Churcher’s College CCF Easter AT Camp 2025 – South Wales
- Justine Greenfield
- May 9
- 5 min read
Updated: May 10
Report by: Lieutenant Rob Newton – Expedition Leader,
The Petersfield School Army Section Officer, Armed Forces Veteran.
During the first week of the Easter school holiday 2025, 14 cadets from the Churcher’s College CCF along with three CFAVs undertook three days of Adventurous Training in the Brecon Beacons, South Wales. The cadets, all in year 10, were a combined group of Navy, Army and Air Cadets from Churcher’s College and their partner CEP school, The Petersfield School.
The aim of the expedition was to give the cadets an opportunity to participate in a variety of different AT disciplines and to foster teamwork and group cohesion by living in shared accommodation. The cadets ranged in experience with some seeking further challenge in activities they had experienced previously and several trying some activities for the first time.
“I didn’t think I would do the abseil but seeing everyone else do it encouraged me to give it a go. I ended up doing it 3 times!” – Cadet Anabelle G-C
Of the 14 cadets who took part in the activity two were recognised as being eligible for Pupil Premium funding and would likely not have been able to take part with the contribution of donor funding. A further two pupils were recognised as having a Special Educational Need and some had experienced SEMH issues in recent years at school. All were extremely grateful for the opportunity they had been given and many remarked on how much they now wanted to take part in this year’s CCF summer camp. Others commented on how much they enjoyed the activities and will consider developing their individual skills through opportunities such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
We are all very grateful to the Connaught Trust and our other donors for their support which helped to make this expedition possible.
We are also grateful to the support received from Steve MacPherson of Adventure Residentials who organised our activities and accommodation. Steve, an Armed Force Veteran and former CCF SSI, is uniquely placed to help put together a great cadet experience and thoroughly recommended.
Day 1
On day 1 cadets congregated at school at midday for the three-hour minibus drive to Wales arriving at the accommodation in the late afternoon. Home for the week was the Coed Owen Bunkhouse, set in beautiful surroundings on a working farm in Cwm Taf just North of Merthyr Tydfil. The cadets were all impressed and somewhat surprised at their comfortable accommodation, made even more impressive thanks to a beautiful sunny day and clear blue skies.
After settling in the group deployed to a local supermarket to stock up on provisions for the week. The cadets were responsible for choosing their menu for the week and in small groups took responsibility for planning and shopping for meals that they would cook throughout the week, a first for many of them.
The day was finished off with some icebreakers and group games to help the group get to know each other better and start the bonding process.
Day 2 – Mountain Biking
“I enjoyed all the activities but riding downhill at Bike Park Wales was definitely the best!” – Cadet Eliza C
Day 2 dawned bright, clear, and cold with the prospect of whole day of riding in the type of immaculate weather not normally associated with the Brecon Beacons in early April!
The cadets had elected to break down into 2 groups for the first activity. A group of more experienced off-road riders headed to Bike Park Wales for a day of thrills and spills on the downhill trails under the guidance of their MIAS qualified CFAVs. The less experience group set off for a day of trail riding with a local guide in the area around Talybont and the Usk Valley. For most of this group, it was their first time riding off-road and for an extended distance.
At Bike Park Wales, the excellent staff introduced the cadets to their full suspension bikes and safety gear before warming up on the longest green coded trail in the UK. It quickly became apparent that some in the group needed a greater challenge whilst some needed time on the gentler trails to build their confidence and technique. By the end of the day all had got what they came for whether it was nailing big jumps on the red technical trails or confidently negotiating the berms on the flowy blues.
The trail riding group, whilst on less technical terrain, had a no less enjoyable day. All commented on the beautiful scenery on their ride, how hard the hills were to ride up and how sore your nether regions become after a day in the saddle!
Both groups reunited at the bunkhouse for a well-deserved meal followed by more games.
Day 3 – Canoeing
On day 3 the group were all together for a day in open canoes. When planning the expedition in the Autumn it was decided that water levels would likely be too high to paddle local rivers in April and therefore the Brecon Canal was chosen as a safe paddling option. As things turned out, with the recent low rainfall, the canal turned out to be a better option as the rivers were all too low!
For many in the group this was the first time paddling in open boats and they quickly got to grips with how to work together in their pairs to manoeuvre their craft. A few team games along the way helped develop paddling confidence and technique. A lunch stops on the Usk river provided the opportunity to indulge in a stone skimming and a rock tower building competition. The air temperatures warmed up nicely during the afternoon paddle back to the start point encouraging the instructors to introduce more ambitious games, further developing confidence and paddling skills. Inevitably this led to the first cadets enjoying a refreshing dip in the canal and lots of splashing of rival boats.
The cadets were very grateful to the instructors from Argoed Lwyd Activity Centre for putting on an entertaining and challenging days paddling.
‘What a brilliant week – I don’t want it to end!’ – Cadet Harrison K
Day 4 – Climbing & Abseiling
The final morning saw the cadets up early to pack and clean the accommodation prior to their final day of climbing and abseiling. Some of the group had some experience of climbing on indoor walls but for most this was their first opportunity to climb on rock. The group were once again led by instructors from Argoed Lwyd who set up some challenging routes and a significant abseil. It was enjoyable to watch the cadets working together in small teams to belay each other and support with words of advice and encouragement. Initial climbs were often accompanied by phrases such as ‘I don’t want to go any higher’ or ‘there is nothing to hold on to’ but as confidence and technique quickly developed these changed to ‘I want to try that again’ or ‘I want to try the harder route now’. The abseil as always proved to be a real confidence tester and it was clear to see the trepidation in cadets faces as they lowered themselves over the edge. All did it successfully with many going back for a second and third attempt.
The cadets were clearly having a great time on the cliff face and enjoying the fine views across the Beacons on another beautiful clear day. It was with some disappointment when the time came to pack-down and load up the buses for the drive back across the Severn Bridge to home.
“A really enjoyable week. The cadets were fantastic and everything we planned worked so well. I even feel more rejuvenated and relaxed than I did before we left’”– Lt Steph Jones, CFAV.
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