As with all terms at Bridgetown High school this one was a busy term. The weekly cadet training sessions were focussed on the skills that the cadets would need to successfully complete all the challenges they would be presented with on camp.

The camps were broken up by year groups this term. The year 7s and 8s went on camp in week 7 of term and the year 9s and 10s held their camp in week 9. Both camps revolved around successfully completing an orienteering or rogaining course. The camp for the younger cadets had two orienteering courses, an easier, shorter course for the year 7s and a longer slightly more challenging course for the year 8s. If you are not familiar with orienteering it is a race where speed is important, but navigation skills are more important. During training sessions, the cadets learnt how to read contour maps, use a compass and pace count.

The year 9s and 10s had to complete a rogaining course. Rogaining is not as well-known as orienteering. They are similar sports, but Rogaining is more of a marathon event. Whereas orienteering is a fixed course that you complete in the fastest time, rogaining is a bigger course and you have to plan your own route, to collect the most points in a fixed time. Different checkpoints are allocated different point values.

All the year 7 and year 8 teams did a great job and managed to find all the checkpoints. The year 9 and 10 cadets similarly did brilliantly, and all teams managed to get to all the checkpoints within very fast times. There was only one minute separating first and second place – which is quite amazing considering the fastest teams were out for three and a half hours. Only one team was still out after dark. I will definitely need to make the course more difficult next year.

The other aspect of our Grimwade area camp is the shelters that the cadets can use. We progressively give cadets less materials as they get more experienced. Our year 7 cadets are issued with tents, the year 8 cadets get professionally made bivvies, the year 9 cadets get a sheet of black plastic, and the year 10 cadets have to make a shelter from the materials in the natural environment. It is great so see some of the creative shelters that the older cadets build.

The other program that has been running this term is the program run by the local emergency services groups. The year 10 cadets have been participating in special 2-hour training sessions and doing some awesome activities. So far, they have used a roof safety system with the SES, done a simulated search and rescue activity with the VFRS (Volunteer Fire and Rescue), donned HAZMAT suits and drafted water and the shot water across the Blackwood River with the Kangaroo Gully Bush Fire Brigade. The program continues next term, and they will also get to visit the St john Ambulance centre and work on their first aid skills.

Next term we have lots more fun activities planned.