This year’s summer camp differed from previous traditional military camps usually held in the first week of the summer holidays due in part to the clash with the choir tour to Italy, the expedition to Norway and booked family holidays. It was decided an adventure training expedition would be organised to take place at Okehampton, Devon towards the end of the holiday period. It was felt this would perhaps be both beneficial to parents and cadets alike! It was also felt for those cadets intent on getting involved in future ‘ten tors’ competitions this would be an ideal introduction to the type of terrain they could expect to encounter.
24 cadets and 2 staff in 2 minibuses with trailer set off on Monday 22 August towards Okehampton camp. (2 other adults travelled later in their own cars) Making good time we arrived soon after lunch only to find we had been booked into a different transit camp several miles away. At first this caused some anxiety but when it was realised we were originally going to be accommodated with 400+ ACF cadets from Shropshire and a group of ‘excluded’ pupils from an inner city state school, there was a noticeable sigh of relief when it was announced we would be entirely on our own in the other camp.
Our accommodation at Willsworthy camp was not entirely trouble free but the few initial problems with heating and hot water and an absence of pillows were quickly dealt with. The cadets very quickly settled into their accommodation and were soon keen to discover the surrounding area.
Our first planned activity on the Tuesday morning was a fairly lengthy hike across the moor from Okehampton and after dropping off the previously prepared route cards with the camp authorities we were off. This, for many was the first time they had experienced the type of underfoot conditions associated with Dartmoor. Thankfully, we were blessed with reasonable weather and excellent views which provided the right conditions for all to practise their navigation skills. Inevitably one or two suffered with minor blisters and aching legs but all cadets appeared to enjoy the experience.
On Wednesday we headed off to Roadford reservoir near Laucesston for a
water sports day and this is one commodity there was no shortage of both from above and below! It was really pleasing to see all the cadets fully engaged in the various activities whether it was dinghy sailing, raft building, kayaking or windsurfing and to see them enjoying themselves so much. The look on Luke Lomas’ face as he capsized his windsurfer on one of the many occasions will remain etched in the memory forever!! I’m sure this is something they would all like to do again in the future. During the evening all NCO’s were treated to dinner at a nearby public house; a tradition that recognises the contribution they make throughout the year.
Thursday we were back in Okehampton, this time at the YHA activities centre and a chance to do some mountain biking or at least to ride in hilly woods with lots of obstacles. For those not so confident there was a chance for one of the groups to ride more sedately along a purpose built tarmacked path that runs alongside a single track railway towards Tavistock.
There was also an opportunity to do some actual rock climbing, again, a new experience for many who had only ever previously climbed on an artificial climbing wall. The nickname ‘spiderman’ was not lost on Dominic Freeston!
Our last activity on Friday before heading back to Warminster could be loosely described as orienteering with a difference called ‘letterboxing’ and involves finding small boxes containing a unique stamp hidden in the ground using a combination of map and compass and a sheet of clues to navigate to the spot, a difficult thing to do even in the best of weather. The return journey was spent reliving some of the memorable events of the week and for others it was a chance to mimic the proverbial ‘nodding dog’!
This was a superb week in which all cadets fully engrossed themselves in the activities. They were, as always, extremely well behaved, polite and supportive of each other and staff and have again proven to be a real credit to themselves, their parents and the school; a real pleasure to be with. This was commented upon on several occasions by many of the instructors and other adults we came into contact with them. Thanks also to the staff who gave up their time to attend, in particular, Sandra Hopkins (our female cover), Simon Palma and Nick McCormack (old V).
Mark Hayward
