking things easy with a trip to a local theme park having fun tackling rollercoaster’s and fast rides.

On top of all the day activities, the cadets spent the evenings working on ‘Sennybridge has Talent’ which was judged by the SW Area Officer, Commander Martyn Skeer RN, on the last night. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the Ulysess Trust: if it was not for the support that you give the cadets, we would not be able to provide such a wide range of activities for our young people. I am pleased to say that our main aim of the week, which was to have fun and introduce new activities to our cadets, was achieved.

Lt Cdr (SCC) S M Bradbury RNR

Thanks to

working in partnership with