As an Adult Instructor with Suffolk ACF I went along on the weekend with 6 other instructors to Thetford Forest for an adventure training weekend along with 64 cadets.

What a weekend!

We arrived Friday night and thankfully we got all the tents up before the torrential rain started to fall! After a mostly sleepless night we were all up at the crack of dawn rearing to go and even thou the downpour continued all day started it didn’t dampen anyone's spirits.

Amongst the activities were motorbiking, mountain biking, orienteering and high wires.

I was assigned the high wires.

The high wires were placed 25ft up amongst the tree line and once the cadets were safety briefed and harnessed, up in the trees they went.
For some of the cadets it was a daunting task and there were a few that didn’t complete the course but everyone of them gave it a try, so good for them!

On Sunday, as the last group went through, I decided that if the cadets could do it so would I. Bad mistake for me! I climbed the first tree and only completed the first section (there were 6 altogether) before nerves got the better of me and I turned round and came back down - I had to get someone to hold a step ladder for me. As I’m not good with heights I was pleased I got that far!

So for all the cadets who completed the course a very well done !

A special well done to Cadets Simms (Beccles) and Hanson (QDG).

I know all the cadets who attended had a great time!

A special mention to SI Smith (QDG): I hope it isn’t still hurting! (He had a bit of a fight with a canoe oar!)

Steph Pollard
Lowestoft South (Queen's Dragoon Guards)