Hi Guides!
Today, as most of the Year 2s and Year 3s were preparing for the National Day Observance Ceremony, there were only Year 1s and a few Year 2s present during today's 集合. Firstly, the Guides there had gadgeting lash training, followed by the building of a few standard structures, and lastly the Year 2s taught the Year 1s a few Guides songs that we usually sang during campfires or other activities.
Lash Training:
To hone the lash-tying abilities of the Year 1s, they were to do lash training. They had to tie lashes such as square and diagonal lashes and time themselves. Afterward, they would have to let a Year 3 check their lash for its tightness and also to receive feedback.
Reflection from a Year 1 in P6:
For Lash Training during 集合 on Friday, we were able to learn more and improve on our lashes and find out what we did wrongly when we tie our lashes. First, when we tied the square lashes, I learnt that I would be able to make my lash tighter by holding tension and ensuring that my frapping does not overlap. I also learnt that I should take note of protrusion. When we were tying diagonal lashes, I realised that I was taking a long amount of time to tie my lash and that next time, I should ensure that I tie my lashes faster. My diagonal lash was also loose and could be improved by ensuring that I 抽 tightly and remember to hold tension. Also, I had gotten the number of rounds around the 木 wrong. It was supposed to be 4,3,2 but I accidentally tied it as 4,4,2. When we tied A-架, I also realised that I was tying my lashes really slowly and that my lashes were not tight enough. I learnt that I could improve on my lashes by remembering to hold tension. I had also forgotten to tuck in the 鸟绳. Through this lash training on Friday, I learnt how I could improve my lashes and not repeat the same mistakes again.
Reflection from a Year 1 in P3:
The lash training that took place during 集合 last Friday was incredibly enriching. I feel that I have learnt how to make my lashes neater and tighter, and I have also learnt how to work at a faster pace due to that lash training. This is mainly because I had to tie my lashes under strict timings, and also because the Year 3s gave me very in-depth feedback, allowing me to greatly improve the standard of my lashes! An example of the constructive feedback that they gave me that really helped me tremendously in my goal to tie tight lashes was when they informed me that while my lashes were neat and had no overlapping, it was not tight enough. They told me that this was mainly because I did not hold tension. My Year 3 seniors then proceeded to show me how I could hold tension, such as by wrapping the 白绳 around my palm and tying it as quickly as possible. I am thus very thankful to my seniors, as in the end, I think I have improved greatly in terms of the tightness of my lashes. However, I did face some difficulties during the lash training as my 木 was too long and I would accidentally hit my head with the 木 when I was not careful enough. Nevertheless, I overcame that challenge and managed to finish tying all my lashes within the standard time. Through this lash training, I also got the opportunity to improve my time management. I made sure to 报时 consistently which helped me keep track of my timings for my lashes. I believe that this lash training will prepare me for future 集合s, where we need to tie tight lashes for a steady structure that will not shear. This lash training allowed me to understand my weak points and how to improve on them. Thus, I am happy to have had this lash training, where I was given the opportunity to improve my lashes!
Building of Standard Structures:
After Lash Training, the Year 1s were split into 2 groups and each group was to build 1 shoe rack and 1 baggage rack in total. The Year 1s were also tasked to assign 1 PL and PS per group.
Reflection from a Year 1 in P5:
On 28 July, my batchmates and I built baggage racks and shoe racks. First, we collected our logistics. As it was our first time depending on ourselves without our seniors' help, we were confused and did not remember the logistics needed once we arrived at 团部, causing us to keep asking the Year 3s to repeat the logistics. Our entire batch was split into two groups and each group had to build one baggage rack and one shoe rack. Most of us did not know the exact steps to build the structures hence wasting a lot of time. When we started building, manpower was not allocated properly and most of our manpower was focused on either one of the two structures. At the end of the time given, we were not finished with our structures so we kept asking for time extensions. We also did not 报时 frequently hence lacking in a sense of urgency. For the netting and rafting for the baggage rack, only a few of us in our batch knew how to do it, so we had to rely on the same people. Moreover, when we were done with our structures, the lashes were not tight enough causing the structure to be unstable. Through this activity, I bonded with my batchmates and learnt more about building standard structures and pointers to take note of while building.
Reflection from a Year 1 in P2:
On Friday, the Year 1s had a batch activity to build standard structures. We had to build 2 shoe racks and 2 baggage racks. After collecting the logistics, we were split into two groups, P1, P3, and P6 were in group one, and P2, P4, and P5 were in group 2. Each group needed to build 1 shoe rack and 1 baggage rack and we were firstly given 50 mins. But due to a lack of manpower and a sense of urgency, the PL and PS had to ask for time extensions after time extensions. Most lashes were not up to standards too, hence we had to retie many lashes, also wasting a lot of time. When we were about to finish, the time extensions were up and Samantha told us to suggest a time for the very last time extensions for us to complete the structures. Thankfully we were able to complete the structures. The baggage racks were not stable at all and could be rocked from side to side with just a little force. Samantha gave us tips on how to improve by making sure the 定脚's diagonals are tied very tightly so the structure will be steady and also making the spacings between the netting smaller to hold things better. For the shoe racks, Samantha said that they were not squares but rhombus shaped. We can improve this by making sure people are 定-ing the quadpod sides while tying so the structure will be a square. Though we got scolded by Samantha, Natalie, and Yue Yao many times, we learnt a lot, like stepping out to look at the bigger picture, 报时-ing constantly, and also allocating manpower better.
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Teaching of Guides Songs:
During this activity, the Year 2s that were present had the opportunity to teach some commonly sung Guides songs to the Year 1s, as most of them were unfamiliar with Guides songs and were mostly unable to sing along during the 55th Anniversary Campfire.
Reflection from a Year 1 in P4:
The singing of Guides songs helped us bond with our batch mates and seniors, despite the fact that there were only a few Year 2s and Year 3s. One of our Year 4s also came and sang “Peace like a River” along with us. The singing of Guides songs lifted our morale after our previous gadgeting activity and it was fun to do the actions while singing, especially after the 55th Anniversary Campfire when we got to know them. The singing of campfire songs, especially ones that are supposed to boost excitement such as "Father Abraham", made us happier and more relaxed, along with everyone else. Time passes by when one is having fun, and it felt like only a few minutes had passed when we were told to 集合 again. Many of us enjoyed the song "Ging Gang Goolie", because of the lyrics, the clapping, the different parts we had to sing at one time, and the catchy tune. All of us enjoyed this activity, and it made our 集合 a lot more enjoyable. We hope that we can sing more Guides songs in our future co-curricular activities (CCA) sessions, as it makes us more excited and it helps us bond with our batchmates and seniors more, which is important in a CCA where we have to work together often.
Reflection from a Year 1 in P1:
During Friday's CCA session, the Year 2 seniors taught us how to sing and dance to several Guides songs. Some of the songs included “Peace Like a River”, “Father Abraham”, “Ging Gang Goolie”, “My Side” and “BP Spirit”. Before each song, they would demonstrate the actions of the song, after which we would attempt it together. It was an entertaining and enjoyable session for everyone as some of the actions were very funny, and it allowed many of the quieter Year 1s to step out of their comfort zones and have some fun too. It was also a rare opportunity for our seniors to be teaching us Guides songs, and everyone had a whale of a time learning new songs. At the same time, my batchmates and I got to bond and know each other better. I feel that it was a good opportunity for the Year 2 seniors to interact with us as Year 1s as well since many of us previously did not know them as they were not our own Patrol seniors. As Guides is a sisterhood, this was incredibly valuable to us all. In conclusion, my batchmates and I really enjoyed this CCA session and hope that we would learn more guides songs.
Reflection from a Year 2 in P3:
It was an exhilarating experience. Due to a previous activity, those from my class had only arrived for Guides at 430pm, causing us to be dismissed after a short time as there was already enough manpower. Undeterred, we politely asked the seniors if we could help with anything else, and to our delight, they sent us to where the Year 1s were having lash training. After a while, the Year 3s suggested we teach them some songs for the rest of the time until dismissal. We sat with the Year 1s in a circle around us and started with the song ‘Ging Gang Goolie’. Throughout, I tried to get some of the quieter Year 1s to join in more enthusiastically by staring intensely at them and looking down at their hands while waggling my eyebrows suggestively. I struggled with coordinating my body through the song ‘My Side’, and then—as we should have done all along—the Year 2s moved outside the circle so that we could observe everyone at once. ‘Father Abraham’, ‘Peace Like a River’, and ‘BP Spirit’ flew by; before I knew it, it was all over. During the intermissions between each song, I remember worrying that we weren’t leading the Year 1s well enough. Were they all properly engaged? I reflected on such questions. Truth be told, as I noticed my friends interacting with Year 1s around them only, I had the creeping sensation that we could do better—by also valuing the enjoyment of those who are not close to us. Having previously noted the Year 1’s downtrodden spirits from the group corner, I wanted them to end the session with a reaffirmation of their sense of belonging to Guides and their Patrols. I tried my best to introduce potentially novel songs to them. Alas, I was hindered by nervousness throughout, which dampened my mood overall. However, I still enjoyed the experience greatly. I got to gain a better understanding of everyone I interacted with, including myself and the Year 3s, as I watched them in action. This experience motivated me to revise my Guides songs and improve my leadership skills among others.
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Hope that everyone present during 集合 today learnt something new or gained a new experience today and mostly importantly, had fun with their batchmates and seniors/juniors!
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