If I sent you to Las Vegas I bet you'd at least want to drive down the Strip.
I think it'd be a shame if we had cadets come to an activity up here and didn't at least put them in a CAP van and drive down Lake Shore Drive. Imagine if they were excited to see Chicago and we took them from Midway Airport to a local unnamed squadron and back to Midway and that's all they saw...bummer. (Personally, I'd make a trip to Portillo's required in there somewhere as well...lol)
From a parents perspective, it would be nice if there was some way a day (or half a day) could be incorporated into the NCSA's for cadets to venture into the local area a little during their week. I know the purpose of the NCSA is to do whatever activity they're doing but it's a shame to go somewhere like Seattle for instance and not get to see the Space Needle, or Florida and never step foot on the beach. Seems like a lot of NCSA's (from what I've seen) pick you up at the airport, send you to the local base/post and drive you back to the airport. I'd be happy to let my cadets stay an extra day for the added experience. E-Tech (Robotics) seems to be incorporating that (volleyball/bonfire on the beach).
Goes toward retention and recruiting though. Hey cadet xyz, let's see some pictures of that NCSA you just came back from...sorry don't have anything to share with you, we never left the base. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Not to mention it helps with the "fun" aspect of the program. Seems to be a lack of that. Cadets will not stay in our program if it's not fun, period.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: xray328 on June 20, 2016, 02:06:12 PMGoes toward retention and recruiting though. Hey cadet xyz, let's see some pictures of that NCSA you just came back from...sorry don't have anything to share with you, we never left the base. Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkNESA and NBB post literally hundreds of pictures and they never "leave the base" JFA is constantly posting pictures, so not really seeing the issue
I can see the CPP issue.If I were planning an NCSA in the Chicago area for instance it would be nice to take the cadets to Millennium Park for an afternoon, maybe over to Buckingham Fountain. Just a half a day to show them them the city. It's clearly not what the NCSA is about or for but I think the cadets would come away with a different experience than if we stayed locked into the squadron/base all week. I know that not all the NCSA's are lucky enough to be somewhere the cadets would want to visit, but if they are I just think we should take advantage of it.
From a supervisory and safety perspective, this is a nightmare. One missing or injured cadet and the whole thing couldget shut down.
Quote from: xray328 on June 20, 2016, 03:24:00 PMI can see the CPP issue.If I were planning an NCSA in the Chicago area for instance it would be nice to take the cadets to Millennium Park for an afternoon, maybe over to Buckingham Fountain. Just a half a day to show them them the city. It's clearly not what the NCSA is about or for but I think the cadets would come away with a different experience than if we stayed locked into the squadron/base all week. I know that not all the NCSA's are lucky enough to be somewhere the cadets would want to visit, but if they are I just think we should take advantage of it.Then why not volunteer for an NCSA, spend a year or two getting the lay of the land, and then offer to facilitate such an outing? I can appreciate the sentiment - we should be encouraging cadets to get out and see the world around them. It just adds logistical hurdles - ones that could be overcome with motivated staff members and scheduling creativity.
E-Techs figured it out Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
As for me, downtown Chicago seems far risker - it pegs MY own ORM meter, since they won't let me concealed carry in such a crime plagued area! (grin).V/RSpam
The BSA won't let you get into a still lake until you've had a supervised swim test, and for very good reason.
Quote from: Eclipse on June 20, 2016, 09:59:07 PMThe BSA won't let you get into a still lake until you've had a supervised swim test, and for very good reason.Riptides are easy to get out of if you know how. The problem is not the ability to swim, it is rather that most people do not know what to do. I used to live on the ocean (as in step out my backdoor and there is the ocean) and would get caught in these all the time. Depending on the day, either I would just let them take me out for fun or I would get out of them quickly. Rip currents do not kill people, rather their action kills them. Most people try to swim against the current, tiring, and then drown. A supervised swim test is not necessary to escape a riptide. Just a simple instruction on how to recognize them and what to do if caught in one. Otherwise, enjoy your effortless ride on a rip current.
Any good online sources? Having experienced the pull in Mexico...it's not a pleasant situation to be in unprepared.
Riptides are easy to get out of if you know how. The problem is not the ability to swim, it is rather that most people do not know what to do.
Also, to the comment above, you're making the assumption they know how to swim. CAP has no mechanism for confirming that. There are far too many adolescent these days who do not know how to swim, let alone swim in a challenging current where the key is "don't panic".
Not really making an assumption, I know the percentages:Caucasians: 40%Hispanic: 60%African: 70%Asian: do not know. no one likes to report on Asians do not know how to swim.
Quote from: LSThiker on June 21, 2016, 11:19:51 AMNot really making an assumption, I know the percentages:Caucasians: 40%Hispanic: 60%African: 70%Asian: do not know. no one likes to report on Asians do not know how to swim. Truth. I went to the Philippines on IACE as a cadet. My first time in a place with a warm ocean, which was amazing. I could have spent my entire trip swimming in that incredibly warm ocean. (As a Californian, we have a lot of beaches and ocean, but to my skinny body, it is is freakishly cold.)But it turned out that one of my fellow cadets could not swim a lick. He would have drowned if he was two feet from the side of a pool.It was culture shock. And a lesson I remember to this day when dealing with cadets. No assumptions on water safety.
It was / is pretty shocking to me - swim safety / fun was a priority for our kids, we had a pool for years and now they live at the local city pool, but for many it's not even on the radar.Even more so is how many adults can't swim - you'd think most would get around to it eventually, but I guess not.
Quote from: Eclipse on June 21, 2016, 11:50:30 AMIt was / is pretty shocking to me - swim safety / fun was a priority for our kids, we had a pool for years and now they live at the local city pool, but for many it's not even on the radar.Even more so is how many adults can't swim - you'd think most would get around to it eventually, but I guess not.Unless the city or Y subsidizes swim lessons many lower income kids never learn. Swimming lessons are often more a middle class thing.
In California we have these guys to get a cadet who can't swim out of trouble
+1 Why is everything these days "someone else's problem or responsibility".Take your kid to the park and teach them yourself if you can't afford the lessons.
I thought the reason you went to a NCSA was to attend the NCSA.You wanna go to the beach? Go on vacation instead...
Quote from: stitchmom on June 21, 2016, 12:51:05 PMQuote from: Eclipse on June 21, 2016, 11:50:30 AMIt was / is pretty shocking to me - swim safety / fun was a priority for our kids, we had a pool for years and now they live at the local city pool, but for many it's not even on the radar.Even more so is how many adults can't swim - you'd think most would get around to it eventually, but I guess not.Unless the city or Y subsidizes swim lessons many lower income kids never learn. Swimming lessons are often more a middle class thing.Do what my parents/grand parents/great grand parents/you get the point did, find a body of water and jump/get thrown in. Costs $0.
Do what my parents/grand parents/great grand parents/you get the point did, find a body of water and jump/get thrown in. Costs $0 CPS visit.
If you want to keep them engaged make sure there's a little fun. Or keep doing what your doing and let 85% of the cadets continue to leave in the first 18 months.
My comment was a reply to this mentality that we should think of NCSA's as a "business trip" that's sole intention is to teach them something. And if that means a week of PowerPoint presentations so be it.
And to the assertion that I think they should be on a vacation. Taking advantage of local culture or an educational opportunity doesn't mean that I think this should be a week at Disney.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
My comment was a reply to this mentality that we should think of NCSA's as a "business trip" that's sole intention is to teach them something. And if that means a week of PowerPoint presentations so be it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I went to Cadet Officer School 201* (met Ned, unfortunately . . .)
Quote from: DakRadz on June 22, 2016, 09:37:48 AMI went to Cadet Officer School 201* (met Ned, unfortunately . . .) Sigh, the story of my CAP life.
Quote from: Ned on June 22, 2016, 11:58:55 AMQuote from: DakRadz on June 22, 2016, 09:37:48 AMI went to Cadet Officer School 201* (met Ned, unfortunately . . .) Sigh, the story of my CAP life. I too would like to unfortunately meet Ned one day. Perhaps ILWG conference in October?