Take 20 cadets ages 12-18, add wind, snow and cold temperatures and what do you have? A winter survival exercise that was a complete success.
Air cadets with the 893 Beaufort Squadron set up camp at Horne Lake the last weekend in November for survival training. Senior cadets instructed classes including orienteering, fire building, signal fire construction, ground to air signals, map reading and team building.
The Royal Canadian Air Cadets have a long list of activities and exercises designed to develop the skills needed to be successful in today's world. The skills and friendships they form in the cadets serve them for the rest of their lives. And this year, for the first time ever, they are making their annual Christmas social into an open house.
Squadron chair and cadet parent Debbie Penley encourages anybody interested to come out and see what air cadets are all about.
Penley said her son, Adam, joined when he was 12 and the organization has made a huge difference in his life. "We saw an ad in the newspaper and it talked about flying and gliding and survival exercises and my son was interested," she explained. "So he joined and it's been the best thing we've ever found for him."
Penley said cadets learn leadership skills, self confidence and how to lead by example; on top of having the opportunity to learn first-aid, participate in biathlons and take part in a tight-knit social group.
Penley said interested teens can come out to the open house, or sit in on a training night just to get an idea of what air cadets do.
She said last fall the cadets were invited to a B.C. Lions weekend in the Lower Mainland where they got to watch the Lion's pre-game warm up and meet the players.
The 893 Beaufort Squadron meet each Tuesday at the Qualicum Beach Airport. Registration is open throughout the year for youth ages 12-18.
The Winter Social and Open House will be hosted from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Qualicum Beach Airport, Hangar #A3 Tuesday, December 16.
This is a casual evening with a potluck dinner, hot and cold beverages, games and cadet displays on their activities. Donations to the local food bank will be collected at the door.
— Candace Wu/Submitted by 893 Beaufort Squadron