My Amazing Adventure in Canada!

When I was 14, I was given an amazing opportunity. I was able to go to Canada for six weeks. Those six weeks were without my parents mind you... Whilst I was in Canada, I made so many friends, many that I am still in contact with today!

I was in the Army Cadets at the time, I would go every Tuesday and Thursday night. During the few years that I was apart of the Cadets, I was given the Rank Lance Corporal. It was pretty awesome, I was able to go to all different kinds of camps, learn all kinds of skills that most kids my age didn't have, and once I had my rank I was able to teach the newer cadets all of these skills!

One day whilst I was in my town as part of the Remembrance Day Service, myself and the other cadets were told about an opportunity where we could go to Canada for 6 WEEKS! Where we would get to train with the Canadian Cadets at one of their summer camps.

That as you can imagine, sounded pretty epic!? All I could imagine was the summer camps that you see in the movies, some parts of the camp were like that but the majority of it was far from what I imagined. We'll get to that later...

We were told that there was a very difficult selection process to go through, just to be considered for this amazing opportunity. As you can tell from this article, I was selected for this but more about that bit shortly.

As I said, the selection process was very difficult!

Firstly, I wasn't even sure if I should apply for it. Who would pick me for something as big as this!? What do I have to offer? These were some of the thought that went through my mind before I applied.

I was, and still am, to some extent a shy and quite person, but I can honestly say that jumping in and taking this opportunity helped me to grow as a person! This is going to be the moral of this story, don't be afraid, take that opportunity, even if it seems like its too good to be true! Whats the worse that can happen, you don't get it?

THAT is exactly the reason why and how I managed to convince myself to apply. All I could keep thinking was that I wouldn't get picked so why not just join in?

So back to the story...

We were all told that to apply you had to write a full A4 page worth of why you should be considered, what you can offer to this exciting experience and what you think you would be able to learn from the experience. I had NO IDEA what to write! I mean how in the world do you write something like that?

I'll be honest with you, I don't remember what I wrote to convince these people that I should be able to get to the second stage. I'm pretty sure that I just waffled on, a bit like I am now!

The second stage was an interview with the Brigadier of the North East Company of the UK. I was so nervous leading up to and during the interview. I had to wait a week or so to hear the result.

I received a letter that stated that I had been selected for this opportunity, and that I had been picked along with 11 others out of 2000 other people to go on this adventure! I couldn't believe it. I was going to be going to Camp Argonaut!

I quickly had to start prepping for my 6 weeks away!

I was given the task of making a diary whilst I was in Canada, this is my adventure!

The Diary...

Wednesday 6th July 2011

Today, my mum is taking me down to Durham, where I will be being picked up by the Durham AFC Cadets. The AFC Cadets will be taking me as close to Sandhurst at they can.

On our way down we managed to meet up with my dad so that I could say goodbye to him (he works away a lot). After saying goodbye to my mum, I met up with the Durham ACF Cadets, I was really nervous, so I didn't really speak to anyone.

Thursday 7th July 2011

The adult in charge of us didn't know what time we were meant to leave to get to Sandhurst. We finally found out and left to get going.

When we got to Sandhurst I had to go and check in with my passport and all of my paperwork. (For those that don't know Sandhurst is an Army Training Base in the UK.)

After that I met the rest of the people in the group. I found them to be really fun people, and I vowed that I would never forget them!

We had to go and get briefed about the trip. Then we got shown to our rooms. After this we were told to put on our No.2 dress, so that it could be checked over, to make sure it look presentable enough.

We then had our dinner and went back to our room for the night.

Friday 8th July 2011

We had breakfast late because the other girls didn't get down to the mess hall early enough, so we the rest of us had to wait for them.

We then had a tour of Sandhurst Academy, it was really big!

We then went into a lecture room and had a lecture on the trip and about the dangers.

After that we got into our civilian clothes and had some free time!

Saturday 9th July 2011

I haven't been to sleep yet because I have to get up for the plane at 3 so, I thought it would be better to stay up and then just sleep on the plane. Rather than trying to get up at that time, I fell asleep on the plane!

The first plane we were on was an 8 hour-long trip and once we landed we switched to a second plane for another two-hour flight. This second plane was taking us to Frederickson. This second plane was so small and shaky! When we landed we met our staff cadet Dough Jack, we then got on an American School bus!

They are JUST like in the movies and on TV!

As soon as we got to Camp Argonaut we had our dinner and then set all our stuff up into the barracks and then went to sleep.

Sunday 10th July 2011

We got woken up at 7:30 AM because it's a Sunday! (That was a lie in for this camp...) For the rest of the day, we were shown around the camp and then had free time.

Monday 11th July 2011

We were woken up at 5:30 AM today, and this is the time that we have to wake up at everyday! Once up and dressed we have to to do PT for an hour (push-ups, sit-ups, etc etc), then we'll have breakfast and start the day. For the rest of the day had lectures about bullying, working as a community, hygiene in the field and Duke Of Edinburgh.

After that we had free time and I did my washing.

P.S. During the night there was a thunderstorm! It was AMAZING! Its really loud and lightning is really big and bright. It's very colourful too! The whole night sky was light up like daytime!

Tuesday 12th, July 2011

Today we are packing to go away on a 3-day expedition to get us ready for our 18-day expedition!

Sunday 24th July 2011 18 Day Expedition

Day 1

Today, we hiked all the way to the first water site, and started ourselves out into our canoe partners. As we set off we hit some rapids and our canoe taped! I got really scared and I had to get saved because i nearly got taken away with the current! It was such a tiering day!

Day 2

We canoed today for the full day, but it had been raining so the waterway really rough, it took a long time to get to our next goal which was Beach Wood.

Day 3

We had to hike 5 kilometers to get to a launch site, but we ended up not actually launching for two hours. We ended our tiring day in Haltland.

Day 4

When we left today we had to paddle along the river, it was a really hot day and I get some sun burn. It seemed to take ages to get to the Armouries in Woodstock but it was worth it, the Armouries were really cool.

Day 5

Another day of canoeing! Today I am starting to get a bit fed up with canoeing, but I know that we have to do it to get to our end goal at St. Andrews!

Day 6

Today the weather was horrible! Once we had taken all our tents down, the weather took a turn for the worst. A thunder and lightning storm has started, and as we cannot canoe in this weather. We have been asked to stay in our tents for now.

After a little while, when the rain calmed down slightly, we were taken out to the local town to have a look around whilst we made our way to a local school. We used to school together changed and dry out our clothes. Once dry some school buses has been organised to collect us and take us to our next camp site. Lucky us!

Day 7

We woke up on the new water site, but have been told that we are now ahead of timing so we are going to stay here for a couple of days. But today we did LOADS of PT and it was really intense. We did push-ups to a song, and it was a bit of a competition to see who could last the whole song!

If you fell or couldn't do anymore, then you were out! Only ONE person managed to complete the whole song, along with all of us cheering him on!

After that, we all went into the lake and played games. Some people were getting on each others shoulders and trying to push other teams over. it was very funny to watch.

We briefly had to hike back to Camp Aurgounat to collect out bikes, for the second half of our expedition. The camp was really impressed with us as we marched in and out of the camp!

GO BRAVO!

Day 8

We started our first day of biking today, which was very hard for me as all of the bikes were too big!

It took a few attempts to get me started on the ride as I kept falling off of the bike. I fell off six times initially, twice into the same bush! I found it funny afterwards. We finally made it to the Girl Guides Camp and there was HUGE spiders. I hate spiders!

Day 9

We were told that today was going to be the easiest day.....

That was a lie, as the whole day was filled with massive hills that we had to ride up and down. I don't like hills very much. So it was a very difficult and tiring day.

Day 10

Yea! Blue Mountain! Bravo is 'Home'.

Blue Mountain will be our home for the next two days as we are going to teach the Canadian Cadets some of the British Cadet skills. When we arrived we set up our tents and had a well deserved shower!

Day 11

Today, the other cadets will be turning up, so that we can share our skills.

Later in the day, after a long day of teaching and learning we had a BBQ!

Day 12

We left "home" today and biked for a few kilometers because it was so hot. We're not allowed to do very much today, because it would be too dangerous in this heat!

So instead of biking, we walked for a little bit. After a while we took another break under the shade of some trees in the forested area that we were in. It was so cool, some Canadian Army Tanks went past us! They were HUGE!

When we finally got to the next site, we were all so tired. It didn't help that only some people got to bike and others had to walk the last 15 kilometers as a lot of the bikes had broken, so there wasn't enough for everyone.!

Day 13

Today was crazy! The main part of our bike ride was through a firing range. We couldn't get through it at first as we had to ask for permission and wait around until we got that. When we finally got permission to go through, the people in charge only gave us 20 minutes to get through!!

We were all rushing to much, it was crazy!

Day 14

I was happy once we got to our site today, so that I could get dry and warm.

The weather started off lovely today, but then it rained heavily.. No one was prepared for this! No one was wearing any waterproofs. We were soaked through to the bone!

Day 15

When we finally made it to our camp site, I was so tiered I had to have a nap.

It was a really long day of biking, and I can't wait for the hiking to start again!

Day 16

Today has been an AMAZING day! It was a nice easy ride, and the camp site is amazing.

There is this really old cool broken bridge, and it was all ride by the sea. We all went down to the ocean and even went crab hunting (which I've never done before), we managed to catch loads!

So cool!

Day 17

Hiking started today!

We're almost at our Goal site, St. Andrews.

Toady it was raining loads, but no one minded as we were able to just walk and chat with each other to keep up occupied.

I was so hungry once we got to our camp site. (HA, when am I not hungry!)

The Last Entry...

Day 18

THE LAST DAY!

We marched into St. Andrews, it was so cool to see all of the public watch us march in and applaud us!

When we got to camp, we had a really nice welcome too! With the camp band and all of the camp cadets waiting for us! It was amazing!

I feel so accomplished for doing a whole 18 days in the bush. It was a good experience that I will not forget!

So there you have it. My 18-day expedition.

The rest of my time there, involved being a part of the camp. We had sports days and all other kinds of fun things. Also because we were British kids there, we were often taken out of camp to local places to explore, just like a holiday!

I made so many friends whilst I was there, some I still even speak to to this day, and I can't wait to go back and see them all again!

That is why, what you should take from this, is that if you ever get an opportunity to go somewhere new, to meet new people, or to push yourself out of your comfort zone...Do it!

You really never know what will happen. And you don't want to regret it afterwards thinking, what if?

Well, I hope you enjoyed my story from the past.

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Thanks for reading, I hope to see you around again!