Hi Guides!
For this 集合, only the Year 3s and 4s were present as the Year 1s and 2s went to attend the Total Defence Bronze and Silver Badge Programmes, respectively. This 集合 aimed to train the Year 3s’ sense of urgency to make sure that they hit the standard time for standard structures, promote teamwork among batchmates, as well as test their adaptability, creative thinking and Guides skills.
The Year 3s were divided into 3 groups. Each group had to build 1 Kitchen Shelter (KS). They were given a maximum of 3 tries. This was to ensure that the they hit the standard time for the construction of the KS (40 minutes) before they go for Patrol Leaders’ Training Camp (PLTC), or at least achieve a timing near to that of 40 minutes.
Reflections from two Year 3s:
For 集合, we had the chance to build our KS three times. We were given 1 hour the first time and the time would be cut down to 50 minutes and 45 minutes the second and third time respectively. When we finally retrieved our canvas sheet, we were 5 minutes behind everyone so we had to work really quickly. However, everyone was working rather slowly and we took 10 minutes just to tie the lashes, as they were too loose. Hence, we had to do a forfeit in the form of Physical Training (PT) activities. After that, when we got the KS up, we worked at a much faster pace. However, we were only left with a little more to complete when the 1 hour was up. Because most of the groups did not finish in time, we had to build the KS again. The second time, everything went much more smoothly as we were more familiar with the steps and we learnt from our previous mistakes when we built the previous KS. However, one problem was that we did not take good care of our logistics and we had to keep asking for them back from the seniors, who had taken them away. Nonetheless, all of the patrols managed to finish their KS in 50 minutes the second time. Everyone was very happy and proud that we finished in time. Overall, I really think that this activity helped me to build my KS more quickly and efficiently.
Friday’s 集合 was pretty manageable for my group and I was glad that we were all able to work well with one another even though most of us came from different patrols. The 集合 also gave us an opportunity to improve ourselves so that we were able to meet the standard timing of building a KS before PLTC. Instead of simply building a KS, Friday’s 集合 taught us the importance of time management and gave us a better sense of urgency. For our first try, our group was doing quite well until our 麻绳 broke when we were 抽-ing. As a result, this led to us exceeding the timing we were given, which was a pity. Hence, for our second try, our group tried to work faster and refrained from using the thinner 麻绳 so that we would not encounter the same problem again. Although we still could not meet the standard timing of 40 minutes, I still felt a sense of satisfaction for managing to build our KS more quickly than our first try. This made me realise that we are all capable of doing better as long as we push ourselves further and learn from the mistakes we previously made. Additionally, since there was no Patrol Leader (PL) or Patrol Second (PS) allocated, it allowed all of us to be free to step up and look at the bigger picture. Hence, Friday’s 集合 was relatively different from the usual 集合s we normally have as instead of being reliant on the PS and PL for instructions, it gave all of us a chance to take more initiative.
After which, the Year 3s proceeded on to Creative Gadgeting. They were asked to describe their batch in 2 words, which would be the theme for creative gadgeting. They were given 30 minutes to discuss and build 2 structures that related to the theme they chose.
Reflection from a Year 3:
After the building of the Kitchen Shelter, we 集合-ed at the GSL to proceed with the Creative Gadgeting activity. We were first told to come up with two words that we thought represented our batch, before being given 30 minutes to come up with two structures that represented the words we chose and subsequently, build them. While a few people went to 团部 to gather logistics, the rest of us stayed at the GSL to finalise the structures and split the batch for the construction of the structures. Afterwards, one more person went to 团部 to inform them of the logistics needed. The batch was then split into two groups, with two patrols working on ‘caring’ and the other four patrols working on ‘bonded’. For the latter, while the tripod needed for the structure was being tied, the other Guides gathered the specific gadget poles for the structure and prepared to raft them onto the tripod or tie the 顶脚. However, due to having four patrols working on the same structure at once, it was difficult to carry instructions across due to the noise. In addition, during the building of the structures, at least two people were told by the seniors, that for one of the structures, there had to be two features present, but it could not be communicated to the rest of the batch and as a result, the instruction was not fulfilled. Furthermore, during the building of the structures, a box of 白绳 was taken by the seniors, which would have been detrimental had we not have two boxes of 白绳, but it still reflected badly on our ability to take good care of our belongings. After our structures were checked, it was found that many lashes on the structures were loose, to the point where the feature for the ‘caring’ structure had already fallen apart, the rafting was not secure and one of the tripods had an incomplete lash. At the very end of the activity, after we had returned the logistics to 团部, we had to perform a forfeit of jumping jacks for all the logistics that were taken during the building of the structures. Overall, although there was ample 报时 during the entire process, we still need to improve on our communication with each other, as it is very important, especially in large groups, to relay messages or instructions which will affect the building of our structures. In addition, we have to learn to take good care of our belongings as every one of them is essential, even if it is not needed at the moment. However, the most important part is the tightness of our lashes, as if they are too loose the whole structure could collapse and we would have to rebuild the entire structure from scratch. The collapse of the structure is especially dangerous when using spars, which are heavy and could injure those near the structure. Hence, we have to take care when tying future structures to ensure that they do not collapse and cause injury, as well as look after our logistics at all times and practise our general communications skills with each other.
After the building of the Kitchen Shelter, we 集合-ed at the GSL to proceed with the Creative Gadgeting activity. We were first told to come up with two words that we thought represented our batch, before being given 30 minutes to come up with two structures that represented the words we chose and subsequently, build them. While a few people went to 团部 to gather logistics, the rest of us stayed at the GSL to finalise the structures and split the batch for the construction of the structures. Afterwards, one more person went to 团部 to inform them of the logistics needed. The batch was then split into two groups, with two patrols working on ‘caring’ and the other four patrols working on ‘bonded’. For the latter, while the tripod needed for the structure was being tied, the other Guides gathered the specific gadget poles for the structure and prepared to raft them onto the tripod or tie the 顶脚. However, due to having four patrols working on the same structure at once, it was difficult to carry instructions across due to the noise. In addition, during the building of the structures, at least two people were told by the seniors, that for one of the structures, there had to be two features present, but it could not be communicated to the rest of the batch and as a result, the instruction was not fulfilled. Furthermore, during the building of the structures, a box of 白绳 was taken by the seniors, which would have been detrimental had we not have two boxes of 白绳, but it still reflected badly on our ability to take good care of our belongings. After our structures were checked, it was found that many lashes on the structures were loose, to the point where the feature for the ‘caring’ structure had already fallen apart, the rafting was not secure and one of the tripods had an incomplete lash. At the very end of the activity, after we had returned the logistics to 团部, we had to perform a forfeit of jumping jacks for all the logistics that were taken during the building of the structures. Overall, although there was ample 报时 during the entire process, we still need to improve on our communication with each other, as it is very important, especially in large groups, to relay messages or instructions which will affect the building of our structures. In addition, we have to learn to take good care of our belongings as every one of them is essential, even if it is not needed at the moment. However, the most important part is the tightness of our lashes, as if they are too loose the whole structure could collapse and we would have to rebuild the entire structure from scratch. The collapse of the structure is especially dangerous when using spars, which are heavy and could injure those near the structure. Hence, we have to take care when tying future structures to ensure that they do not collapse and cause injury, as well as look after our logistics at all times and practise our general communications skills with each other.
Hope that the Year 3s have truly learnt something from this 集合 :)
Published By:
Arielle
49th Batch Secretary
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