What is HBWATG?
30
years ago, staff from a number of Squadrons got together to provide
adventure training opportunities that would be open to every cadet in the
Wing. This group came to be known as the Herts & Bucks Wing Adventure
Training group - HBWATG
Since then, the group has introduced many hundreds of cadets to adventure
training. The main activities are walking and climbing in Britain's
mountains and kayaking on rivers and lakes but we also offer
mountain biking, open canoeing and other activities on certain courses. The group also provides
training and
support for Gold expeditions in the Duke of Edinburgh Award
scheme (DEAS)
On all courses cadets are encouraged to develop and
apply personal leadership skills that can be applied in many areas of
life. We don't aim to turn everyone into expert mountaineers or paddlers,
although we are always delighted to help anyone who wants to go that way
Any adventurous activity involving young people demands the highest
standards of leadership and operating practices, to the extent that many
schools and youth organisations now find it difficult to offer
adventure training, even at a local level. HBWATG is an established centre of competence within the
Wing with a
vital role in developing the next generation of leaders and instructors
We are always pleased to welcome new staff to the group, but we are
also keen to help staff at squadron level to develop the skills and
experience that they need to run activities at a local level. We are
working to set up a Basic Expedition Training Award (BELA) scheme within
the Wing, and will be publishing details on this site in the near future
Finally, the group is known for some ambitious overseas expeditions, including
a self-sufficient canoe journey through Canadian wilderness, and
the ascent of a 6,000metre Himalayan mountain - the picture above shows
members of the group crossing a glacier just before they
climbed the ice
cliff to the summit ridge
This site provides information about the group and its activities
- past, present and future, and will be of interest to anyone involved
with adventure training in the Air Training Corps, or in other youth
organisations
