Here is another post on thinking day celebrations and campfire :)

On 19th Feb, we had our annual Thinking Day celebrations at Geylang Methodist Sec School. Guides from other schools were there to join in the fun too! It was nice being able to bond with guides from the district to share experiences and connect with the other guides celebrating thinking day! :) We sang all the guides songs and the atmosphere then was simply amazing. Everyone was happy and enjoying this special day. There was also a mini concert which boosted our moods even more! The performances put up by the various schools were interesting, and we can see that a lot of effort was put in to put up a show for all of us.

At around 12, we went back to school for campfire preparation. After all the patrol corners and building of structures, a short activity and talk regarding thinking day, we were ready for campfire! :D The campfire was really a memorable experience. We sang, danced and watched the performances by other patrols. The light sticks also enhanced the atmosphere greatly and it felt as though all of the work put in to make the campfire happen was totally worth it. I think we should have more activities like this, it truly brings us guides together more and we can have fun at the same time! Lastly, we enjoyed the Thinking Day celebrations very much and are all glad to spend more time with the whole company.

Dear guides:) Here's a post regarding thinking day celebrations and campfire :)

On 19 February, a few guides went to Geylang Methodist Secondary (GMS) to celebrate Thinking
Day with other schools. When we arrived, we assembled and we split into groups, mainly the
songleaders, those who took care of the old folks and others who watched the performance.

The purpose of holding the celebrations in different districts was to be more aligned with the CDC in our community work. The emcees for the celebration were Ruoting and Anyi and the songleaders were also from our school! Everyone was engaging themselves in the songs while waiting for the guest of honour. After his arrival, we renewed our promise and sang our world song. Then, it was time for a concert! There were various interesting performances by the schools.

From this celebration, I got to see the different guides from other schools and celebrate thinking day together. On that day, I felt bonded with the other guides and this was an event for us to come together to celebrate.

Then, we took a bus back to school to continue with the celebrations. We had lunch first before
we split up into different groups to prepare for the campfire. I was a songleader so we started practicing for the campfire. At the beginning of the practice, we were tired and not very loud when we were singing. But after the encouragement from our seniors, we sang louder and put in more energy in our actions.

Then it was time for an activity regarding thinking day! We had a little stimulation game to introduce the theme of lack in opportunities in some other countries. This allowed us to think a little more before we had a 3 part talk in the lecture theatre. They are thinking day, world association of girl guides and girl scouts and girl guides in singapore.

Then, we had patrol corner and we had time to practice on our skit.

Patrol 1 and 7 performed on ‘Think about food’, patrol 2 and 5 performed on discovering our
potential, patrol 4 and 8 presented on water, patrol 9 and 10 presented on world poverty and hunger while patrol 3 and 6 performed about empowerment of woman.

After patrol corner, we had dinner and a little bit more time for the juniors to learn our campfire songs.

Then, it was campfire!! We started singing and dancing and we truly enjoyed the
campfire. As a songleader, I really enjoyed leading everyone in singing the songs and lifting everyone’s spirits. This was the first time I was an emcee too and I learned a lot from this experience. The performances from each patrol were enjoyable too. :D

Although after everything, we were very tired, we still enjoyed every moment of it. I am sure
everyone enjoyed 2011 Thinking day celebrations as it was a different experience from the conventional thinking day celebrations.

HAPPY THINKING DAY!! :D :D

Hey hey hey! It's thinking day.
Here're some photos from our thinking day campfire at night :)
Enjoy!

Dear guides:) Here is a post regarding year 1 welcome party and cny celebrations:)

On February 11, we welcomed our new batch of Y1s! :D Before they came in, everyone was feeling extremely enthusiastic about anticipating our new juniors.

After they joined us in our patrols, we broke off for patrol corner. My patrol started off with giving the Y1s some gifts and notes to welcome them into guides. Following that, we played 3 truths and 1 lie, whereby everyone had to say 3 truths and 1 lie about themselves and the rest of the patrol were to guess which was the lie :) Through this activity, we got to know more about each other better. We proceeded on to combine with Patrol 8 for a game of blow wind blow.

When patrol corner was over, we had some company games. The games allowed everyone from different levels to interact with one another, while taking the opportunity to teach the juniors, as well as remind us about some basic points to take note in guides (: And finally, after all the games, it was time for our Chinese New Year steamboat!

Firstly, each patrol took turns to wish our guiders happy new year, wishing them the best for the rest of the year. Then, the steamboat started! There was a lot of delicious food and it was a great time for each patrol to bond among themselves. It was very heartwarming to see the Y2s taking a lot of initiative to talk to the Y1s, making them feel welcome into our big guiding family. Hopefully, our new Y1s will learn to love guides as much as we do! :)

Here is another post:)

For jihe today, we welcomed four new year 1s to our patrol. In order to make them feel welcomed, as well as to know them better, we played icebreaker games such as "Blow wind Blow" after a self introduction by everyone. Anyone who had been the last one to get a seat for more than three times had to do a forfeit. It was really fun getting to see the year 1s joining us wholeheartedly and laughing at one another at how we rushed around during the game. Then we had company games.

Company games allowed the year 1s to meet more guides from other patrols and offered a chance for all guides to interact. Through the company games, we got to know guides from other levels and patrols more and will aid in inter-patrol communication. Then, we had patrol reunion dinner:)

The welcoming of new year 1s is a very large change for our patrol for our initially small patrol. With the new addition of year 1s, we would now have to learn how to utilize our now larger manpower well so as to carry out the given tasks efficiently. Hopefully, we would be able to accomplish this well and soon so that we can all have more fun during future jihes.

Once again, we welcome year 1s to the brand new journey of guiding with us. :)

Dear guides! Here are some pictures from the year1 welcome party and cny celebrations!

P9 Sparrow

P10 Swallow

P5 Sunflower

P8 Oriole

P3 Jasmine

P7 Kingfisher

P6 Dove

P1 Bougainvillea

P2 Ixora

P4 Orchid

(not available)

Dear guides:)

Here's an update regarding the course work planned by our young unit leaders from a year3 :) Hope that all of you have learnt something from it!:)

Our first station was at the 3rd floor gym where we were told to wheelbarrow across three tracking signs and decipher one of them. Next, we had to go to the tennis court and climb over the walls. We were given a total of 20 minutes to complete these tasks. As our patrol completed early, we played the squirrel and tree game. From this game, we can learn that we should have more team spirit. We those qualities, each and every one of us will feel connected and bonded as a patrol and activities we go through together will be much more memorable too.

Our second station was at open space level 5 where we had to transport a "golden mushroom". This requires a lot of communication within the patrol and the patrol leader. Also, the patrol must listen and follow the patrol leader's instructions and not do things by themselves.

The third station was at the staircase behind the flagpoles. The year 2s had to light up a fire. Next, the year 2s will follow the year 4s and commando crawl up the stairs while the year threes are to go on their own. The year 3s have to tie a rope ladder for the patrol to climb down safely. After ensuring the stability of the ladder, the whole patrol is to go down the ladder. This station is to test our skills, the year 2s the firelighting skills and year 3s whether they know how to tie a rope ladder.

The next station was at level 1 linkway. It was the minesweeper station. However this time, they incorporated the snake and ladder life size board game. As the year 2s have never tried before, the patrol leader had a hard time trying to support them as they made their way.

Lastly, it was the station and 3F and 3G. We had to transport the holy water while doing the caterpillar walk. Then they tested our first aid skills and also carrying the stretcher through obstacles. Team spirit is very important and we have to look out for one another.

This OJ is very meaningful and memorable as it has a special theme and a special aim. I am sure all the guides enjoyed it.

Hello guides!!

Happy Chinese New Year in advance! In the year of the Rabbit, let's all be gleeful and enthusiastic in everything that we'll be entrusted with as a rabbit is energetic and bubbly!

Continue to let your guiding light shine in the upcoming year. Law 7, a guide has courage and is cheerful in all difficulties :)

Enjoy your little break and the well deserved time with your family and friends. Do look forward to the time where we'll be celebrating cny with sister guides!

Yours in guiding,

Ruoting and Chaining