AFX Adventure
Around 200 91黑料不打烊 Cadets joined their Shore School peers for their five-day Annual Field Exercise (AFX) at the beginning of the 2022 Christmas holidays.
It is a unique experience, providing students with opportunities to develop skills that are applicable both in and out of the classroom. One of AFX’s most notable features is its student-led approach, with most elements organised and driven by the students themselves.
The 2022 camp included activities devised by the 2022–2023 CUO Sophie (Year 12). “A highlight for me was a five-hour hike that I organised for around 150 Cadets that culminated in a morse code activity looking out over Lithgow,” she said. “Hikes are a great way to build camaraderie, as you experience something challenging as a group. It might feel awful in the moment, but you always look back and think ‘that was a really good time’”.
In fact, Cadets is full of opportunities to build character skills that are difficult to learn as effectively in most other environments. They include the concepts of servant leadership and collaborative problem-solving.
“Communication is another big area of learning,” Sophie says. “As leaders, a lot of what we do requires very effective communication, not only with fellow Cadets but with the adult members of the Unit. It represents very valuable skill-building for the future."