Close to 30 young cadets will celebrate and share their accomplishments at their annual review at the Shaw Centre toniøght.
From September to May, 222 Shuswap Squadron air cadets meet every week to learn new skills.
The squadron motto is “Attitude not aptitude gains altitude” and the program is set up to encourage leadership, citizenship and physical fitness – not to recruit youngsters to a career in the military.
As well as earning school credits and volunteering in the community, cadets have access to involvement in bands, band camps and competitions, drill teams, space camp and flying scholarships – both glider and fixed wing.
Four cadets were successful in earning scholarship camps this summer: Sgt. Andrew Stoney (Power Pilot), FCpl. Brayden Kaprowsky and Sgt. Shael Huska (Glider Pilot) and FCpl. Deverick Clingwall (Advanced Aviation Technology).
“This is one of the few squadrons left in B.C. that is self-sustaining,” says range instructor Ed Parent. “None of the children have to pay a fee to join, and how we do that is by fundraising.”
This year’s major fundraiser is a raffle. Winners will be drawn Sunday, Sept. 8 at Fall Fair.
First prize is a 2013 Ford Fiesta; 2nd – a one-night stay in a Prestige theme room; 3rd – a tandem jump with Skydive Nova; 4th – a handmade quilt; 5th – a scenic flight from the Salmon Arm Flying Club. Tickets are $20 and are available at Jacobson Ford and Ed’s World of Critters.