R A F . C A M P . 2 0 0 6

This year, the RAF Summer Camp was held at RAF Cottesmore, home of No. 1, 3 and 4 Squadron Harriers. We spent a week there with thirty other guys and girls from Repton School. We stayed in tented accommodation and had the pleasure of coming back each night to a patch of earth known as bed. We spent the week enjoying many activities, such as softball, volleyball (our favourite) and unihock.

During the week we visited many of the different sections of the RAF base. The Dog Section was fascinating, even if it was a bit terrifying at times. To see the dogs up close and barking was quite an experience. They say a dog can do the work of twelve foot soldiers,  and you can see why! We visited the Fire Department and got to spray the big hoses and sit in the trucks; we were shown around Air Traffic Control, and saw what went on in the tower while some of the Harriers were out practising their manoeuvres. We also went on an excursion to the National Space Museum in Leicester and spent an afternoon there.

The best activity of the week had to be the go-kart racing. A group of people run a club on the base,  building, maintaining and racing go-karts. It was something that I had never done before, and I thoroughly loved every minute of it.

The experience was very different from anything that I had ever done. To spend a week with thirty complete strangers was something that I would never have  considered. But the confidence and leadership training that I have acquired during my four years with the CCF  really helped me to have an enjoyable week and make some new friends, even if I did forget some of their names at times! 

CWO Chris Knight
Royal Russell School CCF