Who can take part?
The scheme is open to young people from the Uttlesford area, between the ages of thirteen and seventeen. All potential participants must be medically fit; however we will review each application on its merits.

What will the weekend involve?
The weekend will involve a number of activities designed to provide participants with experience in many different aspects of life in Air Cadets. Activities will include an obstacle course, shooting, shelter building, campcraft, leadership tasks, team building exercises, citizenship development, team sports, climbing wall and a night exercise.

What will you get out of the Community Challenge?
The scheme will provide participants with a number of life experiences, the chance to acquire some useful new skills and make some new friends too! Even if you have experienced some elements of the scheme before the entire package will provide a glimpse of life within the Air Training Corps.

Location
The weekend will be held at Carver Barracks, Headquarters Essex Wing, ATC, near Saffron Walden in Essex.

Clothing and equipment requirements
Some clothing and equipment will be supplied; however participants will need to bring certain items with them. A final kit list will be issued to all successful applicants but an indication of the kind of things that may be needed is given below:

Socks (at least 3 pairs)
Underwear (at least 3 pairs)
Water bottle
2 bin liners
Notebook and pencil
Torch
Spare batteries
Strong black boots (with ankle support)
Gloves (green / black)
Sleeping bag
Warm hat (green / black)
Boot cleaning kit
Jumper / fleece
Pillow
Mug
Toilet roll
Towel
Sports kit
Trainers
One change of civilian clothing
Personal first aid kit & medication

Costs
The weekend itself will be free of charge; however a small charge may be levied for food and other sundries.

Accommodation and meals
Accommodation will be in two and three person tents. There will be separate male and female sleeping, changing and washing arrangements.

Meals will take the form of both ration packs and food cooked on the camp by Squadron staff. By the nature of the weekend this will be simple but sufficient to sustain participants through the various activities.

We will need to be informed of any special dietary requirements, there will be provision for this on the medical information form that you will be required to fill in should you be accepted for the scheme.

Supervision
The scheme will be supervised by the Squadron staff, all of whom are CRB checked and hold various speciality qualifications appropriate to the activities being carried out.

These skills include First Aid, Basic Expedition Leader Award, Risk Assessment, Range Management, Orienteering, and Obstacle Course Instructor

You can meet the staff from 494 Sqn by visting this page.

Responsibilities
All scheme participants will be expected to be fully motivated and to get the most out of the scheme they will need to put in a high level of effort.

Once accepted for the scheme participants are expected to commit to the weekend, places are at a premium and arrangements can not be altered. The highest levels of behaviour and discipline will be required and the directing staff reserve the right to dismiss from the scheme any participant whose conduct is unacceptable in any way.

Health and Safety
Parents and carers should note that participants may be photographed and videoed by Squadron staff during the weekend, shots and footage may be used for possible Squadron training and promotional materials.

Programme of Events
This is still to be confirmed. However the type of activities that will be undertaken on the weekend can be found here.

Dates
The dates for our project weekends are still to be arranged.