Getting involved in a flurry of activities in the community has earned Ponoka Air Cadet Johnathan Wessel-Ford the esteemed Duke Of Edinburgh award.
Wessel-Ford was presented with a silver medal Oct. 28 at the McDougall Centre in Calgary in the challenging program that is aimed at getting youths outside and active. The Honourable Lois E. Mitchell, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta and Al-Karim Khimji, President of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Awards, presented the medals to several youths that day.
Starting with the program in 2014, the 16-year-old has taken his work with the cadet program for the last three and a half years and earned his name on the list of award-winners.
“For this award, I had to complete several weeks worth of community service, learn a new skill, as well as take part in physical recreation outside of school,” explained Wessel-Ford in a an email.
The program has seen several Ponoka Air Cadets receive the award in the Bronze and Silver program.
“Another part of the award is my adventurous journey, and I had the privilege of going camping with the cadets for a weekend and learn new survival skills,” said Wessel-Ford.
With some nudging in the right direction from Air Cadet Cpt. Tracey Fiedler, the cadets already do many of the activities seen in the required tasks, Wessel-Ford says it has been a positive learning experience.
“I have learned many things while completing the silver level,” he said.
“One example is how I learned how to play the guitar, or built on my existing leadership skills in cadets. Like I said before, I started the silver level in 2015, but my goal is to finish my Gold Level in the near future.”
He feels this is a great way to get involved in extra activities and to be part of the community.