D of E at the Elan Valley Adventure Training Centre

Cadets and staff from 121 Squadron have just returned from another adventure training weekend at the Warwickshire and Birmingham Wing Adventure Training Centre at Elan Valley , Powys, Mid Wales.

The Warwickshire and Birmingham Wing's Elan Valley Centre is located at the bottom of the picturesque Elan Valley alongside the River Elan which leads up to one of several dams in the area supplying water to the Birmingham area.

This was the first time that many of the cadets had been away on adventure training activities with the Squadron and they made the most of the opportunity by taking part in their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award practices. They spent two days putting their classroom knowledge of map and compass work into practise as they successfully navigated their way around various routes in the Elan Valley area, with their progress being constantly assessed by members of staff.

The more experienced cadets who were taking part in their qualifying Bronze and Silver expeditions had to look after themselves and undertake their expeditions on their own.

Flight Lieutenant Ian Crewe Officer Commanding 121 ( Nuneaton ) Squadron said, "The Weekend had provided all the cadets with experience of map reading and adventure training. I was very please with the way the first timers performed and I am glad to say that those cadets on qualifiers found that their navigation and camp-craft skills had improved greatly since their practice expeditions. It's been hard work for everyone but most rewarding, that's what life in the Air Cadet organisation is all about".