DHS-psyCOYlogy!

Hello guides :)

This post will be about Camp Challenge 2009. It was from 11th December to 14th of december where 8 of us participated in a series of activities. We had different competitions within the division and also with other divisions. Our patrol is called the Pikachu patrol and for identities we had pikachu caps and bags which we made ourselves :D We are in the east division with other schools, Geylang Methodist Sec School, Pasir Ris Crest Sec Sch, Damai Sec Sch and lastly Bedok Town Sec Sch.

On the first day when we got there, Miss Tang registered while the rest of us went to shift everything to the lodge. There was a briefing at Olave Hall which we were told our allocated campsite as a division and after that we started Camp Development at our campsite. We also got to see many creative identities and also meal bags.

As a division, we decided where the tents would be, where the kitchen shelter and division flagpole would be and etc. As the weather was good and sunny, we pitched the tents first. A few of our guides went to help Bedok Town with their pvc tents as they had only 5 people. The rest of us finished our canvas tent and went to help other schools.

We had a short break and after which we went to tie other gadgets such as our baggage rack, shoe rack, clothesline, patrol flagpole and the kitchen dresser which our school was in charge for.
It rained in the afternoon so all of us were tying the kitchen dresser under the kitchen tent.

Camp d ended right before dinner and dinner was another new experience for us. We had to sing Graces (which we usually dont do) and seat in a circle on small canvas sheets which were on the grass to eat with the other schools from the division. Also, different patrols had different duties to do everyday and we were the cooks patrol for day one.

After dinner we had time to bathe and after bathing time we had division activity in the lodge. The guiders wanted all of us to get to know each other better so we played blow wind blow. It was quite fun and after this game, all of us were numbered and split to different groups to get to know each other better and we had to say our groups' cheers after 15 mins. It was quite fun getting to know each other and i am sure all of us made more friends after the first night! :)

We had supper and briefing for the amazing race which was going to held on the second day. After everything, it was lights out and all of us went to sleep in the tent.

For day 2, we were the wood and water patrol so we had to wake up slightly earlier to chop firewood so that the cooks patrol could use the wood to cook and prepare our breakfast. We also had flag raising in the division. Our flag-raising was different from the one that we usually have among our coy so we learnt new things as well. We also had morning excercises which we did some simple warm-ups.

Soon we had breakfast and had some time to tidy up all our gadgets and to prepare for the amazing race. At 9am, everyone gathered in Olave Hall for the briefing for amazing race and we set off to Boon Lay Mrt Station after that. At Boon Lay Mrt station, we were given our first piece of clue. We had to set off to the food court of the biggest Giant hypermart in singapore. It was in tampines and we headed off quickly to take the mrt with Junie, a YAL who followed us the whole trip as Miss Tang had to leave.

The mrt ride took rather long and we waited for the shuttle bus to go to Giant at tampines mrt. At the first station, we had to find prices of some items and etc. We all split up as we had to finish finding everything within 2o mins. We managed to finish within 15 mins and soon we were given our next clue.

Our next station was at Changi Airport T3 and we had to write postcards, give them to foreigners and take photos with them. We completed the task quickly and headed to the Singapore Silat Federation for the 3rd station. We had to answer a question sheet there and we were stuck as there were some questions we didn't know how to answer. For the 4th station, we headed to Bedok stadium which luckily, was just beside the 3rd station. 1 person from the patrol had to run 100 metres in 15 secs and we managed to do it. Good Job! :)

We were given our next clue and we were stuck again as we did now know where Botanic Garden was. After around 15 mins we headed off to Botanic gardens and we had to go in by the Tanglin Gate to the Swan Lake. We had to answer a question sheet and find 5 items and take photos of them. There was some misleading items but we managed to find them all.

For the 6th station at Lucky Plaza we had to sell 2 tins of cookies. We managed to sell them within 5 mins and then we headed to our 7th station- GGS store at Little India Arcade. Over there, one person had to finish 2 indian snacks and another person had to do henna on a stranger. After finishing the tasks, we were given the clue to our last station- Vivo City. However there was only 20 mins left before the stations would close. We decided that we would rush there and at least try to reach the station on time. We ran all the way and took mrt. Even though we were slightly late by a few mins, we could still continue with the station.

After finishing everything we rushed by to camp christine as we had to reach there by 6.oopm. We were late as we missed the bus and for penalty, the marks for the last station was not counted.

We ate dinner and during COH, the rest of us went to bathe. After bathing, we had a short Singalong session with the YALs among the division. We learnt new songs and also steps to dance the Thousand Legged Worm which was quite fun :) Then we had supper and soon it was lights out.

For day 3, we were the orderlies patrol and we had to help to serve breakfast. After that there was time to washup and soon it was time for Challenge 2, in which the division would be divided to many different groups to take part in different competitions against other divisions. We chose Pioneering and First Aid.

I was in the pioneering group and so we had to assemble infront of the Camp Store at 9. We were shown pictures of catapults and also given a number of gadget poles to work with. Then we were given 20 minutes to brainstorm on how we would want to build our catapult. It was graded by Creativity, Feasibility, Stability and lastly the distance which the object would move when we throw it with our catapult.

We decided to build it with 2 improvised tripods and we finished everything within one hour. After which we tried testing it and improvised our idea. Then different divisions had to try their own catapults to see whose one could make the object move a longer distance. Even though ours did not move the furthest compared to other divisions, we got the highest for pioneering :) The other team that went for First Aid also got the highest. Good job everyone :D

Soon we had lunch and then it was singalong session at division level. We all had fun singing the campfire songs and there was a lot of laughters :) Then there was the non competitive telematch with other divisions and all of us took part in the 4 games. Then it was dinner and after bathing, it was the campfire. We sang many songs, watched skits and had fun together. After campfire it was supper and lights out.

For day 4, we woke up and started to chai all our gadgets except for the kitchen dresser and also the tent. After breakfast, 4 of us went to wash toilets as we were the health patrol and the other continue to chai the gadgets. At around 10 plus all of us striked the tents and had elevenses in the lodge. After that, we had the prize presentation.

Within the east division, we got 1st for best identity, 2nd for best flag, 2nd for best gadgets :D We were very surprised and shocked when we knew that we got 1st for inter-patrol competition among the other divisions :)

Camp Challenge 2009 was a very good and fun learning experience for all 8 of us. Even though there were some parts which we were tired, all of us pushed on and continued to support each other. We all got to know each other better, the year 3s and the year 2s and it was an eyeopener for all of us.

We are all very happy to be able to come to this camp, learn new things and make many many new friends. What really matters is not the result, but what is most important it that we enjoy the process and at the same time try our very best. Like what Miss Tang said, we go to the camp not to have winning as our only aim, but to help other patrols when they need help, have fun and bond together as a patrol :)

Thank you all the seniors that have came back to help to train us and advice us even though all of you were very busy. Thank you guiders for the support that yall have given us during this period of time. Thank you everyone for the jiayous and good luck, i am very sure all 8 of us appreciated it very much :D

Jiayou for guides and future jihes!

Love guides :D