Patrol Activity, 5 May 2023

 Hi Guides!

Today we had Patrol Activity and here are some reflections from our Year 3s!

Reflection from a Year 3 in P1:

On 5 May, we had our Patrol Activity. For my patrol, we had a joint Patrol Activity with Patrol 4. We had to build a stable structure that would secure our flag and make the flag as difficult for the other patrol to capture as possible. Then, we were given water guns to “wage war” on the other patrol, and whoever was shot would have to go to “jail”, which was the elevated platform for a minute. Before building our structure, we were given time to discuss what kind of structure we’d make. When discussing, I think we should have involved our Year 1s more, and been more creative with our ideas. We also should have thought that we could have made our structure more complicated, given the amount of time we were given to build the structure. Something I think we did well would be that during logistics collection, my patrol worked fast and managed to finish collecting our logistics faster than the given time. When building the structure, we could have had a better sense of urgency, because our structure was quite simple, but we took quite long to finish. We also could have 报时 more, because our seniors had to keep prompting us to 报时. During the game, I had so much fun and I believe everyone in both patrols did too. My patrol worked together very well, and I can confidently say that this was definitely one of the sessions I would remember for a long time. 

Reflection from a Year 3 in P2:

During Patrol Activity (PA), my patrol did Creative Gadgeting of a drawbridge. We did a modified version of a drawbridge that the Year 4s did during their Patrol Leaders Training Camp (PLTC). I was the Patrol Leader (PL) of that activity and I was in charge of looking at the picture and making sure that the drawbridge was built correctly. Although it was quite successful and well functioning, I do think that we could have had a better sense of urgency instead of being distracted a lot. I also think that we should have 报时-ed and cheered more often to boost morale. The second activity we did was to make an interactive gadgeting structure with something significant to our patrol. We built a modified baggage rack with a horizontal at the top of the two A-架s. We attached a PVC pipe to the horizontal on top and tied a flower with bamboo on the PVC pipe to make it interactive. I think we could have worked a lot faster and made the gadget slightly more innovative. However, overall, I had a very enjoyable experience during this PA session especially since this is the last PA we will be having with the Year 4s. 

Reflection from a Year 3 in P3:

On 5 May, we had combined Patrol Activity with Patrol 5, and we did Station Games. At the First Station, we did Creative Gadgeting of a treasure chest, in line with the pirate-themed storyline for the Station Games that day. I feel that during the Creative Gadgeting, I could have stepped up more and allocated manpower better, as there were many zuo bos due to the increased manpower. In the end, the structure was also slanted as we did not build the frames correctly from the start. Overall, there was much to improve on for this Creative Gadgeting. Mainly, we definitely could have paid better attention to detail. At the next station, we recapped how to start a fire. Some important points to note was that the newspaper had to be fully wet, in order to prevent fire hazards due to the embers from the signal fire. Afterwards, there was a station which incorporated Guides Knowledge and Physical Training. Through this entire Patrol Activity, I got a chance to bond with the other patrols besides my own, and also a reminder to brush up on my Guides Knowledge, especially on trekking signs. In the end, we even received drinks from the seniors, which was really relaxing after the fun-filled Station Games. 

Reflection from a Year 3 in P4:

This Friday’s Patrol Activity (PA) was one of the most fun I have experienced before. We combined with P1, and each was told to build a Creative Gadgeting Flagpole. One of my juniors had been in Gadgeting committee for Orientation Preparation (OP), so she knew one way to tie a Creative Flagpole. I found that quite fortunate and was glad our patrol could make use of each others’ strengths to work together. We also learnt a new structure which we would not have learnt otherwise. While building the 

Flagpole, I think we did a good job of allocating manpower, but definitely could have 报时d and cheered more to raise morale.

Then came the most exciting part; we hid our Flagpoles at two ends of the block, and had to capture the other patrol’s flag while armed with water guns. This activity was very creative and certainly raised our patrol’s sense of unity and teamwork as we were actively working against another patrol. It also allowed us to strategise and communicate in ways we would not have in regular CCA sessions. Although P1 came close and took our Flagpole, neither patrol manage to get the others’ flag. Either way, this PA was both fun and fruitful, and I hope we can do similar activities in the future.

Reflection from a Year 3 in P5:

During our last Patrol Activity Session, we played Station Games as a Patrol and we started off with the Gadgeting station. We had combined patrols with Patrol 3 and had to tie the Creative Gadgeting structure together, the treasure chest. Originally, there was some miscommunication and some measurements were not taken properly which resulted in a few 飞脚s. However, we eventually managed to overcome our difficulties by thinking out of the box and using the frame with the 飞脚s as our base frame. Afterwards, we followed the treasure map up to GSL level 2 to start our own fire. We learnt how to extinguish the fire properly as well as the proper disposal method of our wet newspapers and 木麻黄. Following that, we went to the hostel to find different post-it notes that gave us different tasks to finish up. There was a few post-it notes testing our knowledge on Guides Notes as well as post-it notes that required us to do Physical Training and the singing of our Guides Songs. Through all of these activities, not only did we bond more with our patrol mates, we also managed to bond more with our batchmates from P3. This last Patrol activity has allowed us to get to know each other better and develop better synergy with one another.

Reflection from a Year 3 in P6:

On 5th of May, we had our last Patrol Activity. Our Patrol Activity was something akin to Station Games. Throughout the whole CCA session, we were tested on our Guides' knowledge and given the opportunity to teach our Y1s more about the hard skills that we learn in Guides. Throughout the session, we had to use our orienteering skills to get from one location to another, giving us the opportunity to teach our Y1s about orienteering. In the first station, we had to build a Flagpole. During the construction, I feel that we could have definitely improved on our sense of urgency and also prioritize getting the Flagpole up instead of 升ing the 旗. That way we could have finished the Flagpole faster. We also could have 照顾好人照顾好东西 better as some of our logistics were kapped. In the second station, we tried to make a real-life filter funnel for the first time. We should have revised more on the Guides notes as we were unable to name the logistics for the filter funnel without any hints. Moreover, this real-life application of the filter funnel taught me the importance of having clean water and that the filter funnel works. In the third station, we were tasked to sing 南屏晚钟 and recite our P6 cheer. We, as Year 3s should have been more familiar with the Chinese Guides songs and revised more on these songs. However, through this, we familiarized ourselves with this song and became fond of it. Moreover, the P6 cheer relighted our passion in the P6 traditions even stronger and also gave us the opportunity to pass this tradition down to our Y1s which we hope would keep the P6 tradition alive. In the fourth station, we were tested on our tracking signs and Guides' code. The tracking signs were carefully chosen by our seniors while the Guide's code contained messages that our seniors wanted to pass down to us. This station was an extremely sad one as the messages contain the love our seniors harbour towards us and our CCA. These messages would always serve as a reminder for us to take care of ourselves and keep the P6 spirit alive. Overall, this PA really reminded us of the importance of our Guides' knowledge and hard skills. Moreover, it portrayed our seniors' care and kindness as they were our guiding light throughout these tough three years. Overall, this Patrol Activity was a meaningful experience.

Hope everyone had fun bonding with their patrol!

Published by:

Yuanxin

54 届 Secretary