On Sunday afternoon, 24 excited cadets set off for Beckingham Summer Camp, eager for the adventure ahead. The journey went smoothly, and everyone arrived safely, ready to make the most of an action-packed week. 

The camp is already off to a brilliant start, with cadets settling into their luxury accommodation and enjoying some delicious meals. Spirits are high, friendships are growing, and there’s a real buzz of excitement around camp as everyone looks forward to the activities and challenges still to come. 

Stay tuned for more updates from what promises to be an unforgettable week at Beckingham Summer Camp! 🎉🏕️✨ 

Monday was a fantastic and action-packed day for our cadets as they took part in a range of exciting military skills activities. Despite battling the sunny weather, long grass, and even plenty of sheep droppings, everyone showed great enthusiasm, resilience, and teamwork throughout the day. 

Cadets completed a variety of challenging tasks, including rifle skills training, practising snap ambushes, and learning how to create a safe harbour. These activities helped develop their fieldcraft knowledge, communication skills, and confidence in outdoor environments. 

The excitement continued with an afternoon of paintballing, where cadets put their tactical skills to the test. They also learnt how to attack a position from the front and the right, gaining a greater understanding of military tactics and teamwork. Another fascinating activity explored how things are seen and observed in the field, giving cadets an insight into observation and concealment techniques. 

One of the highlights of the day was receiving our camp T-shirts, which were proudly worn throughout the evening. After a busy day packed with learning, laughter, and adventure, everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner and the chance to relax with friends. 

It was a memorable day full of new experiences, challenges, and achievements, and our cadets represented the school brilliantly. We look forward to sharing more updates from camp as the week continues! 

Tuesday was another exciting and action-packed day at summer camp. We travelled to Kendrew Barracks for Competition Day, where our cadets took part in a variety of challenging and enjoyable activities. 

The day began with a drill session led by Sam, followed by an inspection. Everyone worked hard and represented the school brilliantly. 

Cadets then enjoyed some fantastic activities, including tag archery and a fun William Tell competition. The water sprayer proved to be a huge hit and was a welcome way to cool down during the day. We also enjoyed some refreshing ice lollies, which were very much appreciated in the warm weather. 

The competition events continued with a shooting competition and a series of command tasks. Cadets also tested their skills in Kim’s Game, tent pitching, and a model observation exercise, all of which encouraged teamwork, communication, and attention to detail. 

We are incredibly proud to report that our school performed exceptionally well throughout the day, winning all four competition categories on the day. This was a fantastic achievement and a reflection of the enthusiasm, teamwork, determination, and skill shown by all of our cadets. 

A particular highlight of the day was when The Poachers Regiment gave us the opportunity to explore a range of military vehicles and learn more about their equipment and role. 

After a busy day of activities, we headed back on our air-conditioned coach and enjoyed some well-earned rest during the afternoon. In the evening, everyone relaxed together and watched the football before settling in for the night. 

We are now halfway through camp and looking forward to seeing what the next few days bring!

Wednesday was our Personal Development Day at Kingsmill Activity Centre, and what a fantastic day it was! 

The morning began with a series of “dry” team-building activities. Despite the name, they seemed to involve quite a lot of water! Fortunately, the warm weather made this a very welcome part of the day. Our cadets worked brilliantly together, showing excellent teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills. Zach particularly excelled, coming up with some great ideas to help his team succeed. Samrah thoroughly enjoyed getting wet, while Sam adopted an unusual new pet – a slug that accompanied him through the amazing tunnels! 

After lunch, we headed to the lake for the afternoon’s activities. Before taking to the water, everyone successfully passed their water safety test. The cadets then enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of canoeing, with the popular “Domination” game proving to be a particular highlight. It was also lovely to see our Headteacher, Mr Bishop, joining us during the day. 

A special thank you goes to Suraiya for taking some wonderful photographs and capturing so many memorable moments. 

Following an exciting day, we returned to Beckingham for some well-earned rest. However, our relaxation was briefly interrupted when one of the girls’ cabins had to deal with an unexpected ant invasion! Thankfully, the situation was soon under control. 

We rounded off the day with a lovely dinner before enjoying a cooler and more comfortable night’s sleep, ready for the adventures still to come. 

Thursday was another action-packed day at camp, packed with exciting activities and new challenges.

After a hearty breakfast, we headed out for our eagerly anticipated ranges day. We started with laser clay shooting, expertly run by Mrs Boyle and Mr Charlton. It proved to be a fantastic activity, with plenty of friendly competition and impressive shooting on display. We then moved on to the 25m range, where everyone had the opportunity to put their marksmanship skills into practice with live shooting.

Following a busy morning, we returned to Beckingham for lunch before taking advantage of the welcome shade of the trees to clean our rifles. With temperatures remaining high, everyone enjoyed a well-earned rest ahead of the evening's activities.

At 8pm, the cadets set off for their overnight exercise, splitting into two groups.

The first group, led by Suraiya and Map, with Luke and Sam serving as section commanders, occupied a local farm and was tasked with defending it against the fictional "Nottinghamshire Militia." Throughout the evening they dealt with several visitors to their position before responding to a simulated mortar attack, which resulted in a casualty requiring evacuation to the designated helicopter landing site. Once the situation was under control, the cadets carried out a night patrol to ensure the area was secure before returning to their occupied farm. They spent the night sleeping in the cow sheds while maintaining overnight watch, putting their teamwork and fieldcraft skills to the test.

Meanwhile, the second group patrolled to the harbour, where Elsie and Josh planned and executed a successful snap ambush before establishing a secure harbour area. After setting up bashers for shelter, the cadets settled in for a night under canvas, enjoying the opportunity to put their fieldcraft training into practice in a different environment.

It was another memorable day full of teamwork, resilience and plenty of fun. The cadets showed excellent leadership, determination and teamwork throughout the day and night, making the most of every opportunity. As we head into our final day, everyone is looking forward to one last adventure before returning home with plenty of great memories from an excellent week at camp.

Our final day of Cadet Camp began with the Two-Star cadets waking up under canvas, while the Three-Star cadets woke after spending the night in cow sheds. Following breakfast from their ration packs, everyone headed out for one last morning of adventure.

Our Two-Star cadets took part in an exciting fire and movement exercise using paintballs, while the Three-Star cadets enjoyed a final tactical exercise against a mock enemy force. Afterwards, everyone came together for weapon cleaning and lunch before returning to Beckingham for a well-earned break from the heat.

The afternoon was spent sorting out our rucksacks, organising belongings, and giving our accommodation a thorough tidy and sweep before enjoying a much-deserved evening meal. After six fantastic days of challenge, teamwork and adventure, everyone headed home ready for a relaxing weekend—and a very long sleep!