Thanks to a very generous grant from the Ulysses Trust, this summer 12 members of Oxford University Officer Training Corps were able to participate in EXERCISE BLUE PADDLER. EXERCISE BLUE PADDLER was a 12-day expedition from 22nd August 2019 to 02nd September 2019 to complete 7 days of Kayaking in Canada on a mix of Grade 2 and 3 rapids.
The aim of the expedition was primarily to develop the leadership ability of participants via placing the Officer Cadets in situations of controlled risk. A further aim was to teach new skills in an environment that is both mentally and physically challenging, including the Inland Kayak 3 qualification, the majority gained the qualification with a couple needing further experience.
These qualifications were not the only benefit of EXERCISE BLUE PADDLER, which also proved to be a highly enjoyable challenge enabling participants to experience a different culture to the UK and develop personal administration skills such as ensuring all safety kit and personal was taken and dried. The exercise pushed all out of their comfort zones a particular challenge included a day on the Red Deer river which is a Grade 3 Rapid, when the group came across a set of ledges the largest being over 1 meter at a feature called Gooseberries.
The impact of the expedition on OUOTC as a unit was tremendous, with individuals possessing highly beneficial qualifications enabling them to go on to gain further qualifications to lead the unit on expeditions themselves. Furthermore, the exercise was a flagship adventurous training expedition and has been showcased throughout the recruitment period to help attract new members to the unit.
All participants thoroughly enjoyed the exercise, with OCdt Baxter in particular saying he learnt a lot– “Having done limited kayaking before, I learnt a huge amount and over the week I spent less and less time capsized.” OCdt Harrison commented that EXERCISE BLUE PADDLER was “an amazing trip with beautiful scenery, the highlight being the camping on the multi-day kayak.”
2Lt Norris
