For this week's 集合, there was inspection followed by station games!
The overall storyline is as follows:
A new virus has infected the land of Guide-dom and has caused the disappearance of all emotions. The once vibrant and prosperous kingdom is now a barren wasteland. Void of all emotions, there is little to no meaning in your existence. The world is bleak and all hope seems to have been lost as everyone is just a shell of what they once were. Your patrol has thus been tasked to go on a journey to restore these emotions and bring everyone back to their normal lives. While you are engaging with the challenges that will come your way, do take the time to think about what emotion you are in touch with at different checkpoints and their undeniable importance. Good luck!
Inspection
First, patrol inspection was held to introduce the Year 1s to it and allow patrols to check if they had all their logistics. During inspection, there were 2 patrols in a classroom, and they had to layout their 配备 logistics at opposite ends of the classroom within 3 minutes. No layout was provided so both patrols had to standardise with one another. 1 person from each patrol had to step up and lead the inspection. Only the people who were leading could cross the classroom to look at the other patrol’s layout.
For the second layout, a Year 2 from each patrol was to step up and lead. They were to use the same layout as their previous one, but flip it vertically or horizontally.
This is the storyline: Before you set out on this arduous journey to restore emotions to the land of Guide-dom, you will have to check your logistics to ensure that you have everything you need to embark. The journey certainly won’t be easy but according to the national anthem of Guide-dom, you believe that the key to success is to “be prepared”.
Reflection from a Year 2:
Before we started to station games, we had to do inspection. This was the first inspection we did with the year ones so not only did we have to complete the inspection neatly and on time, we also had to teach the year ones what an inspection is. After doing our first layout, we had to do another which was lead by a Year 2 from each patrol where the layout had to be flipped. I feel that this was a good opportunity for us to step up and lead as we could learn how to make decisions on the spot and coordinate and cooperate with the other patrol so both patrols could have an identical layout. We also helped the other patrol after we were done with our layout. Through this inspection, we also could learn how to multitask, effectively working with our patrol to complete the inspection while teaching the Year 1s.
Reflection from a Year 3:
For the first part of 集合, we had inspection. As Year 3s, we were told that no layout would be given and that we would have to standardise our layouts on the spot. Generally, I felt that our layouts were fine but it could have been better as it was a little messy. Next, a Year 2 was asked to step up to see a layout but they were supposed to flip it. I think that both patrols did this layout better and my patrol even completed it before the given time so we went over to help the other patrol. Through this inspection, I feel that we should have included our Year 1s more so that the would have a better understanding of how inspection is like. Another thing is that we could have 报时 more often so that we would be able to keep track of the timing given better. Inspection helps us to increase our sense of urgency and know what we have in our 配备 in order to continue on to the rest of the stations. Lastly, this helped us bond together as a patrol as we worked together and tried our best to give a good layout.
Here are some photos, storylines and reflections of the 6 stations: Joy, Sadness/Rejection, Frustration, Love, Pride, Nostalgia.
Station 1: Joy
In this station, you have been tasked to bring joy back into the world. Your patrol believes that joy comes in many forms, including cultivating friendships and the satisfaction of your achievements. Hence, you will now be participating in a Human Knot. Everyone is to tie a blindfold around their eyes and extend their hands while standing in a circle. The station master will help you to connect your hand with someone else so you will have no idea whose hand you are holding. If you wish to remove your own blindfold, you have to answer a personal question. Once you have answered the question and the station master deems it acceptable, she will help you remove the blindfold. Understand that once you get to know the people around you, the stronger your bond becomes. This station serves to remind Guides that the most joyous moments spent in the CCA are with the people around you.
Reflection from a Year 3:
For the joy station, we were supposed to untangle ourselves from a human knot while blindfolded. at every 2 min mark, one patrol member was allowed to answer a question and remove her blindfold such that it is easier to untangle the human knot. at first, all of us were very confused as to what was going on due to blindfolds and it was extremely difficult to solve it. However, as more member of the patrol started to remove their blindfolds, it became gradually easier as we could actually see the interconnected hands and solving the human knot became easier. When we removed our blindfolds and started to solve the problem, we felt happy as we progressed faster. In addition to that, we also got to know our patrol mates better through the questions asked and that made us feel more bonded as a patrol. Unfortunately, we were unable to solve the human knot, I feel that this may be due to the lack of communication at the start, hence slowing the process of solving the human knot. thus, I feel that we should have communicated better and one of us could have stepped up to lead the solution of the human knot.
Station 2: Sadness/ Rejection
In this station, you will have come across two powerful witches in the woods and you think that they may be able to help you bring emotions back to the land. They agree to help you on one condition. They have been looking for someone to build a dustbin and your patrol has offered to help. You will be given a piece of paper and a pen and 5 minutes to plan for this dustbin and after every 2 minutes, you are to share your idea with the witches and get their approval before moving on. You should plan to finish the dustbin in 17 minutes. One should not forget the presence of negative emotions in life as they are crucial for self-development too. This station is meant to nitpick on every one of your flaws, even if they are not particularly there, as the main point was to allow you all to experience rejection.
Reflection from a Year 3:
During Friday’s station games, we participated in 6 stations that represented one emotion. In which, one of the station would be sadness/rejection. For the sadness/rejection station, we had to plan a structure that could serve as a dustbin. At first, I was intimidated by the demands set out by the seniors as they rejected our proposal of doing up a cube. We changed it to an hour glass that we found out much later that it was not a feasible idea. Through this station, I have realised the importance of knowing how to deal with sadness and rejection. The station was an ingenious way to allow us to understand those emotions and allowed us to learn from there. This had made me realise that our guiding journey would not be a perfect, smooth-sailing one and that we would always face sadness and rejection along the way. From those sadness and rejection, we can learn and emerge to be better leaders. However, through the station, I have also realised that our lashes were not that tight and it took us 10 minutes to tie a square, which was disappointing. This was due to the lack of sense of urgency and patrol morale and we should work from that. Overall, the station was interesting and it has indeed taught me many values within the short period of time spent there.
Station 3: Frustration
To continue onto the next part of your journey, the patrol has to cross a magical bridge to restore the next emotion. However, the trolls living under the bridge refuse to let the patrol unless they can complete a task. They challenge the patrol to split into 2 groups of equal Y1s, Y2s and Y3s to build 2 perfect tripods complete with 定脚s. This means that dimensions have to be 100% standardised and lashes have to be up to standard. You are to accomplish this in 20 minutes and as the troll is very picky, if one of the two tripods does not meet the requirements mentioned above, you are to 拆掉 and retie them until the trolls are satisfied. This station is a clear representation of a very prominent scene in Guides, where seniors stress on the importance of up-to-standard structures and lashes to the point where juniors may forget the rationale behind it, and they may feel frustrated. However, they will understand from this station that it is exactly the frustration that keeps them going to pursue excellence.
Reflection from a Year 3:
During Friday’s station games, one of the stations that we had participated in was “Frustration”. This station required us to split ourselves into three groups, where each group had to build an A-架 with 定角s. However, all of our measurements had to be standardised. The most frustrating thing about this station was that we had to redo all three of our A-架s if there was any mistake or difference in measurements. This station has definitely taught me many things such as how sometimes, although tying lashes and building structures may be frustrating, we should still try to persevere by seeing frustration as a motivation, instead of giving up. My patrol had to redo the A-架s countless times as our lashes were not of the same height. We did not manage to go on to the 定角s as we were working on the A-架s for the whole duration. Although that was disappointing, I think that that one good thing that we did was to constantly cheer, which had played a part in boosting our patrol morale and is what helped us overcome the frustration that we felt. We also did 报时, which was what helped us to make sure that we had a great sense of urgency throughout the activity. Thus, although my patrol did not manage to accomplish this station, we were still proud that we did not let frustration get the better of us and instead used it to motivate ourselves to work better and faster.
Station 4: Love
After a long journey, your patrol has reached a land surrounded by a magical fog that only the purest of hearts can pass. Hence, you are to show love to prove that you are worthy to continue on your path. Love used to be prevalent in many aspects of our lives but with the new virus, people’s hearts have been wiped clean of love. Humans are no longer able to feel or appreciate one another’s love. You will have to instill love back into society and ensure that everyone is able to feel appreciated once again. You will have to each choose one member of your patrol to show your love to and choose 1 out of 2 love languages to express your love (acts of service, words of affirmation). In the meantime, the patrol will build two shoe racks for 18 minutes and have to secretly carry out your acts of love. At the end of the station, everyone has to guess who their love angel is and what their action was.
Patrol members had to show acts of love and kindness to one another, while building 2 shoe racks. In our Guiding journey, there are many small actions that the people around us do and although we do not always recognise them, they are there. We should therefore learn to appreciate others who have accompanied us through this journey.
Reflection from a Year 3:
For last Friday's love station, I personally find it very meaningful. During normal guides session, we often forget to show our love to one another and just focus on the task we are given. However, this should not be the case. We should be constantly showing our love to one another despite how busy we are. The love station thus reminded us to say words of encouragement or do acts of service to show our love to the people around us. In that station, we were given one person to show our love to. Throughout the process of building the shoe rack, besides focusing on building the shoe rack quickly and efficiently, I also had to constantly look out for the person I was assigned to and show my love to her. Although it was hard to carry out these two tasks together, I found that I learnt a very valuable lesson. From that station, I have thus learnt the importance of showing our love to one another and the two ways of doing so.
Station 5: Pride
After a long day of travelling, your patrol has decided to make camp with a tribe called 德明女童军 for the night. However, you suddenly receive alarming news from the tribe's spies. An enemy of the tribe is quickly approaching your borders! Your patrol and the tribe scramble to set up defenses but end up falling out due to disagreements. Both parties are unwilling to compromise and the patrol decides to build a structure to hide from the enemy for yourself only using only the materials you have (配备 and 1 box of 白绳).
You realise that it is simply impossible to build a strong defense alone. The patrol knows they cannot succeed alone and decides to swallow their pride and apologise and cooperate with the tribe. The tribe shares their logistics to hide away from invaders. You only have 15 minutes left before the enemy arrives. Hurry!
As the patrols realise it is nearly impossible to build the wall, they will have to learn to put differences aside and work together with others for the greater good of all.
At station 5, the pride station, at first we were told to build a wall out of our logistics in our 配备. We wanted to tie rubber mallet and 青头 to the chairs, but we did not succeed. In the end, we put aside our pride and seek help from the wizards. With only our logistics in our 配备, it was impossible to build a stable wall. Hence, we had to borrow logistics from the wizards. We placed 中长木s in the middle hole of two chairs and connected it to the 脚s of the chairs using 中木. Then, we connected the poncho to the 中长木s using 八字结 and clove hitch. I felt that our patrol was creative in coming up with that idea and our idea was conveyed clearly within our patrol members to take action on. Our poncho was taut and structure was stable. From this station, we learnt that in Guides, we should not be afraid to ask for help if needed. We should put aside our pride and seek help from others if necessary to achieve a better outcome. We should work together as one, look out for one another, and help one another in need.
Station 6: Nostalgia
Your patrol has reached a pitch-black forest and upon entering it, you realise your memories of one another are distorted, but every now and then you touch something and it awakens and unlocks some of your deepest memories. To rediscover your old memories of one another, take a journey further down this mysterious forest and find a total of 6 Guides-related items, to which every item corresponds to a piece of a picture you will receive. Only when you have all 6 pieces of the picture, will you be able to receive your memories back. The whole patrol will hold onto 1 piece of 麻绳 and crawl in 1 line while moving around. You will not be allowed to let go of the 麻绳 lest the shadows in the darkness claim you. Stay close together and stay safe, but be quick, you only have 6 minutes! After finding all the pieces of the puzzle, you will now have to piece everything together to unlock the code to receive your memories back. Hurry, you only have 12 minutes left before your memories are lost to the darkness forever!
Each patrol had to crawl under the maze (classroom tables) and find the 6 logistics, and use the riddles to receive parts of the picture that they had to piece together.
Reflection from a Year 3:
At the nostalgia station, we worked quite well together. Although we had to each hold on to a part of the 麻绳, it did not hinder us much. We still managed to find all the 6 items and did not 过时. Through the maze, we made all the right decision and tried our best to be as fast as possible and that contributed to the fact that we did not 过时. However, we could have 报时 more so as to better keep track of time. This was quite difficult to do as we were in a dark room and it was quite difficult to see the time on our watches. Once we got out of the room, we had to solve the riddles on the paper. We worked together and managed to solve the riddles to get the code. Through this station, I realised the importance of nostalgia. Nostalgia makes us remember the memorable moments in guides and encourage us to press on and not give up although it might be tireless and there seem to be no end to it. Through this station, we also managed to get more bonded as a patrol.
Published by:
Heather
51st Batch Secretary
