Summer Camps
Summer camps or CSTC’s (Cadet Summer Training Centre), are opportunities for the cadets to expand their skill sets that can reinforce what is taught at the home unit. They can also be specialized courses that cadets can learn how to further support their home units with their new skills from camp.
Camp facilities are national camps that cadets are transported to. Depending on the course as well as the element the cadet belongs with will determine which camp they will end up at. The following camps are generally the camps that the cadets from our unit will attend.
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HMCS ONTARIO
Today, the training centre offers training in disciplines such as music, sail, seamanship, drill and ceremonial and the two week general training course. In addition to the main skills, all courses include sports, instructional technique, and leadership training. The course durations of two, three and six weeks represent ascending levels of experience and greater challenge; providing a definitive learning experience for cadets, designed to augment and enhance training from their hometown corps.
In the summer months ONTARIO’s small cadre of full time staff are supplemented by 110 officers, non-commissioned members and civilian instructors of the Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Services (COATS) and 114 of the top sea cadets in the region who are offered advanced leadership training through employment as staff cadets. Over the course of each summer, ONTARIO delivers training to over 800 cadets, young men and women aged 12 to 16.
Since 1982 HMCS ONTARIO’s main headquarters has been located at CFB Kingston, and each summer the main training centre is hosted on campus by the Royal Military College of Canada.
HMCS QUADRA
Goose Spit became a Sea Cadet Training Establishment in 1952 and was commissioned as HMCS Quadra in 1956, operating continuously since. With the closure of the Esquimalt Sea Cadet Camp in 1975, all Sea Cadet Training in Pacific Region became centred aboard HMCS Quadra. Today, HMCS Quadra trains Sea Cadets from every region and province of Canada.
HMCS ACADIA
HMCS Acadia, in Cornwallis, N.S., is one of four Cadet Training Centres in Atlantic Canada. Cadets from across Canada and abroad are at the training centre this summer, taking part in music, sailing, seamanship, and fitness and sports programs. Through participation in the Cadet Program, young people develop valuable life skills in teamwork, citizenship, leadership and physical fitness while having fun and meeting new friends.
On July 29, 1978, HMCS Acadia was officially recommissioned at CFB Cornwallis (former CF Recruit School) during a ceremony at Building 20, a former naval communication school, collapsing HMCS Cornwallis, HMCS Micmac and the Shearwater Sailing School.
During the years 1978-2002, HMCS Acadia has received an estimated 24,000 cadets -about 1,000 per year- for summer training. Approximately 1,200 cadets, organized into 18 different courses, are expected during this year’s training period.
The cadets will be looked after by a staff of 320, which includes approximately 170 adults (officers, NCM’s and civilians) and 150 staff cadets drawn from cadet Corps throughout Atlantic Canada.
HMCS Acadia routinely trains sea cadets from the United States and Bermuda and hosts cadets from other exchange countries. HMCS Acadia is also home to approximately 50 air cadets and additional Air Cadet staff within Acadia’s School of Music.
CTSC CONNAUGHT
The ranges at Connaught have been in operation since the 1920’s serving the Canadian Forces and the Canadian Cadet Movement. In 1989 Connaught National Army Cadet Summer Training Center (CNACSTC) was established under the name Army Cadet Concentration (Ottawa) to allow all marksmanship courses across Canada to be amalgamated at Connaught Ranges and Primary Training Centre (CRPTC) and become standardized. Prior to that time, cadets had been attending several cadet camps throughout Canada taking part in marksmanship courses hoping to get the top prize of a ticket to Bisley. When Connaught first opened its doors it had only four platoons (three Basic Marksman equivalent platoons and a Fullbore Phase II equivalent platoon) plus the National Rifle Team.
The primary reason Sea Cadets would end up at this camp is for the ARMI Course. Connaught NACSTC also has the six-week Air Rifle Marksmanship Instructor (ARMI) Course. This course is given to cadets of the three elements (Sea, Army and Air). The ARMI course consists to develop the cadets’ individual air rifle marksmanship and summer biathlon specialty skills while reinforcing and further developing their leadership and instructional techniques skills preparing them to support these two specialty activities at the corps/squadron, CSTC or during regionally and/or nationally directed activities.
CTSC BLACKDOWN
In 1994, because of a First Nation land claim, the Ipperwash Army Cadet Camp moved to Canadian Forces Base Borden, and was renamed the Blackdown Army Cadet Summer Training Centre.
The first Commanding Officer of this new Cadet Training Centre was LCOL Dirk in 1994. Since then Blackdown has continued to evolve both in the types of courses offered and the facilities themselves. From 1994 until 2003 cadet sleeping quarters and training facilities were modular tents with cots. Since 2003, there have been significant additions including state of the art facilities and drastic improvements to the sleeping quarters.
In 2003, the first of many tri-force courses arrived in Blackdown Cadet Summer Training Centre.; which meant the closure of the Borden Air Cadet Camp. In 2012, there were over 179 adult staff members, 193 Staff Cadets and 1819 Course Cadets enter their gates.
