FERGUS – Interested in a free activity for your kids that can build leadership and teamwork skills?
An Army Cadet unit is starting up in Fergus this fall and organizers are hoping there are enough interested youth aged 12 to 18 in the Fergus-Elora-Arthur area to make it fly.
Captain Darren Storey said while the program is funded by the federal government (which is why it’s free to participants) and is administered by the Department of National Defence, there is no obligation to become involved in the military.
“That’s a popular misconception,” Storey said.
“But no, this is strictly a youth program – one of the oldest youth programs in Canada.”
Kids who sign up will meet one evening a week for weekly training. The exact location isn’t yet finalized but it will be in Fergus, Storey said.
But often there are other activities for the kids to do – like a weekend of field training, where youth will learn survival skills such as building shelters and starting a fire– or rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing, bush craft, marksmanship, etc.
Cadets are often involved in selling poppies and Remembrance Day services as well.
“The theme is to have fun and to challenge the youth,” Storey said.
“At the core we want to develop leadership, teamwork, problem solving and citizenship. It’s all about creating good citizens.”
Storey said he was involved in Cadets for five years in his youth, “and it was so much fun. The memories and friendships…
“It’s really good for youth,” he continued. “And it’s for everyone – girls and boys.
“And it doesn’t matter how good you are at sports or academics or what your socio-economic background is.”
Storey called the Cadet program “one of the best-kept secrets” and said a community the size of Centre Wellington, with five primary schools and two secondary schools, should be able to support the program.
Nearby there are Cadet programs in Erin, Mount Forest, Orangeville and Guelph.
“It’s fascinating to see the growth in youth in the program,” he added. “They go off to all sorts of careers.”
Anyone interested in signing up or learning more can email 1849army@cadets.gc.ca.
