For any youth looking for a way to both improve themselves and improve their community, the Drumheller Royal Sea Cadets may be just the place.
The sea cadets offer programming for youth ages 12 to 19 and has been an active volunteer organization in the community, helping build the character of its cadets as well as getting involved in the community with the annual Legion Poppy Drive, highway cleanups, and other volunteering at various events throughout the year.
“It’s a great opportunity and it’s free,” says cadet commander Elizabeth Mundell. “It increases citizenship and knowledge of Canadian history.”
The cadets will be hiking in Waterton National Park on October 12-14 and it’s an opportunity for team building and wilderness education.
“It increases their physical fitness, allows them to do outdoor adventure training, and it’s good for their citizenship because they get to be one with nature, so to speak,” Mundell says. They will be travelling with the cadet corps in Medicine Hat and Lethbridge. It will include camping, and using rations the army uses to cook up on the trail.
In terms of commitment, the cadets meet once a week every Wednesday from 6:30 to 9 p.m., as well with additional, optional activities on the weekend. Events include range practice, marksmanship, and snowshoeing.
“We’re always looking for fresh faces.”
The local branch is located on the corner of 3 Avenue and 3 Street W. The building has a significant role in the country’s military history as it was originally built in 1925 as a memorial hall to commemorate lost soldiers.