Anyone's teens do Army Cadets?

[Hopeandeggs]

Mine haven't been going long but just wondered how expensive it is for all the kit for weekend camps and the summer one and if anyone has an old kit list lying about to help me be prepared!

DS1 does. AFAIK the army issue the vast majority of the kit. I think maybe we had to buy DS's boots. The army definitely subsidise the camps. DS is forever going off for fortnights away for about £60, all in. And they also sponsir some cadets through university. My nephew has been helped financially a lot.

As above, hardly any cost and all kit/uniform is provided for free (apart from the boots I think).

Not army, but DSS does air cadets. It's brilliant for the cost - £12.50 a month subs, most of the vast uniform provided for free, and the opportunities are amazing!

He got boots and shoes provided when he started, but when he outgrew them they didn't have his size in store so we had to buy (cadet direct) - they are probably the most expensive thing.

Camps are usually highly subsidised, although you might want to buy a few things for them to go with to make life easier (like a little travel iron).

The structure and discipline has been great for DSS, he's responded really well to it, and when he was having some issues with some bullies at school one of the older boys took on more of a mentor role to him and really helped him get through it.

The cadets try very hard to keep costs down; the most expensive kit was their own heavy boots, but we sold them back so only cost about £40 net. I was on committee & we fundraise a lot to keep costs down. Best value exC club that any DC ever did.

I agree with oreos that what they learn is so valuable. It's made DS more confident, hard-working, self-disciplined and most important, a good team player which is not his natural state as he would dance to his own drum if he hadn't loved cadets and got so involved. Now he can be his own eccentric self when he wants but also knows how to just muck in and be one of the gang too. The cameraderie among them is lovely to see.

DH is a detachment commander and they keep costs as low as possible for every cadet. Here you buy boots only. The rest is issued.

Thank you!
What do you need to buy for camp for them usually? I'm assuming sleeping bags and such?

Camping: sleepbag probably (I saw one for £3 in charity shop today), Own torch with batteries, sleepmatt, something that doubles as a pillow, cutlery (10p/item in a charity shop), non-breakable cup/plate/bowl.

hi there - would you recommend the cadets for teen boys??? it is something I am considering....

My son paid £10 for kit and his boots were about £40. He recently went on a weekend camp which was £15 and he took £10 to buy snacks etc. He's only been going for 4 months but loves it. He's going for a weekend in Edinburgh in December.

I would challenge you to find an activity that is better value than Army cadets. Apart from boots, all uniform is issued and there are very few things they actually need to buy themselves. Weekend camps are in the £10-£20 range and a 10-14 day summer camp in the £60-£80 range roughly - this varies around the country. DofE enrolment at Bronze level is £25 for us with expeditions being around £10 (gold will be more).

Off the top of my head, these are the kind of things you will need to buy at some point, but not all at once:

Sleeping bag (3 - 4 season, depending on how warm they like to be)
Bungees (green)
Tent pegs (6)
Trouser twisters
Spoon - preferably with a long handle.
Head torch with red light or filter
Bush hat
Sleeping mat (these can be issued, but are usually old and you never know where they have been. For £10 you can get your own)
An army thermal top (the issue one isn't that great - get a proper one from ebay for use on fieldcraft camps)

And yes, I would recommend it for teen boys and girls!