Saturday 19th July 08.00 hrs the Coach picked up cadets and staff from the south of our wing, 09.00 hrs the coach picked up cadets and staff from the north of the wing and they all set off on their way to the NACATC Windermere for a week’s adventure training.

The coach arrived at the centre at 16.00hrs. After unpacking we had our first brief of the week. We had 30 cadets and 8 staff, led by Sqn Ldr Stonestreet, our Wing Adventure Training Technical Officer;
The other staff were Sqn Ldr Whalvin, Equipment Officer; Sqn Ldr Upham, Catering Officer; Plt Off Harding; Motor Transport Officer; WO Morgan, Discipline; along with CI Swain, CI Rosser and CI Taggart.  

The rest of Saturday was taken up with Kit checks and the issue of kit for the week’s activities. We had our first guests of the week join us for dinner that evening -  Wing Commander Clavell, along with the Wing Chairman, Mr Hooper and his wife who called in to see us on their way to the Isle of Arran to see the cadets who were there doing their D of E Award expeditions.

Sunday we all went to Kendal to take our swimming proficiency test, which we all passed. After this we went on a low level introduction walk and navigation exercise, on Watendlath Fell. We took our Wg Cmdr along with us.

Monday we were put into two groups, one group went canoeing at Fellfoot on Lake Windermere and the other did a walk up to Gummers How view point.
The Wg Cmdr popped to the canoeing to say good bye, but we took him out canoeing with us before we let him go home! In the afternoon the groups swapped around.

Tuesday, Sqn Ldr Stonestreet told some of the groups they were doing a low level walk as they had been moaning about having to walk again up hills. But to their surprise, they did the same route as all the cadets. This was a high level walk around a horse shoe starting with Brown Pike 682m, Buck Pike 720m, Dow Crag 778m, and The Old Man of Coniston 801m. The whole day we were walking in cloud and did not see very much apart from the map and compass! All made it back and had a good day walking.

Wednesday, we were put into two groups. We went Climbing at Tilberthwaite Quarry and did a navigation and walking exercise on Tilberthwaite Fell. In the afternoon the groups swopped over activities. The weather was really nice - it was very sunny and we had good views on the walk.

In the evening we had a dining in night. We had all made dickey bow ties to dine out the Assistant Regional Commandant, Sqn Ldr Maddocks, who had come to spend a few days with us, to see what we were up to.

Thursday, we were up early and off to Go-Ape at Grizedale Forest. Half of us did this while the others did Orienteering in the forest. We took the ARC, Sqn Ldr Maddocks with us as we knew he was an ex-Rock ape!!!
We think he had a good time! Sqn Ldr Stonestreet said we had been good and he allowed us some free time in Ambleside to do some shopping.

Friday, we were up early again and off to Grizedale Forest for the other half to do Go-Ape whilst we went and did the Orienteering. Then it was back to the centre to clean and pack up ready to go home. We did all the work quickly as Sqn Ldr Stonestreet said we could go to the Cinema and have Fish and Chips in Bowness.

Saturday we were up at 07.00hrs for breakfast and to pack the coach. We had a final clean of the centre and then an 8 hour journey home.

We all had a great week with many of us overcoming our fears of height and gaining more confidence in ourselves. What a good week.