INUVIK - Master Cpl. Don Gruben doesn't mind the effort it takes to ensure his cadet uniform looks tip top every Wednesday evening.

That is, all except one task: pleating his pants.

After a superb award-winning year, a group of Inuvik cadets are being rewarded with a two-week event filled trip to Ontario. Members include, from left, Officer Paul MacDonald, civilian officer Corin Wagner, Cpl. Logan Ruben, Master Cpl. Don Gruben, Master Cpl. Brandon Jager, Sgt. Laura O'Connor and Cpl. Halli Bjornson. Missing from photo: Sgt. Hayley Rodgers. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

"It's annoying," said the 14-year-old, who's been a cadet for the last two years.

His colleague Cpl. Halli Bjornson, 12, can't relate to his buddy's plight. That's because his mom tends to his outfit. But he's quick to point out that he shines his own shoes.

The one thing the boys have in common is their dedication to cadets. Their hard work, along with that of four other Inuvik cadets, will be rewarded with a two-week trip to Ontario from May 16 to May 31.

By all accounts it won't be a boring trip either. They'll make stops in Peterborough, Ont. where they'll hang out with cadets their own age. From there, they'll also get to see Niagara Falls as well as the parliament buildings in Ottawa, not to mention explore the Canadian War Museum and the Rideau Canal. And that's the short list.

Officer Paul MacDonald, who came up with the idea, said it's a way to acknowledge their outstanding attendance records and commitment to cadets.

"These kids don't get out of town very often, so this a nice treat for them," he said. "They put a lot of hard work into what they do and they deserve a reward for it."

Besides Gruben and Bjornson, the lucky list of travellers includes Sgt. Hayley Rodgers, Sgt. Laura O'Connor, Master Cpl. Brandon Jager and Cpl. Logan Ruben.

They're a part of the home team that placed first in the Western Arctic Area Skills Competition held here from Jan. 23 to 24. They beat out four cadet teams in each of the competition components, which included marksmanship, drill, volleyball and a leadership tasks.

For Bjornson, who joined cadets about four months ago, being a part of the winning team is one of his proudest moments.

"I was surprised that I could do that well in something like that. It gave me a lot of confidence."

The boys can't wait to get to Peterborough, where they'll get a shot at paragliding with the some of the cadet members there.

"I want to push myself to see if I can accomplish that," said Don.

Both agree that through cadets they've become better people. They're more disciplined. They're better leaders. They've made many quality friendships.

"I'm learning a lot and making better choices," said Halli, who before joining cadets was a bit of a trouble maker.

To make the trip a reality, the crew has been fundraising on its own, which involves a shovelling contract at the Legion.

As a special treat, the crew will get to drop in on MacDonald's folks in Niagara Falls, a commitment MacDonald jokingly says he might live to regret.