Skills Training, 17 August 2018

Hello Guides!

For this 集合, due to other activities going on, the Year 1s arrived later while the Year 3s left earlier, entrusting the rest of the 集合 to the Young Adults(YAs). This 集合 had the objectives of improving the Year 2’s confidence in making decisions, ensuring the both the Year 1s and 2s had basic pioneering skills and improving their sense of urgency, adaptability and creativity.

Creative Pioneering

The Year 2s were split into three different groups. Each group had to build 1 structure related to the theme “Playground”. When building, the Year 2s would not know what the structures were except for the Patrol Leaders and Patrol Seconds, who were able to look at the drawings to instruct their group mates. It was originally planned that every once in a while, the Year 2s had to complete some tasks, though that idea was scrapped due to time constraints. After completing their structures, they would form a playground and the groups could take turns playing in each other’s structures, but as time was limited, after the structures were completed, the groups proceeded to 拆掉.

Suggested monkey bar

Suggested slide

Suggested swing

Allocation of manpower:

Group 1 (Monkey bar)	Group 2 (Slide)	Group 3 (Swing)
Klare (PL) Elizabeth (PS) Si Qi Shao Xian Le Xin Willyn	Nicole (PL) Rachelle (PS) Li Wen Charmaine Heather Yu Ning Jing Wen	Kor Xuan (PL) Novelle (PS) Xi Yin Shayna Iris Hui Ru Yu Tong
Zhi Wei (I/C) ShuYi Ching Hwee Danyelle Jiayi Ruilin Yu Ning Tammy Chen Xi	Raenn Cheryl Valance Yitong Zhi Ruo Valene Wan Li Yi Jing Ling Ying	Yuen Ning (I/C) Xing Tian Joey Raeann Lydia Lois Swen Venice

Tasks:

Time when issued	Criteria
10min	Year 2s to come up with 3 short-term goals (to be achieved by ATC) and 2 long-term goals (to be achieved by PLTC) and share them with the Year 3s at the end of the activity
20min	1 person from each group will become a casualty and sustain the below injuries. Year 2s will have to complete the tasks below. Group 1: Heat stroke (State symptoms and treatment) Group 2: Laceration (State treatment and difference between laceration, abrasion and puncture) Group 3: Open fracture with protruding bone (Demonstrate treatment)
25min	1 person from each group to list out 5 types of transportation of casualty
30min	1 person from each group to decipher the trekking signs shown below
35min	Bear attack! Year 2s will have to stop doing everything and crouch on the ground until I/Cs tell them that the bear has left
40min	1 person from each group to state 3 other heat sources and the difference between tinder and kindlings
45min	1 person from each group to state 5 sources of water and 3 types of edible plants

Reflection by the Year 2s:

Last Friday, we had creative pioneering and were split into three different groups to build separate structures. I was in group one along with 4 to 5 other guides. The structure we were building was a monkey bar. Initially, the assigned PL and PS were a little confused and flustered seeing as it was their first time leading a group and I was too as the rest of us had no idea what we were going to build at first. When building the structure, I felt that I could've tied faster with a greater sense of urgency seeing as we were already overrunning. In addition, I felt that I should learn how to un结 the 结d masheng quickly so that I would be more efficient, instead of asking my friend to help me un结 it sometimes. I personally felt a little frustrated and disappointed in myself for not 照顾ing the logistics properly as the seniors was able to kup our box of masheng twice. We all have a responsibility in looking after our things as they are necessary when building structures. After about an hour of building, we were done. However, I was a little disappointed when the structure was not sturdy and would 垮 when no one is supporting it and that we had no time to try out our structure (though it probably wouldn't be safe). I learnt a lot from building this structure as I firstly learnt to take initiative by asking my PL and PS what to do and helping my batchmates out instead of zuobouing. Secondly I learnt to work under pressure and stay calm instead of freaking out and lastly, I learnt to tie lashes tightly and quickly.

On Friday's 集合, we started off with pioneering. I was assigned to be the PS of Group 2. It was my first time leading, so I had no idea what to do. As someone who usually follows instructions,  I found it hard to be a PS as i had to give instructions to my group members when they come up to me to ask what to do next. I made lots of mistakes which the seniors pointed out, and as time went by, I got better at being a PS. The PL and PS were given a proposal, in my case, we had to build a slide. We were not allowed to show our other members the proposal, so we had to think ahead and instruct what to build first accordingly. It wasn't easy for me, since I could not really tell which was the main frame. All in all, I feel that this experience as a PS is a rather fruitful one, since I got the chance to lead and learn from my mistakes.

For Fridays 集合, we were split into 3 groups .and we were supposed to make playground equipment. I was in group 3 and we were supposed to make a swing. All the PLs and PS were more soft spoken people in our group and the seniors wanted to give a chance to lead their groups. At first, our patrol only had 5 people as many people were absent. Due to shortage of manpower, another person transferred into our patrol. Only the PL and PS were allowed to see the proposal for the structure so in order to complete the structure, so it required good communication and organisation to get the structure up. We were supposed to 起 the mainframe by 15 minutes but we were unable to do so. We took 30 minutes to 起 the structure and got scolded by the seniors. After that, we only had 30 to 45 minutes to complete the rest of the structure. As expected, we weren't able to do so and thus got scolded by the seniors and had to do forfeits. After that we reflected on our mistakes and I realised that we were working quite slowly without a sense of urgency. Byt the end of the 集合, we only managed to finish building the mainframe with 顶脚 and diagonals. However, one good part was that the PL and PS gave clear instructions but we were working too slowly. In conclusion, we did not really perform up to expectation but I think that with more practice and better leadership skills, we can do much better for future 集合s.

Activity with YAs

After the creative pioneering, the Year 3s had to leave for an event, while the Year 1s just arrived for 集合. The YAs then took over the roles of the Year 3s for the rest of the 集合.

Reflection from a Year 2:

During the activity with the YAs on Friday’s 集合, we first retrieved logistics from 团部. As we 过时ed, we had to ask for a time extension as not all of us had returned to the Media Resource Library. we were then split into 4 groups, and each group had to do an inspection layout. when we first started, there was no fixed layout and we had to standardise the layout amongst our own groups. We took a long time, and the rows of items were still not neat and standardised. At times when the given time was almost up, we did not ask for time extensions, and we only realised when the YAs had to remind us. Next, a layout was handed out, and I had to give instructions about the layout from the piece of paper given. At first, I was quite worried as I was unsure of whether I could properly convey the message and layout to my batch mates properly. However, I was encouraged by them and I tried my best to give clear instructions and speak loudly. However, we still had to ask for a time extension, and we tried to ensure that we we would have enough time left to ask for a time extension by asking a few people from each group to take note of when the time given was almost up. When we had finished the layout, the YAs inspected it and gave feedback. We were asked on how we would respond if our Year 1s gave us such a layout, what we thought we did well on and what we could improve on. We said that we could have made rows more distinct and neat, and standardise certain parts of the layouts such as whether labels were to be faced up or lids of First Aid Pouch and survival kit were to be opened or closed. The feedback given was that it was overall not very standardised across the four groups and that we should 照顾好人and东西 to prevent them from being kapped. Overall, I think the YAs gave us good advice and that we should improve our standard as we are already Year 2s. I think we should also ask for time extension before we 过时 and decide how long the time extension should be before requesting for it from the senior, however we should not ask for too long a time extension if we do not need it.

Hope that everyone has learnt something new from this 集合!

Published by:

Yu Ning

50th Batch Secretary