A small but determined team of outdoor pursuit enthusiasts (two staff and six cadets) from Ampleforth College Combined Cadet Force deployed to the Lake District between 1st and 5th April 2014 to conduct their annual Adventure Training camp. Based in Keswick, the team, led by Maj M S Blackford (Contingent Commander) conducted different activities designed to test the cadets under challenging conditions.

Activities included gorge walking, canoeing, climbing, abseiling and mountain biking. They were spread over the duration of the exercise and all the activities took place in the northern lakes area from Borrowdale to Ullswater and Brougham Castle. It was only the second time the exercise had been conducted and a significant change since last year when snow ‘stopped play’ for most of the activities. This year only the rain water on the climbing rock face at Brown Slabs, Borrowdale, limited us to climb a single pitch rather than two. Otherwise everything went ahead according to plan.

It was a wonderful opportunity to enhance relations, team spirit, communications skills and confidence within the group. Those that went enjoyed the experience and are able to return to Ampleforth at the start of next term saying they have achieved a great deal over the Easter holidays.