Idaho Wing Mountain Eagle Encampment

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What is Encampment?

Encampment challenges you. It pushes you so you’ll grow. Are you self-disciplined? Can you lead? Can you truly work as a team? These are some of the questions the cadre will help you answer for yourself as you participate in awesome, hands-on activities and tours. Specifically, our goal is to inspire you to

• develop leadership skills,

• learn about aviation, space, and technology,

• commit to a habit of regular exercise, and

• live the Core Values.

As cadets of the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, your training will emphasize not only leadership and character, but fitness and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) as you explore career opportunities in those areas and so much more.

Leadership Training Ground

Summer encampments serve as week-long leadership laboratories. They offer cadets the opportunity to further develop leadership skills under the careful supervision of highly trained adult leaders.

Cadets develop leadership potential, discipline, time management, and interpersonal skills while at the encampment. They learn how to overcome challenges and succeed through critical thinking.

Encampment challenges you. It pushes you so you’ll grow. Are you self-disciplined? Can you lead? Can you truly work as a team? These are some of the questions the cadre will help you answer for yourself as you participate in awesome, hands-on activities and tours.

Aerospace and STEM Education

Civil Air Patrol’s award-winning aerospace education program promotes aerospace, aviation, and STEM-related careers with engaging, standards-based, hands-on curriculum and activities. It generates interest in STEM careers through aviation-, space- and technology-focused activities associated with astronomy, flight simulations, model and remote-control aircraft, robotics, rocketry, weather, hydraulic engineering, and computer programming.

High-Adventure Activities

Cadets want and need to get their hands dirty and push themselves beyond their normal comfort zone through adventure-based learning. With “challenge” being one of the cadet life’s key traits, CAP encourages cadets to participate in youth-scaled high adventure activities. During Encampment, this could be in the form of a confidence course, nature hikes, Team Leadership Problems, or a variety of other activities as they are available.

Before any activity, we go through a Risk Management process to assess the potential risks and mitigate them. All activity, even just marching to dinner, has some risk but our job is to make sure that nobody is subjected to unnecessary risk. The goal is to provide challenges for our cadets to overcome, giving them confidence and self-esteem that is not easily shaken as well as memories they will not easily forget!

We will make reasonable accommodations so that cadets who have special needs or physical limitations can safely participate in these challenges (e.g.: provide an extra spotter, provide a boost over obstacles, etc.). However, if the nature of this activity is inappropriate for a cadet’s particular abilities, the Encampment Commander, or his designee, may limit that cadet’s participation. Although encouraged, cadets who feel that they cannot negotiate a specific challenge are not forced to do it.

Fitness Activities

The Active Cadet Fitness Program's goal is to increase cadets' physical fitness and to motivate them to develop a lifelong habit of regular activity. 

Activities- Get moving!  The heart of the cadet fitness program is activities.  Cadets will experience a range of fun and structured activities.

Academics- To get the most benefit from the program it's important that cadets understand the concepts of fitness, training, nutrition, and more.  Cadets learn about these ideas in both classroom and hands-on lessons and then put them into action in their daily lives.

Attitudes- Cadets develop a positive relationship with fitness through the support of their peers. 

The Cadet Physical Fitness Program is aligned with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program (PYFP). PYPF is a comprehensive fitness program that promotes physical activity and fitness to improve the health of America's young people.

Flight Experiences

Depending on the weather and availability, encampment activities can include orientation flights aboard CAP aircraft, military aircraft flights such as helicopters, cargo, or tanker aircraft, drone flights, flight simulators, and more.

The Facility

Gowen Field Joint National Guard Base has hosted the Idaho Wing Mountain Eagle Encampment for the last 8 years. The Army and Air National Guard have provided Cadet Encampment Students with truly unforgettable experiences year after year. 

Barracks

Families can count on CAP to provide a safe, wholesome environment at all cadet activities.  Cadet life is a regimented experience marked by firm rules, clear consequences, and ample adult supervision.  Most of all, leadership by positive example is our best tool for creating a space where cadets can thrive. All of this starts with simply making their bed.  It is the first task they complete each morning.

Dining Facility

Encampments will provide every participant with three full, well-balanced meals daily, excluding travel days. Upon receiving the meal, cadets will have at least 15 minutes of uninterrupted, training-free time to eat. This is their time to socialize, enjoy their meal, and strengthen bonds of friendship.

Parent's Introductory Briefing

Parents or Guardians are encouraged to attend a parent briefing while their cadet is going through in-processing on the first day of the encampment. We will give you an overview briefing of the encampment, what you can expect to look for on the encampment's Facebook page, and information about the graduation parade.