Today was the pltc pre-camp. It started off with the announcement of the patrols we are in. After the briefing by the coordinators we split into our patrols and had a short bonding session together. After that were lectures about the basic rules in guides and scouts. It was followed by ice breaker games like blow wind blow to let us get to know one another better.

After lunch a lecture was given by Mr Teo about the significance of campfire. We were also taught on how to build a strong and lasting fire by the arrangement of the firewood. Later, we were given lectures on the what is scouting and guiding and leadership through promise and law. We learnt that being a leader involves putting others before self and bringing the patrol to greater heights. The series of lectures ended off with safety precautions, an important factor in camps. We learn that as leaders we should take care of not only the safety of our own but also the safety of our patrol members.

The lectures today taught us many important values on being a good leader. The transition phase to become a leader may be tough but we will all try our best.

Zhongsans jiayou! :D

For yesterday’s jihe, we did traditional games. The year1s also got to try out the different traditional games for the first time.

For the station at the area outside the 1st level lift, we were given 7 minutes to tie the roman cheriot. Then we were given 20 minutes to transport as many people along the corridor, while the rest were supposed to do leg raise. Only 4 people were allowed to carry the roman cheriot at a time, we were supposed to do 15 pumping when we change people to carry the roman cheriot. Our cheering for this station was not constant and not everyone cheered together. We should cheer more, as it will also motivate us to continue, not only for the sake of cheering.

For the next station at the library walkway, we were given 20 minutes to cross the shengqiao. All the year1s had a chance to cross it, with some help from the year 3s and 4s. They were taught the correct method of crossing the shengqiao, including how they were supposed to get down. Also, some of our items like peibei were being kupped while pumping. Therefore we should look after our belongings with a sense of responsibility.

Also, for the next station at the toilet near the scout’s tuanbu, one person was the casualty, who had head concussion. 2 from each patrol was supposed to help the casualty over the wall, they were supposed to treat the casualty later on. Throughout the time, the rest of the people were supposed to do zhanma. However, for my group, we were not doing standard zhanma, hence we were told to change to boy’s style. We should always do it properly, or we will have to bear consequences.

Finally, for the station at the grass patch. We were given 25 minutes to tie and cross the fireman’s ladder. The year2s and 1s were supposed to tie the fireman’s ladder, while the year3s were in boy’s style pumping position. The year3s could only tell the year2 and 1 what to do, while in boy’s style. Next, the year1s were shown the correct way to cross the fireman’s ladder, then they got a chance to try it out themselves. We also needed to ding the structure properly, if not the person climbing the fireman’s ladder would be at risk.

Overall, this jihe allowed the year1s to know more about guides, like the traditional games. We should always give our 101% in every jihe or activity we have, whether if it’s tiring or not, so that we can learn more out of it.
Love guides :)

Hi Guides!! Friday’s jihe was on Traditional Games where patrols had to complete 4 stations, namely Roman Chariot, Fireman’s Ladder, Fireman’s Chair and Sheng Qiao. As it was the first time the sec 1s were involved in Traditional Games, we hope that all of you had fun and pick up something new along the way.

In general, we observed that there was a lack of enthusiasm and effort throughout the entire activity. For the sec 1s, although you are new to Traditional Games, but we still expect to see a more positive attitude, initiative and sense of urgency from all guides. We do not wish to see any guides giving up so easily when feeling exhausted. One for all and all for one. We hope to see everyone putting in their best effort for future guides activity.

The main thing we did for today’s jihe was learning the different aspects of lighting a fire and as a process we were expected to remember the procedures of the different types of fire-lighting techniques such as using the traditional method of lighting twigs with a matchstick that will eventually lead to a circle of mumahuang and palm leaves surrounding the twigs. The other method is to light the yuanzila placed on the yuanzilu.

For the station at the 6th storey in the junior high block, we had to run around the block continuously for 20minutes, and at intervals of 5minutes, we were supposed to report to the station master. Along the way, we passed by some of our patrol mates that were in girls’ style pumping position, waving to us frantically, calling for our attention. Hence, some of us thought it was nothing but we eventually realize that the need for us to solve the mystery puzzle involving fire lighting. The puzzle comes in pictures and we were supposed to identify which materials were needed to light a fire and therefore ‘save’ our patrol mates. Hence, a basic understanding of fire-lighting was needed for the patrols to complete the station task. Also, good time management and a sense of urgency are required for us to complete the task within the given time.

Also, for the station at the grass patch, we were required to roast 2 Oreo cookies using charcoal and matchsticks while some of us did circuits. Many of our cookies were burnt terribly and a common mistake was that a lot of us used the fire starter and in fact we were not supposed to use that. Also, some of our items like the green sparse were being confiscated by the seniors while pumping. Therefore, we should look after our belongings at all costs with a sense of responsibility.

Also, at the area outside the open balcony, the year 3s were required to teach the year 2s and year1s on how to properly light a fire the traditional way and with the yuanzila and the yuanzilu. Later on, the year 2s and year 1s were tested and we were supposed to light the fire with the yuanzila using only 3 matchsticks. Hence, we needed to make full use of the 3 matchsticks or we have to do 10pumpings for an extra matchstick lighted.

Finally at the station outside LT 5, we were required to light a fire using yuanzila and boil 3 mass tins of water. Our skills are hence being put to the test. While doing so, the rest were doing leg raise to hold a pail of water up. The water in the bucket was used for boiling and we needed to take turns to transfer the water to the mass tins. Hence, all of us must be in the standard leg raise position at all times or the pail of water will fall. Also, we must be alert to the fire so as to not let the fire extinguish at all costs.

In general, fire-lighting was a very important survival skill that we must possess and this jihe has led us to understand basic fire-lighting techniques and we must definitely remember them as they will come to use very soon.

Love guides :)

Hey guides =)

Today's jihe was skills training on the firelighting technique. This is a new skill that the sec 1s have learnt today, as they have never encountered firelighting before. Patrols travelled to their various station in pairs, in the OJ style.

Station 1: Water Boiling

2 people from each patrol were instructed to light a fire, after which, the patrol will be in leg raise position in a radial arrangement, supporting a pail in the middle. Patrol members will then scoop water out of the pail, and empty it in the mess tins for boiling. This station was designed to test both your skills and your patrol spirit. By working fast, you would lessen the weight of the pail, and more water will be able to boil faster. However, we noticed that some patrols lacked the sense of urgency, and we did not sense the patrol spirit in others.

Station 2: Amber Cooking

A sec 3 and two sec 1s were to start a fire to roast an Oreo, while the rest did circuits. The skill in fire lighting was generally okay, although some patrols took a considerable amount of time to get the fire started. As for the circuits, instead of asking the sec 4s to slow down, we felt that you all should try to catch up. Also, many of the items were not well taken care of, and were kupped as a result. Although initially the patrols were not allowed to cheer, but overall the patrol spirit was still low. We feel that you all could have put in more effort for the circuits. PT benefits you, we hope to see everyone do their best they can in it.

Station 3: Teaching Firelighting

The sec 3s were to explain the theory of the traditional firelighting technique (using kindlings), then demonstrate how to firelight using the yuan zi lu. This station tests your understanding and application of the firelighting technique. Although overall, all the patrols were able to get the fire going, we felt that the skill of firelighting could be improved, as some patrols required more than 3 matchsticks.

Station 4: Communications

The sec 1s and 2s ran around the block, while sec 3s were separated and stationed at corners of the level. The sec 3s were given pictures of firelighting materials (and some distractors), which have to be combined in order to start a fire. The solution is that the sec 1s and 2s should act as 'delivery persons', and pass the necessary pictures for the sec 3s. This station focuses less on the skill of firelighting, and instead the main focus is on the communications within the patrol. Reporting back to the station masters after every 5 minutes (for sec 1s and 2s) serves as a distractor. This station highlights the need to show care and concern for one another, and it is good that most patrols were able to finish within the given time frame =)

Bonus questions were also given out, and most patrols were actually able to get at least half correct. Keep it up=) These questions basically test your common sense, although some require higher order thinking.

Overall, the position your patrol came in is not important, but rather, what is most important is that you all have learn something from this jihe. We hope that you all can give your best for future jihes =)

Hi Guides :D here are pictures taken from last saturday CIP project-Ohana

Love Guides

On Saturday, the guides and scouts went to whompoa RC for project Ohana. We were involved in mural painting, health checkup or food donation for the needy. I was in mural painting and was in charge of painting a tree outside a childcare centre. After everything was painted, the end product looks very attractive and it really beautified the whole place. After lunch and we finished up the walls and cleared up, while some of us went for performance rehearsal. I was in bamboo dance and it can be sensed that everyone was so nervous! Finally it was time for the real performance. There were the scouts lion dance, bamboo dance, guides sec1 singing performance, sec1 scouts singing performance, skit and song leader! All our hard work during practice paid off as the all the performances went by smoothly. Everyone did wonderful (:

Even though we ended late that day and I was exhausted, I felt a great sense of satisfaction and pride for dhscoy when I saw how much the residents appreciate what we have done for them.

Love guides!

Yesterday, the guides went for cip at whampoa.
we were split into 3 groups doing murial painting, health survey, and food distribution.
i happened to participate in the health survey.

we jihed at 650am in school, and set off for whampoa's precint hall when everybody 全到了.
when we had reached our destination, the tables and chairs were already stationed properly, and all we had to do was to manage the crowd which was easier said than done.

Initially, it was rather chaotic because we were not sufficiently prepared for the large mass of people and were unsure of how to entertain the waiting masses, how to speed the survey queue up, and how to arrange the senior citizens in a systematic way so as to aid movement along the stations.

However, as time passed and we got to know our roles better, the general flow of event went quite smoothly. Moreover, we had had the help of whampoa cc members to make up for our inexperience.

After the health survey in the morning, we had an enlightening debrief by Dr Tan. we touched on our areas of improvement, our strengths, and weaknesses.

After that, we went for lunch with our patrols.

Between lunch to our next activity, we had some studying time( for yr4s) in the whampoa community centre room that we had been trained in for the past few weeks.
it was good to catch up on studies, and to enforce our guides' idea of being all-rounded.
though some of us took frequent breaks in those few hours, it was still a rather productive afternoon.

we then joined the rest of the coy for dinner at about 6pm, and then set off to enjoy the skit/performances put up by both guides and scouts.
the night performances were extremely entertaining and it was a really great way to end the cip.

overall, this cip has taught us alot about the importance of managing our health(blood pressure), mananging crowds, executing an event, and being able to speak up in a crowd. it had also given us chances to work with our beloved seniors again.

for that, there is no denying that it was a cip well done(:

Thank you to all guiders, Dr Tan and his left/right hand assistants, whampoa citizens, seniors, juniors, and all guides for making yesterday a success.

Hope everyone will find more meaning in guides as time goes by(:


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