Adventure Training
Adventure Training within the Air Cadets can take on many forms. From camping and hillwalking, to canoeing, sailing, climbing, abseiling and parachuting.
Camping
This is a popular activity for cadets. From their basic training onwards they are taught how to pitch a tent and set up a camp site. Usually cadets try to camp in places where there are "home comforts" available such as hot and cold running water, and showers. They can when they need to camp in very inhospitable places taking everything they need along on their backs. Often camping is done as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Hillwalking
This is a popular activity for cadets. It can be done in any weather conditions with the correct training and equipment. Navigating in fog or low cloud can be difficult but is not beyond the abilities of experienced cadets. Rain, wind and even snow do not dampen their enthusiasm.
Even for one day hikes cadets are taught to carry all the correct safety equipment, including waterproofs on sunny days. Hence the large packs. Map and compass skills are vitally important and so are taught throughout their time in the cadets.
As with Camping, this is often done as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Canoeing and Dingy Sailing
The Air Cadets is about flying, but some cadets like to get wet. For those people canoeing, dingy sailing and white water rafting provide a lot of fun. These activities like all activities within the Air Cadets are only carried out with correctly qualified staff and all the required safety equipment.
Climbing and Abseiling
These activities go well together as what goes up must come down.
Climbing is hard work and not all cadets enjoy it, but all cadets will get the chance to try it during their career with in the Corps. Sometimes cadets will climb in climbing boots, to get a better feel for the rock. At other times they will climb using their "Army" boots or scramble nets in the same way as the regulars when on exercise. At all times there is a safety rope attached as well as the climbing rope.
Cadets can rarely be accused of hanging around, but when abseiling that's just what they do. Some have a fear of heights before they start abseiling but most overcome this when they make their first descent. It may be terrifying stepping out into nothingness, but it's also great fun. Again safety is paramount, with a safety rope as well as the descent rope being used.
Parachuting
This is definitely one of the most exciting activities cadets can do. The courses are run by the Royal Air Force at RAF Weston-on-the-Green. Only more senior cadet are allowed to take part and competition is fierce for the available places.
It is the only time cadets will jump out of an RAF aircraft when it is still working.