Діяльність
Королівський фонд графства Беркшир ACF
11 Серпень 2026
Поділіться:

Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026: Challenge, Achievement and Friendship

Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026 brought together 217 cadets for eight days of challenge, adventure and friendship, achieving more than 720 syllabus passes along the way.

There are easier ways to spend your summer holiday.

They generally involve considerably less camouflage cream, fewer nights sleeping under a shelter and almost certainly no requirement to perfect your drill.

But for 217 cadets and 65 Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs), Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026 offered something rather better: eight days of training, adventure, challenge and friendship.

By the end of the week, cadets had gained more than 720 Army Cadet Syllabus passes.

Some of the biggest successes, however, couldn’t be measured with a badge.

Eight days, 282 people and plenty to do

Summer Camp brought together 217 cadets, including our Norwegian guests, and 65 CFAVs.

Cadets trained in 1 Star, 2 Star and 3 Star cadres, with the level of challenge increasing as they progressed.

There was fieldcraft, Skill at Arms, shooting, navigation, first aid and drill, alongside archery, mountain biking, climbing and water activities. Older cadets also tackled stand-up paddleboarding, an Aqua Park, waterskiing and wakeboarding.

In other words, there wasn’t much opportunity to be bored.

1 Star: where the adventure begins

For many of the 1 Star Cadre, this was their first Annual Camp – and, for some, probably the hardest physical week they had experienced.

They spent two days and one night on a fieldcraft exercise, developed their military skills and discovered the importance of looking after themselves and each other while training in hot weather.

Major Chappell, OC A Company, said the highlight wasn’t one particular activity. It was watching the cadets change.

Over the week, he saw them move from individual mindsets towards working collectively, taking greater responsibility and becoming a team.

There were plenty of tangible successes too, including Star completions and winning the overall cadre competition.

Yet Major Chappell’s most memorable moment came after the Final Parade.

One cadet approached him and explained that Summer Camp had always been intended to be their final ACF activity.

After a week at camp, they had changed their mind.

They were staying.

There are probably few better measures of a successful Summer Camp than that.

2 Star: confidence through challenge

The 2 Star Cadre moved things up a level.

Cadets undertook fieldcraft and adventurous training, fired the L98A2 Cadet GP Rifle and trained on the Dismounted Close Combat Trainer (DCCT).

For some, firing the rifle for the first time meant overcoming genuine nerves.

Capt Fitzgibbon, C Company 2IC, watched cadets step forward, manage that anxiety and do it anyway.

Then came fieldcraft and a night spent under shelters. Sleeping outdoors may not be everyone’s first choice of accommodation, but the cadre embraced the challenge.

Yet one of the best examples of character happened when nobody had planned it.

The story of the shoes

Members of the 1 Star Cadre discovered they didn’t have the specialist footwear needed for a water activity.

Ten 2 Star cadets stepped forward.

They offered their own shoes, with several producing spare pairs and additional clothing until everyone had what they needed.

No competition. No syllabus pass. No award.

Just cadets making sure other cadets didn’t miss out.

Capt Fitzgibbon described it as:

A fantastic example of teamwork, generosity and the values we strive to instill in our cadets.

Sometimes the small stories tell you the most.

3 Star: stronger together

By 3 Star, fieldcraft had grown to three days and two nights, alongside range work, advanced training and adventurous activities.

Then the weather decided to contribute its own training objective.

When the heat index climbed, staff adapted the programme. Cadets moved into the shade, changed their dress and continued with theory during the hottest part of the day.

Major Claire Horn, OC B Company, remembers something else about it: nobody moaned.

They adapted and got on with it.

The end of the week brought a rather wetter challenge, with paddleboards, waterskiing, wakeboarding and the Aqua Park.

Major Horn summed it up as “firm new friends and lots of laughs”

Not a bad way to finish a demanding week.

Friends from a little further away

Our Norwegian guests joined the 3 Star Cadre, continuing the friendship between the two groups.

One of Major Horn’s favourite memories involved no formal training at all.

Cadets and adults gathered with their Norwegian guests for the traditional Norwegian Row.

It was loud, slightly unusual to the uninitiated and apparently enormous fun.

It's a really good opportunity to connect with cadets from other detachments and companies, as well as a great experience to grow as a cadet

Another put it rather more simply:

You gain lots of knowledge and friends

Hard to argue with that.

Celebrating success

By the Final Parade, the scale of the week’s achievements became clear.

Cadets celebrated Star completions, promotions and awards including Best Cadet on Cadre, Best Shot and the overall Cadre competition.

Colonel Oakley, Commandant of the Royal County of Berkshire ACF, said she was particularly proud of the achievements of the cadets, Norwegian guests and CFAVs.

Some particularly pleasing feedback came from outside the county too.

Visitors praised the cohesion of the adult teams and the enthusiasm of the cadets. Cookhouse and NAAFI staff noticed something else: how polite and well behaved the Berkshire cadets were.

Colonel Oakley described them as “a credit to us as a county”

Welcoming our visitors

Visitors’ Day gave senior military and civic guests the chance to see Berkshire ACF in action.

Guests included Major General John Kendall, Deputy Commander Field Army; Mr Andrew Try, Lord-Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire; and Colonel Charles Ackroyd, Chairman of the Connaught Trust.

Major General Kendall also presented Major Harris with a two-star General’s coin in recognition of his contribution to training during his time with the Army Cadet Force.

It was an opportunity to showcase the work of our cadets and CFAVs – and to thank some of those whose support helps make it possible.

The support behind the adventure

There is another number from Summer Camp worth knowing.

£104.

That was the actual cost of activities for each cadet.

The amount families were asked to contribute?

£30.

For cadets receiving free school meals, it was £15.

That difference was possible because organisations and individuals chose to support Berkshire’s young people.

Their funding didn’t disappear into an abstract pot.

It became paddleboards and climbing towers. Fieldcraft and range days. Bedspaces, equipment and all the rather less exciting – but equally essential – things that make Summer Camp possible.

Most importantly, it helped young people access opportunities they might otherwise have missed.

Berkshire ACF would like to say a very genuine thank you to:

The Shanly Foundation
The Syder Foundation
Equinox Camp Grant
The Connaught Trust
SERFCA
Honorary Colonels Grant
Employers Recognition Scheme

The Connaught Trust made a particularly significant contribution towards reducing the cost of Summer Camp, something cadets were able to recognise during Visitors’ Day with the Trust’s Chairman, Colonel Charles Ackroyd.

Connaught Trust

And the fundraising doesn’t begin and end with camp.

Major Eamonn Coogan MBE, Cadet Executive Officer for Berkshire ACF, has raised more than £51,000 this financial year to support opportunities for Berkshire cadets.

That is £51,000 helping turn plans into experiences.

Continued support from charities, partners and organisations allows Berkshire ACF to keep costs low and opportunities open to as many young people as possible.

So, to everyone who donated, supported, organised or helped make Summer Camp possible:

Thank you.

You may not have slept under a shelter, tackled the Aqua Park or spent several days wearing camouflage cream.

But you helped make sure a young person could.

More than a week away

Summer Camp is hard work.

That’s rather the point.

Cadets are challenged. They learn. They get things wrong and try again. They discover new skills and occasionally find themselves lending their shoes to someone who needs them more.

They return with passes, badges and achievements.

But they also return with confidence, independence, stories and friendships.

For some, Summer Camp 2026 was their first Annual Camp.

For others, it was another step in their Army Cadet journey.

And for one cadet who arrived convinced it would be their last, it turned out to be the reason to stay.

Кадети Королівської армії графства Беркшир

НАТИСНІТЬ НА БУДЬ-ЯКЕ ЗОБРАЖЕННЯ НИЖЧЕ, ЩОБ ЗБІЛЬШИТИ ЙОГО

A person wearing a helmet climbs a rock wall, reaching the top and looking up during the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. Three people stand on the ground below, watching. The scene is outdoors on a sunny day. People kayak on a winding river surrounded by trees, under a clear blue sky at Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. A grassy area with a fence and picnic table is in the foreground, and a tall powerline pylon is visible in the distance. A person in camouflage military uniform stands on a dry, grassy field holding a long radio aerial during the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. The sky is partly cloudy, and there are trees and small buildings in the background. Several people in military uniforms stand spaced out on a dry, grassy field under a partly cloudy sky, with one person appearing to address the group. A building and trees are visible in the background, capturing a moment from Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. A person in camouflage military uniform and boots stands on dry grass, holding a radio with a long aerial, outdoors under a cloudy sky with buildings and a fence in the background—capturing the spirit of Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. A group of soldiers in camouflage uniforms stand in formation on a wide path outdoors, surrounded by trees under a partly cloudy blue sky during the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. Four people in camouflage uniforms are crouched among trees and bushes, whilst one stands and walks on dry grass in a wooded area during the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. A group of people in red life jackets navigate an inflatable obstacle course on water at the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026, some climbing, some standing, and some slipping, with trees in the background. People paddle on boards and kayaks in a lake at Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026, wearing life jackets. An inflatable obstacle course floats in the background near green trees. Tall grass lines the shore in the foreground, and the sky is cloudy. People kayaking on a river surrounded by greenery, with an inflatable obstacle course visible on the right side. Wildflowers and tall grass line the riverbank in the foreground, creating a vibrant setting for this year’s Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. The sky is cloudy, adding to the adventure-filled atmosphere of the camp. Children in red life jackets play on an inflatable water park structure in a lake at the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026, some climbing, some splashing in the water, with trees and blue sky in the background. A lifeguard watches from above. Soldiers in camouflage uniforms lie on the ground aiming rifles, while others stand further back in a wooded area with pine trees and scattered dry needles during Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. Three people set up camouflage tarpaulins between trees in a sunlit forest during the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. The sun shines through the tarpaulins, casting a golden glow on their figures and the forest floor. Five soldiers in camouflage uniforms lie prone on a dry field aiming rifles; a few buildings and a water tower are visible in the background under a clear sky during Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. A soldier in camouflage uniform kneels outdoors with a rifle, wearing headphones and face paint, near green pine branches and dry ground during Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. Five people in camouflage uniforms and face paint stand in a wooded area, each holding a rifle with a yellow marker, illuminated by sunlight through the trees during the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. A smiling person in camouflage holds a small wrapped item in a wooded area dotted with tents at the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026, whilst two others in military kit walk away in the background. Three soldiers in camouflage uniforms and kit walk through a pine forest, holding rifles. The ground is covered in dry pine needles and the trees are slightly leaning. The soldiers appear focused and alert as they take part in exercises for the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. Several people in yellow vests stand and walk on a rocky field, whilst others in camouflage uniforms lie on the ground under a clear blue sky. Shrubs and flat land are visible in the background, capturing a typical training day at Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. Soldiers in camouflage uniforms and high-visibility vests stand and lie on a rocky, open ground under a clear blue sky, possibly during a Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026 training exercise. People wearing life jackets paddle and stand on blue boards in a lake, surrounded by yellow floating barriers and greenery, under a cloudy sky during the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. Five people wearing life jackets sit and kneel on paddleboards in a calm, greenish body of water, surrounded by dense green trees in the background—a tranquil scene from the forthcoming Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. Four people in yellow life vests paddle on blue boards in a lake, racing during the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. An inflatable water park is in the background, and two others are seen further back on floating boards. Young people wearing yellow helmets and red life jackets stand by a lake with inflatables at the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026; one girl smiles at the camera while holding a mobile, others look out over the water on this cloudy day. A person in camouflage uniform and ear protection aims a rifle outdoors on a rocky field under a blue sky with clouds. A patch with the Union Flag and a red emblem is visible on the sleeve, suggesting participation in the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. Several people in military uniforms lie on the ground aiming rifles at targets, while two individuals in yellow vests stand nearby on a gravel range under a partly cloudy sky during Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. A group of people in camouflage uniforms gather indoors around a large map on the floor at the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026, some kneeling or standing, discussing and pointing at the map, with kit and papers scattered nearby. A large group of people in camouflage uniforms pose together on a grassy area outdoors at sunset during the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026, with buildings and a partly cloudy sky in the background. Person in camouflage uniform holding and aiming a rifle at an outdoor shooting range during the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026, with a clear sky and open field in the background. A group of people in military uniforms sit and kneel on the floor, examining maps and papers during the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. One person holds a map, whilst others look on or work together, engaged in a collaborative group activity. A group of cadets in camouflage uniforms sit in a forest, listening to an instructor standing by the trees. Sunlight filters through the leaves, and recruitment details are visible on some T-shirts, marking the energetic spirit of Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. Sunlight streams through tall trees in a forest, illuminating yellowish tarpaulins or tents on the ground. Shadows and silhouettes of several people are visible among the trees, creating a peaceful and rustic outdoor scene reminiscent of Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. A large group of soldiers in camouflage uniforms and berets march in formation along a tarmac road, with buildings and dry grass in the background under a blue sky during the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026. A large group of people in military uniforms pose together outside on grass at sunset, with some sitting and most standing, in front of buildings and trees during the Berkshire ACF Summer Camp 2026.