Cadet Trina Bailor, 17, ended her summer with a splash as one of just 16 BC army cadets chosen to participate in the 2015 Regional Cadet Expedition.
Trina has been a cadet with the 2781 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps in Powell River for five years.
The nine-day expedition consisted of two days of biking on Vancouver Island and four days of lake and ocean kayaking in the Gulf Islands. Cadets were also given the chance to hone their skills in planning a route, map reading, navigation, bicycle maintenance, using a GPS, equipment and clothing selection, low-impact camping, and ways to promote environmental stewardship. Each cadet also took a turn as team leader. The cadets were provided with the opportunity to learn about ocean marine life native to the West Coast of BC and specific survival techniques for the wet coastal climate. The cadets were put in challenging situations and over the nine days they learned to work together as a cohesive team.
Last summer Trina attended the Cadet Leadership and Challenge course in Rocky Mountain, AB. “The cadet program has helped me realize how easy it is to travel,” said Trina. “It has also helped me to make better decisions in my life and to be a leader among my friends.”
Trina plans to take home the skills and experiences from the nine-day expedition and put them to work teaching younger cadets. In addition to the cadet program, Trina volunteers with Collide, a local youth group.
There are more than 2,000 army cadets in BC. All army cadets participate in expeditions appropriate to their training level and high-performing cadets are chosen to participate in regional, national and international expeditions. The next international expedition will take place in Chile in spring 2016.
The army cadet program in Powell River needs adult volunteers and interested youth in order to continue offering a comprehensive program and experiences not found anywhere else. To find out more about the cadet program, readers can visit
