Interest in the 亚洲天堂 Lake and area army cadets has been on the upswing over the past four years.
From as few as three local cadets just four years ago, the 亚洲天堂 Lake army cadet corps - army ground engineers to be exact 鈭� has grown to 20 young men and women, from 12 to 18 years old.
Captain Margaret Murphy of Houston has been involved with the cadets for more than 15 years. She divides her time between 亚洲天堂 Lake and a smaller cadre in Houston.
鈥淲e emphasize leadership and physical fitness,鈥� Murphy said. 鈥淲e do promote an interest in the armed forces, but we don鈥檛 see the cadets as a channel into the armed forces. We鈥檙e a separate entity.鈥�
Meeting every Wednesday at 6 p.m. in 亚洲天堂 Lake at the Rod and Gun club, the cadets practise rifle marksmanship, play sports, learn map reading and orienteering, take hiking and camping trips, learn first aid and wilderness survival skills.
鈥淭here鈥檚 lots of opportunity to go further,鈥� Murphy said. 鈥淔or the seniors, there are exchanges where they get to travel if they are willing to put in the work. We鈥檝e had kids go to England, Scotland, Holland, Italy, and even Belize for an international scuba diving certificate. There鈥檚 also an international shooting competition in Bisley, England that some have qualified for.鈥�
Although the Department of National Defence pays for most of the associated costs with the annual exchanges and expeditions, the 亚洲天堂 Lake cadets take on the responsibility of funding local activities, hall and office rental at the Rod and Gun club, and insurance.
Area businesses support the cadets in their hands-on approach to fundraising. Lakes District Maintenance donates sand to the cadets, who then pack sandbags for sale at local gas stations. LMR Enterprises donates logs, which the cadets and parents cut, spilt, deliver and stack for area residents. The Lake District Fall Fair Committee hires the cadets to handle parking at the annual weekend-long fall fair.
The cadets are most visible in the public eye during the annual poppy drive leading up to Remembrance Day, when they distribute poppies on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 50, and participate in the Remembrance Day ceremony in 亚洲天堂 Lake . The money raised during the poppy drive is strictly for veteran-related services.
亚洲天堂 Lake鈥檚 Brennan Noth was a local cadet from 2001 to 2008. An outstanding cadet, he qualified, to train with the regular armed forces even before going on to join the forces in 2010.
Noth spent three years with Princess Patricia鈥檚 Canadian Light Infantry, stationed near Brandon Manitoba. While with the armed forces he helped with flood relief during the major flooding of 2009, and spent six weeks with the U.S. marines in Hawaii.
鈥淚t was a great experience, but it鈥檚 good to be back in 亚洲天堂 Lake,鈥� Noth said. 鈥淚 missed the outdoors here.鈥�
He鈥檚 been volunteering with the local cadets, bringing back real-life experience of having stood to serve his country.
鈥淭he cadets form a strong bond, and it鈥檚 not unusual for them to return as volunteers once they鈥檝e aged-out of the cadets,鈥� Murphy said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e always looking for more youth to join, and parents as well,鈥� Murphy said.
Parents who want to volunteer with the corps can join the parents committee, or if they鈥檙e keen, they can get training with the Albert Head B.C. Cadet Instructors Cadre at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt.
