The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Another season of Navy League and Sea Cadets gets underway tonight. Open for youth between the ages of 10 and 19, for boys and girls, there is no cost to join. Kids aged 10-12 get an introduction to sea life in the Navy League, while youth ages 13-19 are placed in Sea Cadets. Parades are every Tuesday night at the Elks Hall from 6:30-9 p.m. Cadets learn numerous skills, including discipline, leadership, seamanship, sailing, winter and summer survival, range, drill, hunter safety, first aid, as well as lots of rope work and stuff related to navy training. The cadets just completed sail training on the Labour Day weekend. A dozen cadets achieved level one or two. If they stay with the program long enough, a cadet can earn their instructors level. There are also many opportunities for cadets to travel. They can attend summer camps, which are also free, as well as exchanges, citizenship trips and other travel. Recently, cadets from Flin Flon have been to Jacksonville Florida, Sandiego and Hawaii. They also visit Canadian bases in Halifax and Victoria. Recent exchanges have been with Saskatoon, Regina and Brandon. As well, cadets can also earn two non-graduating credits for high school. "One big attraction is they meet and make new friends, and enjoy lifetime camaraderie," said commanding officer Bunny Burke, who is entering her 29th year with the program. "Kids that have joined years ago still have lifelong friends." Navy League and Sea Cadets invite kids to come and take a look for themselves, as all parades are open to the public. Parents are encouraged to get involved with the program, as the cadets are governed by a parent committee. The first parade of the season is tonight at 6:30 p.m.
