Making Adventure Possible: Oxfordshire Cadets Try Skiing and Scuba

Thanks to funding from ACCT UK, 24 senior cadets from Oxfordshire ACF stepped out of their comfort zone to learn new skills… skiing and scuba diving in their local area. The cadets spent their morning at SnowZone in Milton Keynes learning to ski or snowboard, then headed to Ambrosden for their first taste of scuba diving.

For some cadets, like Corporal Wojtczak, the day meant facing some big fears. “Before this opportunity, I was someone who struggled with fear… especially when it came to heights, slopes, and certain physical challenges like skiing and snowboarding,” she says. Yet, “thanks to the grant funding and the supportive environment of the Army Cadets, I was able to confront these fears head-on.”

She found that having good support made all the difference. “Through the guidance of our instructors and the support of my fellow cadets, I not only participated in these activities but found myself enjoying them. I’ve gained a new level of self-confidence, realising that I am capable of tackling challenges that once seemed impossible.”

While learning to ski and scuba dive, the cadets picked up other useful skills along the way. Corporal Brown puts it well: “This grant funding… has provided us with new experiences that we will remember for years to come, aided us in confidence… and provided a physical activity to help keep us healthy and fit.”

These activities pushed the cadets outside their comfort zone. They helped develop essential skills like teamwork, resilience, leadership, and discipline.

Cadet Sergeant Banyard tells how ACCT UK’s funding “provided us with the opportunity to do activities that we wouldn’t normally be able to do”

The day clearly left its mark on the cadets. Corporal Tipter noticed something telling: “I saw every single cadet come out of each lesson that was funded by ACCT UK with a smile on their face”.

What’s more, Sergeant Jones learned that persistence pays off. He told us, “On the slopes I found myself falling quite a lot during the beginning of the session. However, I pushed through the difficulties and kept getting up. After repeatedly trying I became confident enough to reach the bottom with grace and speed.” He also revealed that the adventurous training developed the cadets’ “trust in each other”.

This training helped Cadet Gregory to grow as a leader. She says, “I have not only been able to learn new skills but been able to enhance my leadership skills, as I was able to help other cadets”.

Cadet Gregory explained that ACCT UK’s grant kept the opportunity accessible. It meant the young people did not need to worry about it being too expensive.

This is exactly what ACCT UK’s funding aims to do… to ensure that financial restrictions don’t stop young people from trying new things or from developing and achieving through the ACF.

Ex Quebec Adventure shows what can happen when you give cadets the chance to try activities they might not otherwise get to do. They can discover just what they’re capable of and learn useful skills for life.

Learn more about our grants and how to apply.