CCF Autumn Updates

Adventurous Training Weekends Autumn 2024

Year 10–13 CCF Cadets have had the opportunity to take part in one of two weekends hiking/camping this term.

In September, 11 cadets completed two days on Dartmoor. Leaving Friday lunchtime, we travelled to the campsite and then enjoyed a fish and chip dinner after setting up the tents.

On Saturday, we had a 18km hike across the challenging South Moor, with great opportunities to learn how to navigate and choose better routes through tricky terrain. Both groups used these skills to successfully locate the well-hidden (in the middle of nowhere!) Ducks Pool letterbox (Dartmoor’s version of a geocache) and returned to camp in good time. There were also encounters with the Dartmoor wildlife, including the rare siting of an adder and many wild fungi. Mr Talbot was the expert in spotting these! The Year 10 cadets then had their first experience of army ration pack meals.

Sunday’s activities included a shorter walk, with more bog and some woods. The weather was kind, and the rain didn’t set in until the last half an hour of our walking.

In November, 25 cadets travelled to the Isle of Wight for a different walking experience and army beds instead of tents. The weather was ideal for walking with no wind or rain (the weekend before Storm Bert!) and we were able to enjoy the views across the channel and back to the mainland as we walked along the cliff tops. One group also managed to find “bramble alley”, to add some discomfort and extra challenge to their walk on Sunday. There were also several encounters with the local farm animals – pigs, cows, sheep, horses, and also the odd (model) dinosaur.

Both trips were a great success and we look forward now to the upcoming Ten Tors training (see Mrs Scourfield ASAP if you are in Year 10 or 12 and interested in getting involved with this) and to a full week trip at the start of the Easter holidays – if you are in CCF, keep an eye on the notices for more information about this soon.