Parents

Encampments are designed to be challenging for cadets, weeklong ones especially so.  Cadets will have to learn how to live, eat, sleep, and function among a large group of other cadets, most of whom they have never met before.  They will meet cadets from different areas of the nation, with different backgrounds, experiences, and opinions.  It will not be like a weekend at Grandma’s. 

Encampments are designed to be similar to military basic training, although not as long or as intense.  They give cadets a taste of what military training is like and can help a cadet determine if they are sturdy enough to handle basic training and military service in the future.  The important thing to remember is, is your cadet mature enough to handle encampment?  Waking up at 6:00 am every day and being on the go until 8:30 in the evening can be stressful to many, but can also be too stressful for some.  For some cadets, especially younger ones, encampment can be overwhelming at times.  It is vitally important that your cadet knows what to expect and will be able to handle the encampment experience.

Typically, younger cadets, especially ones that are new CAP members, have the most problems at encampment.  If your cadet is young AND is new to CAP, you should have a good discussion with them to determine if they are ready for encampment.  Conversely, ensure that YOU are ready to have your cadet be away from home for a week without contact with them.  Many times at encampment we receive calls from parents who are more upset about their cadet being away from home than the cadet is.  Encampment is time for cadets to learn and grow through challenging activities.  Make sure that both they AND you are ready for this.     

Encampment is not church camp or scout camp.  It is military themed and is more challenging.  Cadets won't be calling home unless there is an issue that can't be handled by our encampment chaplains and counselors.  If your cadet cannot function without talking to you every day, encampment may be too much for them.      

Before having your cadet sign up for encampment, discuss it with them, as well as with other cadets and/or senior members from their unit that have attended encampment to ensure that they have no questions about what to expect when they arrive and proceed through the week of encampment.  Most of all, your cadet should want to attend encampment.  A cadet who does not want to attend encampment will most probably not make it through to graduation.

Be sure to review the photographs from previous encampments (at the bottom on the main page) as well as the information about the Cadet Encampment Assistance Program (CEAP), which is a program that can help pay for encampment.  Also, carefully review the FAQs under the ABOUT tab and the BASIC (1st YEAR) links under the START HERE tab on the encampment website.