Year 2s Batch Activity
For the Year 2s, we were give 7 minutes to get our logistics from 团部 that were
needed to build a baggage rack, a kitchen dresser, a fire altar and a shoe
rack. I felt that we were rather disorganised despite managing to get the
logistics needed within the given time, as we were not very sure of the 木 needed to
build the standard structures and were rather confused.
We were then given 3 ½ minutes to each tie a square lash and another 4
minutes to tie a diagonal lash. However, some of us were not too sure about the
diagonal lash and only managed to finish with a time extension of 1 minute.
After that, one of our batchmates demonstrated and explained the diagonal lash
to us, ensuring that all of us understood. We were then told to retie our
diagonal lashes within 4 ½ minutes. Through the first part of the activity, I
felt that we should better familiarise ourselves with both our lashes, as well
as the standard structures. Besides that, I feel that we should clarify with
our seniors when we are unsure of anything and not just keep quiet.
After which, we were given 40 minutes to build a baggage rack, an indoor
fire altar and a kitchen dresser, which we then split ourselves into 3 groups
so as to be more efficient. Approximately 5 minutes later, we realised that we
had insufficient 木 to build
all three structures. At that point in time, we were given 2 minutes to look at
the proposals and to figure out the amount of 木 we were short of and then given 7 minutes to get whatever we needed.
After 2 of us from each group got all the necessary logistics, we quickly
continued with the building of our various structures. I felt that throughout
that time, we all learnt to work together and to have effective communication
so as to ensure that the structures are built accordingly. What made me feel
motivated was that we all helped each other out and we stepped out of our
comfort zones and attempted in asking when we were lost, instead of silently
doing what we thought was right.
However, I feel that we could have worked with a higher sense of urgency
as we had to ask for a time extension of 7 minutes to finish up our structures.
Fortunately, our structures were rather stable and turned out rather well!
Lastly, I better understood the various standard structures as well as their
uses through understanding the building process and the common mistakes made
that we should take note so as to avoid them the next time round, such as the
rationale behind tying the square lashes up to down or down to up so as to
avoid overlapping them. Overall, I believe that we all learnt a lot be it
communication skills, or the rationale of the lashes!
Year 3s Batch Activity
All
of us felt a little afraid and worried about what was going to happen during
this year's leadership training, as we knew that the YAs would be judging our
performance based on it. At the start of j集合, the YAs told us to separate into
our batches. I was quite surprised that we were going to do the activity in our
own batch, as previous leadership trainings had been by patrol and usually been
either OJ (obstacle journey) or Physical Training (PT) etc.
Firstly,
we were tasked to bring down a specific amount of mu which the YAs read out to
us. After bringing down the mu, the YAs passed a proposal to one of the Y3s, and
instructed us to build a mini kitchen using gadget poles in 40minutes. We were
also allowed to make amendments to the proposal so as to improve the
structure. At first, all of us were at a loss and the entire situation
was very chaotic. All of us were trying our best to take a look at the proposal
and we spent the first few minutes shouting at one another to take a specific
number of mu to build the main frame.
After
calming down and being more familiar with the proposal, we started work on the
main frame. A few of us stepped back to take a look at the structure as a whole
and to give the necessary comments to the rest of our batchmates. We then 起-ed the
main frames and started to build the 顶脚s to the structure. However, many of us
had different opinions and views as to how we should tie the 顶脚s and we all
tried to voice out our thoughts. Personally, after thinking back on this, i
feel that although it was good of us to step up, we should not all have been so
focused on voicing out our views without listening to each other's opinions as
well. This made the situation very messy and noisy as all of us were literally
just shouting at one another and trying to rebut each other's
suggestions.
Although
we went through many challenges in the building of our structure, we finally
managed to finish building it successfully. The YAs then gave us feedback and
comments and gave us 20minutes to rebuild the structure again, but this time
with more improvements based on their suggestions previously.
We
were surer of ourselves this time and the process was smoother than before.
However, like previously, we were all very rash and wanted to get the structure
done without thinking carefully about how we were going to go about doing it.
We thus made many mistakes and had to 拆掉 some of the things which we had
already built. We still managed to add some improvements to the structure
though. Overall, I think this activity was a very enriching experience for me
as I not only learnt how to step up, but also to think carefully about how to
build the structure before just diving head first into it.
Year 2s & 3s Combined
Activity
For
the second part of the YA leadership training, the Year 2s and 3s had to work
together to build various structures. The purpose of this was to train our
communication skills as well as train the Year 3s to be able to lead the Year
2s.
We
were given a total time of 7 minutes to check that we had the required gadget
poles and to go to 团部 to retrieve the necessary items from our 小队箱.
Through cooperation and teamwork, we managed to finish checking the logistics
before the time was up. Thereafter, the YAs instructed us to build a fire
altar, kitchen dresser, clothes line and baggage rack all linked together. In
addition, we also had to build three emergency shelters. We were then given 5
minutes to discuss our strategy.
In
the 5 minutes, we decided that P1 and 2 work together to build the baggage rack
and clothes line, P3, 4 and 5 work together to build the fire altar and the
kitchen dresser, whereas P6 build the three emergency shelters.
We
were then given 40 minutes to build the various structures. However, as we were
too engrossed in building, we forgot to constantly cheer and 报时.
Our overall sense of urgency was also very slow and could definitely be
improved on. After 10 minutes, the YAs called us to 集合 and pointed these
things out. Our time was then cut short and we had until 35 minutes to complete
everything. The YAs also told us to 起 two flagpoles and a
dome tent. After break off, P6 who was done with the three emergency shelters,
helped to 起 the flagpole and tent while the rest of us carried
on with our assigned tasks. Our sense of urgency and morale were greatly
improved.
Halfway
through, the YAs called three people, including myself out and told us that we
could not talk and could only cheer, 报时 and tell others that
we could not talk. This was a difficult task as we had to control ourselves
from talking and at the same time, lead and give instructions to the rest.
When
35 minutes was up, we all 集合-ed even though certain
things were not yet completed. I feel that instead of doing so, we should have
asked for time extension and not give up by leaving things uncompleted. We were
then given an extra 5 minutes to finish the structures up, which we managed to
do so. We were then given time to 拆掉 everything and return
all logistics to 团部.
Overall,
I feel that our sense of urgency could be improved and our morale could be
higher. As Year 3s, we should also take note to not leave the Year 2s alone to
do things but should always be there to take charge and lead them. Through this
activity, I learnt that communication at the very beginning is very important
and we should not blindly jump into completing the assigned task.
Year 4 Batch Activity
For
YA leadership training, our batch had attire check at first. If the person on
our right was told that their attire was not standard, we had to pump for them.
I think that this activity was quite meaningful as our batchmates will learn
how to take responsibility to wear standard attire and feel bad for the people
pumping for them. After that, we went to 集合 outside 团部. We were then given 5 min
to label everything in our 小队箱。 We found out that many of the logistics in our 小队箱 was not labeled so we had to ask for time
extension. We asked for time extension twice and we also helped other patrols
to label their stuff. After that, we were told to shift all our stuff in our 小队箱 to other 小队箱 s according to the
layout the YAs told us. We were given 20min and as we had extra time after
that, we thought that the YAs gave us so much time for a reason. So we went to
memorise the layout of our 小队箱 and even did a stock
check. We later found out that it was redundant as the YAs gave us so much time
for us to make everything look neater. Then, they told us a layout to put our
stuff. So we had to take out everything again and rearrange our stuff. We also
tried to standardise among all the patrols. However, it was not very neat and
standardised as the shelves of our 小队箱 are of different levels and
thus, some patrols have not enough space to put their stuff. Then, we are asked
to level all the shelves in 小队箱 and were made to pack
wisely and make it neater. After which, we 集合-ed in 团部 and had a really long
debrief on the rationales of why the YAs made us do such an unconventional
activity to train our communication skills and teamwork. This activity was very
different from what we usually do and we did not expect to do this for YA
training. All in all, we still learned the importance of teamwork in a batch
even though we would have preferred to have more physical activities.
This week’s 集合was indeed something unexpected and
different the usuals! We still hope that everyone was able to benefit in one
way or another!
Cheers,
Michelle
47th Batch Secretary
Michelle
47th Batch Secretary
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