About every 3-4 months, the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) at my school organizes camps where you can stay for a few nights and undergo various military activities. And somehow, at any time of the year, the adults who run these things have decided to book it the most miserable 4 days we’ve had all year.

The training ground was essentially reduced to a muddy field by the rain, with little solid ground spaced out. The campsite was a cross between a swamp and a forest with just random bodies of water everywhere. Just random 2m deep ponds scattered randomly around the area. Every hill we climbed had a stream of rainwater running down its side.

We were supposed spend Thursday afternoon traveling between an entertaining carousel of activities from section attacks to mine clearance. However, my scout hadn’t really read a map before, so we spent him stranded in the middle of random fields and woods wandering helplessly with a broken radio. Not the best start to camp. We had to be rescued in a somewhat humiliating minibus pickup.

Friday went a bit more to plan, with our scout forming a sort of redemption arc. We made it to every booth and ended the day feeling really, really productive. Don’t talk to me about how I slept. It was a painful, freezing night in a tent that I don’t want to experience again for at least 6 months.

Saturday and Sunday were spent finishing up some activities, cleaning the guns and getting all the gear ready for our departure. There was an entertaining quiz on Saturday evening and a long coach ride on Sunday morning.

Overall, I think I really enjoyed this CCF camp. I had to do a bunch of fun army based stuff, almost freeze to death in a poorly made tent and constantly get wet throughout. But hey, at least it builds character. I think.