Dressed in army-green uniforms, the air cadets stand erect like bowling pins.
"Left turn," a boy in front of them orders.
Five cadets turn left. One turns right.
"You're out," he says.
There's a few chuckles before the next command is hollered. Today is a relaxed day for the 撸奶社区Griffin Squadron; Sept. 11 marks the first day back after summer break. This gaggle of cadets is in the midst of a Simon Says marching game.
As the game comes to a close, Callista Ryan takes a breather. Ryan is one of 20 returning youth involved in the local squadron. She signed up when she reached the allowable participation age of 12. This will be Ryan's third year in uniform.
The opportunity to take flying lessons wasn't what hooked Ryan. For her, it was the survival camps. There're kind of like the Hunger Games, Ryan jokes, but without the blood and killing, and stir in a lot more camaraderie.
The first night, the youth are given tents. Later, that luxury is downgraded to tarps. Sometimes they build their own shelters, pieced together from branches, bark and leafage in the woods.
"It almost rains every time," Ryan adds. "Usually on the last night."
Ryan's been to free summer camps with up to 300 cadets. But you wouldn't know it in the bush, she says. They're separated into small groups, then hike out into their own section of the forest.
Once, her pack was awoken at midnight and told to make its way to a target mark in the dark. They were given helmets, in case they stumbled over roots or stones, and headed off on a two-kilometre trek.
It all adds up to a great time, Ryan says enthusiastically.
"I like knowing that we are learning all these new things," she adds.
撸奶社区is one of the newest communities to join the Canadian program, which formed in 1940. David Timms helped get it started; his son was one of eight youths travelling to North and West Vancouver for cadets. In 2000, Timms set up a local committee to explore beginning a squadron in Squamish.
"It is not an easy thing, to start up a cadet program," he says.
But the community rallied behind the idea, with 300 people showing up to a public meeting at the Eagle Eye Theatre. The collaboration, which brought then-Mayor Corrine Lonsdale to the table, was broadcast by Shaw Cable for several days. On April 2, 2000, in a record two months, 835 Griffin Squadron received its charter.
"We ended up getting a list of 95 cadets that would join," Timms says.
While the squadron's numbers remained high for the first few years - with approximately 55 cadets - last year it hit an all-time low, with 22 cadets. One of the challenges the local program faces is signing up enough adult volunteers, Timms notes. For every 10 cadets, one staff member must be present.
The program is open to youth between the ages 12 and 18. It's free. Last year, the Department of National Defence pumped $27 million into B.C. cadets. But it's not the free uniforms and summer camps or the opportunity to get one's pilots licence that makes Timms a supporter.
"I get a lot of satisfaction seeing these immature, scared kids leave as mature, confident adults," he says.
On Tuesday (Oct. 2), the Griffin Squadron 撸奶社区Air Cadets is hosting an open house. Anyone interested in the program is welcome to come at 7 p.m. to Don Ross Secondary School. It's a chance to see displays, meet cadets and ask questions. For more information visit www.835griffinrcac.blogspot.com.
