I want to start the cadets on some projects. By which I mean activities that are a little away from the normal stuff we do every parade night. Probably a few weeks or months of work to complete. I want to give them various different options, to try and keep everyone interested. Hopefully things that will also give the cadets additional skills and knowledge that they can take forward (we did consider a potential link to DoE as a “skill" but I think that would be dependent on the individual projects)
So far we’ve been thinking about a website, info and instructional videos (drill, uniform care etc.), social media (one I’m a little concerned about for obvious reasons but I think could be made to work), an introduction to soldering, ending in a project to put together a kit of something fun, or useful, that they can take away, and model making.
I’m sure we’re far from the first squadron to try this out, so I’d love to hear your ideas for cadet projects. How you’ve worked them, and how well they’ve worked please.
The Civ Comm has approved some finding to buy equipment and consumables, so there is a small budget. I’d probably ask cadets to contribute towards anything particularly expensive.
The soldering one could be more widely linked as a STEM project. Look into some basic PIC chip programming. It’ll need someone keen to run it though.
Other ideas we’ve done in the past included turning old DPMs into ghillie suits. That was fun. Make a scale model of an airport showing all the layouts, lights etc that can then later be used as a teaching aid. Creating advertising posters and boards to be used at local events.
Have a look at CREST Awards, multiple different projects aimed at STEM projects some are aimed specifically at air cadets. They also end up with a qualification at the end of the project session.
I’m not sure I can add much on top of what’s already been said.
We usually run ours over about 4 weeks, one night per week. The projects are usually based on what skills and interests our staff and Cdt SNCOs have. Some have been more successful than others but it usually works out. We usually run 3-4 projects at a time depending on how many cadets each can accommodate. Something you could consider is running some of the PTS subjects as a project, we’ve done Blue Space and Bronze Cyber before.
We’ve recently bought a couple of BBC Micro:bit’s as an introduction to coding (Pi Hut £18/starter kit). We’ve also added some of the Kitronik add on kits that include breadboards and components (these can often be bought on ebay for half the price). The plan is to get a little bit of coding going with just the cards, then move on to using the prototyping boards, then design a circuit for a fictional project with the aim to make the best ones.
I like the website idea. What would cadets like to see, resources, members area, general style etc (obviously abiding by the media guidelines).
It all depends on the staff you have, their expertise, enthusiasm for the subject and time.
Another to bear in mind for an electronis type of activity is that the RSGB are giving away some kits in line with British Science Week (March) that need to be assembled and soldered.
I’ll be watching this thread as I’m always looking for ideas that last longer than one parade night.
We recently bought a 3d printer for Christmas. Maybe your civ com could buy one of these. Don’t ask me what it was as I only saw the box being unwrapped!