Adventure Training
861 Squadron is very enthusiastic about Adventure Training – which covers all sorts of activities from walking and camping, to rock climbing, water sports and caving. We use areas all over the country, over the last years we have travelled to the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, Lake District, Cheviots and Scottish Borders.
All cadets learn basic map reading skills as part of their initial training, and this is much easier to teach in the field than in a classroom. Cadets also learn how to look after themselves in the outdoors, planning their menus and cooking for themselves. A new cadet may start with a couple of day hikes walking with an instructor, or a weekend staying in a bunkbarn, but after further training they will be expected to navigate accurately and carry all their camping kit. Most cadets take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, and work up towards their Gold expedition – a whole week of independent walking and camping in an unfamiliar area.
We also get involved in water sports (including kayaking and canoeing), climbing (indoor and outdoor), caving and snowboarding. These can be short training sessions on a parade night, or weekends which work towards certain qualifications.
Our Wing also runs week-long adventure training camps at the Air Cadet Centers in Wales and the Lake District – which let cadets try new activities and improve their skills at others. 861 Squadron also run our own summer adventure training camp – in 2007 a group of 15 cadets went on our camp in Ingleton in the Dales. A Camp Report is available on this website.
Newsletters
The squadron quarterly newsletters are now being uploaded to the website, these can be found either in the ‘On The Squadron’ section, or by simply clicking this link!
Rock Climbing
New rock climbing is going to be available soon. Watch this space for more information...
Cadet Resources
Cadet Resources are available in the ‘On The Squadron’ section of the website, click this link to take you straight there.
Snowboarding
New snowboarding at Silksworth in Sunderland...watch this space.
