Exercise Snowdonia Cadet 2014 was eight days of adventurous training with twenty-three Sea Cadets from the area of Southern England from 22nd – 30th August 2014. This expedition was based in North Wales, accommodated at Capel Curig Training Camp. The expedition leader was PO PHILLIPS (Southern Area Staff Officer Adventure Training) with the assistance of 12 dedicated and experienced sea cadet staff.
The aim of the exercise was take twenty-four children aged between 13-17 years from Southern Area Sea Cadets away from the comfort of their home towns to the exposed and beautiful location of Snowdonia and surrounding areas for a week of fun-filled adventurous activities.
On the evening of Friday 22nd August the cadets arrived at Camberley Unit for kit check, trailer loading and briefing. Unfortunately one cadet failed to attend without prior notice which meant we only had twenty-three cadets rather than the anticipated twenty-four. We set off to Wales early the following morning: three Mini Buses in convoy filled with kids full of excitement and anticipation for the week ahead. Upon arrival in North Wales after the long drive, many sing-songs and various service stations the cadets were split into two teams and allocated a staff team leader.
From Sunday to Friday all cadets endured multiple activities within the breath taking scenery of North Wales, including Summer Mountaineering up Mt. Snowdon, Mountain Biking at Coed y Brenin National Park and The Marin, Outdoor Rock Climbing and abseil at the crags overlooking Betws-y-Coed, White Water rafting on the River Tryweryn at The National White Water Centre, a high rope course and power fan at Tree Top Adventures and Indoor rock climbing at The Nuffield Centre, Anglesey at Indefatigable.
Each evening the cadets participated in an activity including a climbing tower, bouldering, slack line (tight rope), mountain bike or rock climbing theory, free time in Betws-y-Coed and a BBQ. After each activity the cadets ensured accommodation blocks were tidy, day sacks were prepared for the following day’s activity and this was followed by some downtime on camp in the games room until lights out which was at 22:30 hours.
By the end of the week all cadets had overcome fears, achieved personal targets and were all gleaming with self achievement. Group friendships were born and memories made that will last a lifetime. All cadets are thankful to the Ulysses Trust, as without the funding, this course and its amazingly enjoyable activities would not have been affordable.
We were fortunate enough to take two cadets and one teacher from the first Sea Cadet Expansion Programme based within Southern Area. The Cadet Expansion programme is a government initiative to setup more cadet units within schools. These cadets were two of the first cadets to join the scheme and both places were paid in full by some of the grant money provided by the Ulysses Trust. Since their return to the school, the positive experiences gained in Wales has inspired more cadets and more staff to join the programme. The attending Teacher has now offered to command the detachment in the hope of continuing with adventurous training within the school and detachment.
A massive Thank You to Ulysses Trust from Southern Area Sea Cadets.
