See this section for...
Mini but Mighty: Challenge Club kids experience the life of a cadet
Challenge Club youngsters got a chance to experience the great outdoors cadet-style, when they were visited by Gads’ Combined Cadet Force (CCF) instructor Mr Mark Lamb!
The children, aged from 9 to 11 years old, experienced life as a ‘mini’ commando by dressing up camouflage, eating army rations, squeezing under a bivouac (or bashers as they are more affectionately known as in the Army!) for shelter during the cold night and curling up into sleeping bags for warmth! After testing out the school’s newly acquired paintball guns against a set of targets - with varying degrees of success - the group were then treated a well-deserved cup of Army hot chocolate.
Mrs. Shelia Bell, who runs the club, said: “It was a great experience for the children, as Combined Cadet Force activities are normally reserved for our senior pupils. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves, although, I’m not sure if all of those taking part were too keen on the Army rations!”
Mr Mark Lamb said: “I very much enjoyed giving the youngsters a flavour of life as a cadet and hope that when they embark on senior education that each individual considers joining the CCF, as they would certainly make for good leaders! I hope to repeat the session in brighter and warmer weather, so that we can cover military exercises, which I’m sure will come to the delight to many of the children!”