DHS-psyCOYlogy!: YA Skills Training, 2nd March

Hi Guides!

This week’s 集合 was planned by the Young Adults (YAs) so we had no knowledge about these activities prior to the 集合. We 集合-ed at 2.40pm, as per normal and our first activity was a series of relay races in the form of Physical Training (PT).

Reflection from a Year 3:

I felt that the relay race was a very creative activity to allow the Year 1s to bond more with the seniors and have fun but at the same time, teach them to have a sense of urgency and not leave anyone behind. However, I felt that 4 minutes given to complete the race was way too short, as we could barely finish the first station within the time limit. Although the race did not make use of the hard skills we learnt in Guides, such as lashes, I felt that communication between patrols and the whole 团 was important for us to complete the race in the shortest amount of time possible. We were given a few tries, and between breaks we would give each other advice on how to improve and complete the station more quickly. I felt that the race served more as an icebreaker to let us know the Year 1s better and it was a simple game that was not physically too strenuous.

After which, we were split into our respective batches for batch activity. Here are the respective accounts!

Reflection from a Year 1:

During last Friday's 集合, we had batch activity with our Year 2 seniors. Firstly, we practised on how to tie lashes such as the diagonal and square lashes. As our Year 2 patrol seniors had already roughly taught us how to tie these lashes, us Year 1s managed to finish tying, easily enough when the YA was teaching. After that, we were split into two groups. P1, P2 and P3 were in 1 group and the remaining patrols were in another group. We were then told to build a structure that was used in Guides camps and had a hidden purpose or symbolism. Our group built a few tripods and leaned it against the railings and we also built a ladder-like structure. Our Year 2 seniors then told us that the goal of being bonded together was our destination and these tripods and ladder-like structures are concrete pathways to help us achieve our goal of being bonded as one. However, as everyone one was too carried away in building parts of the structure, some of our water bottles that were left lying around were taken away by our seniors. We were then told that we must always take care of our things, such as 白绳, 木 and gadget poles, because if the senior does takes our logistics away, our group will be unable to continue building, without these important logistics. Overall, it was a fruitful and well spent day with seniors and bonding with other Guides 😆😆

Reflection from a Year 2:

That day’s 集合 was planned by the YAs. First, we had to do PT. It was the first time we did PT together as an entire 团. We cheered as we ran around the GSL and kept the morale high. After that, there were station games. We were split into 3 groups with 2 patrols in each group. The first station was the three-legged race. We had to tie our legs together using pieces of plastic. It was quite hard as the pieces of plastic broke very easily, coupled with the fact that we had to coordinate with so many people. I think through this station, I learnt about teamwork and communication. The second station we went to was the bottle flip station. We had to flip 10 bottles to pass. I think it was quite a fun station and we completed that station quite easily. There was a third station, however, due to lack of time we didn’t get to go to that station. After that, the Year 1s and 2s went to the 2nd floor of the GSL. There, the 2 YAs taught the Year 1s how to tie the different lashes and the Year 2s were there to assist in the teaching. It also served as a lashes recap for the Year 2s. After that, the YAs taught us 礼节, as those were the basics we had to know in Guides. Overall, I think that it was a fun 集合 and fruitful as we got to bond with people from other patrols and our Year 1s.

Reflection from a Year 3:

For the batch activity, we had to split into 2 groups, and 1 group had to do PT while giving instructions to the other group on what to build, every 4 minutes. The other group did not know what they were building. I was in the PT group the first time. We had to give instructions to the other group while doing PT and that was the most difficult part as it was tiring to juggle between both. We would also get irritated when the other group did not understand what we said and we had to repeat it, or when they were doing the wrong thing. The second time, I was in the building group, and I experienced how it felt like to be on the receiving end of the instructions. Sometimes, we did not understand what the instructions were and we would get very frustrated at the other group. Sometimes, both groups would forgot to give and receive instructions at the four minute mark, so our opportunity to construct more of the structure was lost. However, we still managed to complete the structures in the end. After experiencing what it was like to be in both groups, I realised how difficult it is to be in each group and how important teamwork and communication is.

Reflection from a Year 4:

For YA training, we started off by doing a PT relay as a 团 before we did batch activities. The Year 4s then did a suicide run with mattresses, where we were supposed to complete 60 rounds across the MRL in 20 minutes. Even though we did not hit the goal, we were proud that none of us fell out and pushed on for 43 rounds, with everyone putting in their best. We were then given about an hour to design a structure that could represent 50 years of DHSCOY and be put on display at our upcoming 50th Anniversary Campfire, and we completed the creative gadgeting structure within the time limit. During 拆掉, the seniors gave us a surprise inspection where we had to lay out our 拆-ed logistics in two self assigned groups without any further instructions or layouts, while ensuring the number of 木 was equal across the two layouts. We felt proud of our own batch as we were able to complete all these various tasks, and we were actually happy to be able to do such a batch activity, which has become rare after we stepped up as the 领导层. It was extremely heartening to have the whole batch cheer constantly and we could feel that our batch morale was really high. It was definitely a memorable and fun 集合 for all of us, where we felt like we were juniors before :")