Kids & Family

51 Chicago Area Cadets and Leaders Headed to Cadet International Camporee in Canada

The group leaves July 22 for the camporee, where they'll earn badges in fire safety, axe-manship and camp cooking.

On July 22, 51 Cadets and Cadet counselors from Illiana Council will board a bus to O’Hare Airport where they’ll fly to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for the Cadet International Camporee. When they finally arrive at Kamp Lone Pine in Lacombe, they’ll split up into their assigned cadres for the week and get to work building their own shelters and setting up camp. With all 51 Illiana Council participants assigned to different cadres, they’ll spend the week living with other Cadets and counselors from all over the U.S. and Canada, as well as countries like South Africa.

Cameron VanderMolen, an 8th grade Cadet from Bethel Christian Reformed Church in DeMotte, Indiana, explained how Cadets who want to attend Camporee have to get certified and complete a number of badges like fire safety, axe-manship and camp cooking, as each Cadet will take a turn preparing a meal for their cadre. VanderMolen says he’s looking forward to meeting a new group of guys and going hiking and geo caching. This is VanderMolen’s first Camporee.

Bruce Meyer, head Cadet counselor at Bethel Christian Reformed Church, will be attending his fifth Camporee this year. Meyer was a Cadet from fourth to eighth grade and has been a counselor for the past 19 years.

One of his favorite Camporee memories involved a potentially disastrous situation when the 2009 Camporee in Ontario was cut short due to massive amounts of rain (leading to flooding and dangerously muddy conditions).

“We were put under tremendous pressures which at the time seemed overwhelming, but looking back, it was beautiful to see how so many of the men accepted the challenge and became selfless servants (to evacuate the participants and their gear),” Meyer shared.

“All of us who were there were forever changed. (That’s why) I think it’s vital that we keep the boys involved in church and teach them skills that will be useful in all of life,” he added.

Tinley Park resident Scott Kooiman, a Cadet counselor at Oak Glen United Reformed Church in Lansing, also has fond memories of his childhood Camporee experience He’s volunteering a week of his vacation time to be a Camporee leader because, for him, this is an opportunity to give back.

“I am looking forward to working and interacting with the Cadets in my group throughout the week, having the opportunity to share and learn both about the world around us and to grow spiritually as individuals and as a group,” Kooiman explained.

The week’s activities include archery, riflery, canoeing, a mountain hike, geo caching, an adventure challenge and a service project, along with evening entertainment and an all-camp worship service on July 27.

Kooiman will also be attending with his son, albeit in different cadres for the week, just as he did with his own father 33 years ago.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to share some common memories with him,” he added.

The Calvinist Cadet Corps, commonly known as Cadets, was founded in 1952 by Christian men who saw the need to mentor, by word and example, the young men and boys in their community. It has become a world-wide ministry that incorporates weekly meetings and outdoor adventure. Boys do not have to be church members to join a club. For more information on the 30 Cadet clubs in the Chicago Southland and Northwest Indiana, visit illianacadetcouncil.org. Registration for the 2014-15 program year will begin in late August or early September, depending on the club.


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