Fort St. John Army Cadet corps searching for new recruits

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A local youth initiative funded by the Department of National Defense is recruiting new adult volunteers and kids to join.

The Fort St. John Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps is part of a national program for kids ages 12 to 18 where participants engage with experiences inspired by the Royal Canadian Armed Forces.

Unlike the Sea Cadets or Air Cadets programs available elsewhere — which see participants learning about seamanship and aviation, respectively — the Army Cadet program is focused on “outdoor and leadership skills” through activities like hiking, climbing and kayaking, according to the government’s website.

“It is probably, hands-down, the best leadership program for young people in the country,” Dan Davies, the coordinator of the program in Fort St. John, said in an interview on 100.1 Moose FM on October 1st.

“How many opportunities do you have where you learn to follow [and] you learn to lead? You have that opportunity, in a safe environment, to put those skills into action over time and to build those leadership skills.”

The program is free for kids to take part in, and Davies also said some employers hiring young workers consider experience in the cadet program to be an asset for applicants.

Activities organized by the Fort St. John Cadet Corps include weekend camping trips, paintball competitions and hiking expeditions, along with occasional trips to Canadian Armed Forces bases.

Davies said there are currently roughly 45 kids enrolled in the program locally, with room for more. 

The corps meets every Wednesday at the Royal Canadian Legion at 6:30 p.m. Davies encouraged any interested families to visit for a meeting and to learn more. 

To register, kids need to be legal residents, at least 12 years old and have some form of health insurance coverage. Registration is available here.

For adults, Davies said the corps is also looking for new volunteers. “Many hands make light work,” he said. Interested volunteers can contact Davies via email by clicking here.

To view the full interview with Davies, look below.