Patrol Activity, 30th March

Hi Guides!

On Monday, we had our respective Patrol Activities! Below is the breakdown of what the various patrols did.

P1

Thoughts from a Year 3...

For PA on Monday, we were told to bring down gadget poles and pack our 配备. We had to bring down 2 长木, 4 中长木, 8 中木 and 2 短木. At the start, everyone in the patrol was allowed to see the inspection layout. After that, the whole patrol was blindfolded except the PL. Within the given time limit of 28 minutes, the patrol had to complete a emergency shelter, a shoe rack, a fire altar and also lay out items according to the inspection layout. The story line stated that it will rain soon. However, we did not really catch the hint and failed to set up the emergency shelter first. It was quite messy at first as in a rush, some people could not completely remember the layout although different parts of the layout were assigned to everyone. Also, as the patrol was blindfolded, it was difficult for the PL to carry out things as patrol mates had a hard time moving around. In the end, when time was up, we were unable to complete the structures required. Next, we were given 5 minutes to dismantle everything. Bearing the same story line and instructions in mind, we had to construct the exact same structures again, except in 25 minutes this time round. Time was a little tighter. However, the patrol was a little bit clearer on what to do now. However, we wasted a lot of time trying to build the emergency shelter and a poncho even broke. We should have better assigned manpower to start on the fire altar early. The layout during the second time was a bit neater as the PL was allowed to review the proposal again. After that, we were left with 15 minutes to finish the fire altar. It was quite rush. Unfortunately, the measurements we took were wrong and hence causing the fire altar to slant to a side. In the end, the zinc plate was unable to fit onto the fire altar. At the end of 25 minutes, we were told to dismantle everything. Next, we were given 10 minutes to redo the whole fire altar, this time however, without the patrol blindfolded. Things were much easier as we could take accurate measurements. Although we had some trouble at first, we managed to fit the zinc plate into the fire altar in the end. When we were done, we set up the fire altar by spreading sand and laying out the kindlings. We then filled up kettles to boil water. Subsequently, we cooked 2 packets of instant noodles. After we finished our food, we proceeded on to dismantle all our previous structures and pack our 配备.

This was indeed a very fulfilling PA, as it really trained on our ability to adapt to different situations. Also, we managed to enjoy our fruits of labour through the food we cooked during Outdoor Cooking. 

P2

Thoughts from a Year 3...

For today's PA, we started out with Firemen's Ladder. We learnt how to build a correct FML in which the base is larger than the top and that the middle 青木 had to be behind the two 红木 while the other two 青木 had to be in front of the 红木. We had to tie our lash tighter as it would be dangerous for the people who are climbing. We also had to 抽 more tightly.  We then managed to try it out. All of us did it even though it was the first try for many of us. It was easy to learn the steps even though it seemed hard at first. But everything came instinctively and we all flipped over. However, we could have  taken a shorter time to complete the FML so there would be more time left for OC. We then proceeded with outdoor cooking.:) We decided to prepare Mac and Cheese. We had to 起 a fire altar in 15 mins but as we 过时 by 5 mins and were unclear of some steps in taking the measurements, we had to pump 20.The measurements were supposed to be taken from the ground and we should take a shorter time to 打进 the four 中木. However, we were all more sure of how to build a fire altar after this 集合。We were given the proposal we had submitted the previous day to allow us to refer. We learnt how to light a more effective fire and sustain it longer. We had to arrange the twigs such that the middle part is pointing upwards, to allow the fire to rise. We could have helped more in sustaining the fire as it was mostly the Y4s who helped us. We then cooked the sauce and boiled the macaroni. Even though the sauce looked weird at first, it became better after it was cooked longer. The macaroni also managed to be cooked by the end of 集合, just in time for us to eat. We cleared up the mess first before we ate the food. However, we could have waited for everyone before we started eating instead. There was in total 3 plates of macaroni! The macaroni tasted nice for the first few mouths but we started getting sick of the taste after we eat too much. The sauce was grainy as it was not cooked long enough. We also barbecued the marshmallows and it tasted delicious.:D We were all satisfied with what we had cooked!:) Even though this was a fun 集合， we still managed to leaned lots of things from it like the building of FML and skills in lighting and sustaining the fire. We could have improved on the attire such as the cutting of nails as it was still an official 集合.

We were first required to build a gadget which proposal is only given to the PL.. The gadget was a another version of a kitchen dresser. As we had never built the structure before, we had difficulty understanding what the PL was instructing us to do. The structure involved a A 架 at a more larger angle compared to the typical tripod built for kitchen dresser. However we tried our best to follow the PL's instructions. However we 报时and cheered very little unless prompted. We could have improved on that towards PLTC. Next we built a eight man tent blind folded  with only the PL and PS allowed fto see. Our progress was very slow even after we were allowed to take out our blind folds. This is unacceptable. However towards the end, we sped up and had a greater sense of urgency. Next, we were told to packed two 配备s, We managed to keep the logistics and packed the 配备 in eight minutes as we helped each other's patrol. We then laid out our logistics. As many logistics were taken for other activities, we had many logistics absent. Hence our layout was incomplete. However we made it within the time limit.  Our PA ends after 拆掉.

P3

Thoughts from a Year 2...

Monday's PA was quite fun. at the start, we had obstacle journey. We had 2 stations. The first one was at Block F, level 3. We did wheelbarrow along the corridor, then we did caterpillar to obtain post it notes on the wall. Subsequently, we had to do lunges back and forth while we took turns to answer the questions on the post-it notes we collected. This station was not very hard and it was a good time to revise our knowledge on survival skills. The second station was at GSL, Level 2. We built an emergency shelter and treated a casualty with an open had wound and fractured left leg. The Year 3s left early, so we, as Year 2s had to take charge. This station was relatively simple and we learnt how to lead instead of relying on the Year 3s. Since we finished the OJ early, we sat down in a circle and practised or lashes. it was a good opportunity to brush up on our lashes and also clarify our doubts. After we had finished practising our lashes, we still had some time, so we decided to play a game, Escape. Overall, this PA was fun.

P4

Thoughts from a Year 3...

Today's PA has two parts with two different Year 3s leading. For the first part, we had to build a fire altar and Joan was the PL while I was the PS. We started off quite well but we could have cheered more consistently and 报时 more. The second part was the lighting and sustaining of the fire. I personally am not very good in outdoor cooking therefore for my part of the PA, we had some trouble. I felt that I, as a PL could have stepped up more and control both fires  as we were all minding our own business. The Year 2s were of great help in teaching the junior the fire lighting. Though our fire was not very successful, my patrol had a great time cooking outdoors and would strive better and do well the next time round preventing those common mistakes to happen again. 

P5

Thoughts from a Year 3...

For our previous patrol activity, we are required to build a kitchen shelter and a fire altar where we can do our outdoor cooking which is specially designed for the Year 3s upcoming combined outdoor cooking. Although we had sufficient time of 45 minutes and manpower as our seniors have offered to help us too, however, unfortunately, we were not able to meet up to our seniors' expectations.

Firstly, we took a long time to 起 the kitchen shelter. This is because we did not have a sense of urgency when laying out and attaching the canvas sheet to the 木. Furthermore, we also did not 顶 the structure properly and the 麻绳 also kept snapping during the 抽-info process. As such, we did not manage to complete the kitchen shelter.

Secondly, for the fire altar, the measurements were not able to fit the zinc plate. Furthermore, the lashes especially the tripod lash is also very loose and the whole structure is unstable. As a result, we had to 重打 part of the structure. However, due to a lack of time, we also did not manage to build a perfect fire altar.

Thirdly, for outdoor cooking, Since we did not have a perfect fire altar, we had to cook on the grass. Fortunately, we are able to complete the task and cook out food.

From this PA, I feel that we have to constantly practice our lashes so that it will be tight and we also have to have a sense of urgency when doing any kind of stuff. Furthermore, from this PA, I feel like I have gained a lot and we, as a patrol, will strive harder with a better sense of urgency so that we can meet the expectations of our seniors.

P6

Thoughts from a Year 3...

For this patrol activity, we had an outdoor cooking session.  Firstly, we had to build a fire altar.  Our patrol started to 打进 4 中木 such that the lengths and widths can accommodate the zinc plate.  On the first try, our structure was slanted and was a bit unstable.  Our patrol leader gave us 10-15 minutes to fix up the structure and make necessary changes; she also reminded us to constantly cheer and 报时. On the second try, we managed to adjust the structure and it was stable.  We had also tried to cheer and 报时 but I believe we could have done better. 

Next, we poured sand on the zinc plate and spread it out evenly. We placed 2 portions of 3 bricks each on top of the sand. Placing the 木麻黄 into a bird nest shape and between the bricks, we lighted the kindling with some matchsticks.  After a while, we managed to sustain both the fires. Meanwhile, our Year 4s and a few Year 3s taught the Year 1s on how to use a 原子炉. 

After all fires were sustained, and the utensils were washed, we started cooking our dishes.  It was a successful patrol activity as we had managed to cook many dishes and different kinds of food, such as: roasted marshmallows with milo powder, noodles with egg and crabmeat, luncheon meat and milo. However, feedback was given from our Year 4s that we were quite disorganized during the cooking of the dishes. I hope that in the future, we will be able to stay more focus and concentrated on one thing at the time.

Overall, it was a really fun patrol activity and we really enjoyed this outdoor cooking session.  I hope that there will be more of these activities in the future.  We will continue to do our best in the upcoming activities. J

P7 and P10

Thoughts from a Year 3...

We first were required to build a gadget which proposal is only given to the PL. The gadget was a another version of a kitchen dresser. As we had never built the structure before, we had difficulty understanding what the PL was instructing us to do. The structure involved a A 架 at a more larger angle compared to the typical tripod built for kitchen dresser. However we tried our best to follow the PL's instructions. However we 报时and cheered very little unless prompted. We could have improved on that towards PLTC. Next we built a eight man tent blind folded with only the PL and PS allowed to see. Our progress was very slow even after we were allowed to take out our blind folds. This is unacceptable. However towards the end, we sped up and had a greater sense of urgency. Next, we were told to packed two 配备s, We managed to keep the logistics and packed the 配备 in eight minutes as we helped each other's patrol. We then laid out our logistics. As many logistics were taken for other activities, we had many logistics absent. Hence our layout was incomplete. However we made it within the time limit. Our PA ends after 拆掉.

Thoughts from a Year 3...

For today's PA, the Year 3s of both P10 and  P7  combined and did a series of things like pitching an 8 man's tent, gadgeting and starting a fire. The juniors were separated from us and they carried their own activities such as building a flagpole. I think we did kind of badly during the first half where we 过时-ed multiple times. This can be improved by having a sense of urgency. Our patrol morale was very low and nobody bothered to 领cheer which should be taken note of for future 集合s even when we don't feel like it.

P8

Thoughts from a Year 2...

For Monday’s Patrol Activity, we were first tasked to take 10 half-bamboos, 10 bamboos, 10 中短木s, 10 中木s, 14 中长木s and 14 长木s, in a time limit of 7 minutes. Then it was revealed that we were going to do creative gadgeting, with the theme of a gateway. This was to redeem ourselves from the previous embarrassment during creative gadgeting; a few weeks ago during the last 集合 of term one. We were given 5 minutes to discuss then were given 40 minutes to tie our gateway. The twist is that the year 4s would also tie their own gateway, at the same time as us; and also that we should aim to tie as many lashes in our gateway as possible. When the 40 minutes started, though we still did not have a concrete plan, we started to tie two tripods with 顶脚s. As time proceeds we eventually came up with an idea, by putting a 长木 on the two tripods then tying P8, made by half-bamboos, onto the 长木. We asked for time extension of 7 minutes and were able to complete our gateway with the time limit. We then 集合, and the year 4s commented on our improvement since the previous creative gadgeting. Following that, we explained our gateway, while the year 4s did so too.

Next, we were told to cha the gateway and return the 木s back to团部 and bring down the flagpole, flag kit and a dome tent. The year 4s taught us how to correctly tie to the flagpole to the ground. Afterwards, due to time constrains, we were only briefly taught how to make a dome tent, and was then told to bring all the logistics up to 团部 again.

We ended off PA by playing paparazzi for about 15 minutes and were then dismissed.

P9

Thoughts from a Year 3...

Today our patrol did outdoor cooking. First, we were given 40 mins in total to tie a fire altar and a creative gadget that can come in aid for our outdoor cooking, basically serving us a platform for cutting of ingredients, etc. etc. We took 25 mins to tie our fire altar which was not bad but just need to take note to tie the 顶脚 lower. We had a hard time thinking of another gadget due to a shortage of gadget poles however we managed to do a modified kitchen dresser. After we did the gadgets, we started with outdoor cooking. We were given 30 minutes to cook and 8 matchsticks to use. However, we didn't know what went wrong with the fire. Once we lighted it onto the 木麻黄, it went off after a while when we tried to blow it. After many many tries, exceeding the target goal of 8 matchsticks, we managed to sustain a fire. We roasted marshmallows and cooked fried rice. It was a fun time to bond with the patrol as we had many difficulties but nevertheless, having many comical moments.

We hope that the Year 1s, 2s and 3s had many takeaways from this session of PA. :)