Rates of Cadet Attendance ??

[abysmal]

Question.

What is the normal percentage of Cadets in a Squadron that will attend a summer encampment.

I have 29 active Cadets, and only TWO plan on going to encampment this summer.

Seems like a VERY low turnout.

When I was a Cadet 25 years ago, it was a pretty big activity that most of us tried very hard to go to.

[Pylon]

Certainly that seems like a low number.  Cadets should always go to their first opportunity for an encampment when they join CAP; it has proven to increase retention and their willingness to stay in CAP.

However, when evaluating the number of your cadets attending encampment, there are a few points to take into consideration:

1)  How many have already attended an encampment?

2)  How many are unable to attend due to financial or transportation arrangements?

3)  How many are unable to attend due to other obligations (summer school, BMT, etc).

You may want to ask your cadets how many would like to attend, but can't for other reasons.  Perhaps if they are financial reasons, you could piggy-back funds for this from your uniform fundraiser, if there is enough left over.  In addition, you may want to ask your Group HQ and Wing HQ if they have any scholarship funds to help send cadets to activities.  I know my Group does.

Other than that, they may simply not know of the advantages and fun that makes up a CAP encampment.  Have someone who's gone before, preferably someone who's also served on encampment staff if possible, talk to the cadets.  Set aside a half-hour or 45 mintues and let your encampment veteran talk about what they do, highlight the fun activities, and the other great aspects.  Try to get photos from past encampments and show the cadets.  Leave about 15 minutes of the session for your cadets to ask questions.   This might help fire them up and get them excited about encampment.  Remind them that it's much more fun than just a week of dry, boring training.  You may see an increase in those who want to attend after you let them know how cool it is.   

[abysmal]

Certainly that seems like a low number.  Cadets should always go to their first opportunity for an encampment when they join CAP; it has proven to increase retention and their willingness to stay in CAP.

However, when evaluating the number of your cadets attending encampment, there are a few points to take into consideration:

1)  How many have already attended an encampment?
2)  How many are unable to attend due to financial or transportation arrangements?
3)  How many are unable to attend due to other obligations (summer school, BMT, etc).

You may want to ask your cadets how many would like to attend, but can't for other reasons.  Perhaps if they are financial reasons, you could piggy-back funds for this from your uniform fundraiser, if there is enough left over.  In addition, you may want to ask your Group HQ and Wing HQ if they have any scholarship funds to help send cadets to activities.  I know my Group does.

Other than that, they may simply not know of the advantages and fun that makes up a CAP encampment.  Have someone who's gone before, preferably someone who's also served on encampment staff if possible, talk to the cadets.  Set aside a half-hour or 45 mintues and let your encampment veteran talk about what they do, highlight the fun activities, and the other great aspects.  Try to get photos from past encampments and show the cadets.  Leave about 15 minutes of the session for your cadets to ask questions.   This might help fire them up and get them excited about encampment.  Remind them that it's much more fun than just a week of dry, boring training.  You may see an increase in those who want to attend after you let them know how cool it is.   

All excellant points.
Cost seems to be a major issue as $225 comes pretty dearly around here.

[Pylon]

$225 can be a bit steep, that's understandable.  However, if the parent's figure how much they would have paid to feed their kid for that week, anyway - that takes a chunk of savings out of it.

Seriously, though - check with Group and Wing about scholarship funds.   In addition, run those fundraisers!  It's a shame CAP has to rely so much on fundraising, but we've got to do it to keep our programs going.  The more a unit fundraises, the more possibilities it opens to the unit's members.

[abysmal]

$225 can be a bit steep, that's understandable.  However, if the parent's figure how much they would have paid to feed their kid for that week, anyway - that takes a chunk of savings out of it.

Seriously, though - check with Group and Wing about scholarship funds.   In addition, run those fundraisers!  It's a shame CAP has to rely so much on fundraising, but we've got to do it to keep our programs going.  The more a unit fundraises, the more possibilities it opens to the unit's members.

Yup, does seem that way.
After this conversation, the Squadron commander has asked for the two of us to get together so we can start doing some planning on how to make money to help support the cadets.