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1 December 2024

Annual Training Camp 2024

 Hi Guides! 


We are back from Camp Christine! We just had another memorable yet special Annual Training Camp, where we had worked hard during Pre-Camp Prep Sessions (in the previous entry) that all came down to this. We had so much fun and this memories will last us a lifetime. We take the pleasure to share it with you!




Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P2 on Camp’D:

 During ATC, Camp Development was the first activity that we did. During which we built our structures that we had planned for before ATC. Firstly we 搬 the 木 from the store room at the camp site to the main room after which we then began tying the structures. As we had 3 different structures to tie, we decided to tie the Indoor Fire Altar first.  As we had some trouble tying the two tripods it took more time than expected. While two people were tying the tripods, the remaining man power decided to start with the second structure first which was the rubbish bin creative gadgeting structure that we had came up with before ATC. When the tripods were finished, we started on the Indoor Fire Altar. However due to some lashes being loose we had to keep retying the lashes which wasted a lot of time. As a result we had to rush on the creative structure design during which we realised that we had ended up using the wrong 木 for the tripods of the Indoor Fire Altar, causing the tripod to be a lot shorter than usual tripod. This also as a result affected the creative structure as we did not have enough of the correct 木. However we persevered and managed to finish the creative structure by switching the 木 used and modifying our structures. With the remaining time we rushed to finish the flag pole which was our last structure. While tying, we realised that we had run out of 白绳 and had to ask from the other patrols which had also almost run out as well. Still we managed to borrow a few 白绳 which helped us to complete our structure with the inclusion of 2 time extensions. We had also finished early due to the time extension and decided to check on our structures for any loose lashes or 飞脚 which our Indoor Fire Altar ended up having but we managed to fix the mistake on time. In conclusion, camp D helped to train our quick thinking and resilience to make sure we did nit give up even when time were tough.



Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P3 on Camp-D:

Just weeks ago, we had our Annual Training Camp. For WWP Camp-D, we were required to build an Indoor Fire Altar, our Creative Structure and a 旗杆 in 40 minutes. We started off building the Indoor Fire Altar by asking two then Year 1s to tie the tripod lashes. We started with morale fairly high with us trying to 报时 as much as possible. However, things started to get messy when we were required to redo one of our tripods as it was not opened wide enough, meaning that it was not as stable and could potentially fall. This was particularly concerning and made us very frantic because it meant that we had to remove all the 定脚s and retie them all over again. Hence, while other patrols were already tying their zinc plates to their Indoor Fire Altars, we were struggling to finish up the tripods and the 定脚s. Thus, in an attempt to save time, some of the zo-bos started working on tying our Creative Structure. By this time, we did not have much time left so we had to ask for a time extension. We tried to finish up our Creative Structure as fast as possible, but it proved to be a challenge as some of us were not the most familiar with the structure. Additionally, as the purpose of the structure was to provide a place to hang our 全制, we needed enough space in between the 木 to hang the 全制. However, we estimated the amount of space needed wrongly and as a result, there was barely enough space to hang our 全制 and the structure looked a little strange. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to make the alterations as we moved on to tying the 旗杆. Despite the 旗杆 being an extremely easy structure to tie, as all of us have never tied a 旗杆 before, we were very unfamiliar with what to do, how the structure looks like, and where to tie some of the 木. Consequently, we needed to ask for two or three more time extensions. From this, we learnt that we should have prioritised tying the 旗杆 as it is the most important because it is where we hang our patrol flag which is a symbol of our identity. Additionally, over the course of Camp-D, some of our items got kapped and our flag kit touched the floor multiple times. Thus, we also learnt that we should watch our logistics more carefully and immediately request for them back when we notice them getting taken.





Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P2 on Inspection:

During Annual Training Camp, we had Personal Inspection on the second day of camp. It was very hectic at first, as everyone was rushing to grab their bags and had to make space on the floor. As a result the Patrols ended up being split up and due to not 报时ing, we lacked a sense of urgency and caused us to 过时. After feedback from the ICs, we learnt that we had to stay with our Patrols and help each other to make sure our logistics were not Kapped. During the second round of personal inspection, we learnt from our mistakes and this time more of us managed to finish our personal inspection and even go forward to help others. Unfortunately, we ran out of time extensions and some of us were still unable to finish our Inspection. After Personal Inspection, we had Patrol Logistics Inspection. As we did not 照顾好人、照顾好东西, we were unable to finish our Inspection as many of our logistics were Kapped and was missing in our Inspection layout. After the first round of Patrol Inspection, ICs gave us feedback as it is very important to keep our items in sight and ensure that they do not get Kapped, 照顾好人、照顾好东西. After getting back our Kapped logistics, we proceeded with the second round of Inspection. This time we were slightly better than the first round as there were less people and logistics being Kapped. However, we still had many things to improve on such as 报时ing. When logistics were Kapped, we could have retrieved it back immediately from our seniors, even if it was for other Patrols. On the third day, we were woken up abruptly for an emergency fire drill. And hence, Patrol logistics check was needed. After break off, we immediately moved with a sense of urgency for Inspection. Two of the Year 2s were the ICs. Unfortunately, we still did not 照顾好人、照顾好东西 as they were Kapped and we could not ask for them back, resulting in us not being able to complete our Inspection. In conclusion, ATC Inspection has taught us to always our sense of urgency and 报时 often especially if we only have a short time given like Inspection and it is very important to 照顾好人、照顾好东西.



Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P2 on Inspection:


During ATC on the first day, we had In Camp inspection to make sure all our logistics we need were brought to camp christine. We started off out first round of inspection by scrambling to just any unoccupied spot to lay out our poncho and start doing our layout, which resulted in a messy formation and alot of space being untilized as the layouts were not compact. This also made it difficult for the counsellors to check and debrief our patrols on the quality of our inspection layouts as they were all over the place. We mindlessly laid out our ponchos and inspection layouts like that to save time for our inspections but in the end, it made our layouts as a 团 look sloppy and very messy and even caused us to waste even more time during debrief. So, in the second round of inspection, we separated the patrols layouts and arranged the layouts by patrol. We also compacted our layouts together and this made it easier for us to compare our layouts together the person beside us, making sure the whole 团 has a standardized layout. Despite the improvements we made, only a few trainees were able to finish their layouts and most of us still had our logistics dumped onto the poncho and unorganised, which should not have been the case as our inspection is supposed to be neat so that we can check to have all our logistics by one look. I think inspection on the first day could have been done better if everyone worked with a better sense of urgency and memorised the layout properly before ATC. On the third day, we had inspection to make sure we didnt leave any logistics behind at camp christine. I think that this round of inspection was better as we did try to work faster,have more 报时 and ask for time extension on time. However, many of us still didnt finish our layouts. We also kept getting our logistics kapped and this resulted in trainees having uncompleted layouts as they could not get their logistics back. All in all, though i think we improved from day 1 to day 3, we still have areas to improve on like 照顾好人,照顾好东西.





Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P3 on Mystery Games:

During the last day of our Annual Training Camp, the Rangers set up a “Mystery Game” for the Year 3s. The Game rules were: To build a Kitchen Table within 30 minutes and for every lose lash, we have to 重打the entire structure and start anew, still within the given 30 minutes duration. At first, our tripod lash were tied very tightly within 10 minutes and we are able to proceed to the next step. We have to open the tripod and make sure it is an equilateral triangle which was a challenging thing to do, since the tripod could not open the way we wanted to and we have to improvise on the spot. We tried different ways to open the tripod and even though it took up quite some time, we managed to open the tripod wide enough to support the Kitchen Table. We then measured the length of the tripod to the second tripod. However many of us were too focused on the first tripod and started to tie the 顶脚s, leaving the other tripod unattended and not maximizing our efficiency by also starting to tie the 顶脚s on another tripod. With less time left, we knew we could not finish as no time extension is to be given, however we still manage to work fast together and not give up. Everything went smoothly till a loss lash was identified. We have to redo the entire structure until the 30 minutes ended which we did not finish. The Rangers gathered us around to debrief our mistakes and what they think we could improve on. Firstly, they showed a photo of us overcrowding around the first tripod, everyone was standing too close to each other and clearly blocking one another while either tying the lash or 顶ing the tripod. The tripod 顶脚s were also slanted since some of us didn’t 顶好 and the structure kept shifting. The Rangers also brought up that they noticed it is always the same people instructing the rest on what to do. The Rangers believed that since we are Year 2s becoming Year 3s, we should all know what to do to play our part and need not have people instructing us on what to do for the next step. We should take our initiative and help each other as batchmates instead of relying just on one or two people to give out instructions. Through the Rangers point of view, we are able to learn from our mistakes and how we can improve together as a batch under pressurizing moments. Strategic thinking maximising time efficiency is something we can all work on, but overall I think we managed well during the Mystery Game and nobody gave up.



Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P4 on Mystery Games:

For our Annual Training Camp, we had a mystery game set up by the rangers. The mystery game the rangers had chosen for us year 3s was to tie a kitchen table. We were told to build a kitchen table within 30 minutes and for every lose lash the rangers found, we would have to 重打the entire structure and retie everything, still within the given 30 minutes duration. Hearing this, all of us were very nervous but also determined to do our best. We could have improved on our sense of urgency as our tripod lashes took 10 minutes, which is above standard timing and took up one third of the time we had to tie the kitchen table. We then had to open the tripod and measure each side, making sure it was an equilateral triangle. We struggled with this as we were unable to open the tripod the way we wanted and had a hard time checking if we had opened the tripod the correct way. We had to try various different ways to open the tripod and even though it took up a lot of time, which is something we can improve on. Luckily, we still managed to open the tripod wide enough to support the Kitchen Table. We then measured the length of the first tripod and compared it with our second tripod to ensure that they were the same. However many of us were too focused on the first tripod and started to tie the 顶脚s, leaving the other tripod unattended and as no one had started to tie the 顶脚s on the other tripod, there was not enough time left for us to complete the structure. The rangers also found that one of the 顶脚s were not tied tightly and we had to 拆掉 everything except for the tripod. This can be improved on by improving our allocation of manpower such that we are not all focused on one thing and can complete the structure in time. We also need to ensure that when tying the lashes, we hold tension and make sure our lash is tight so that we do not need to 重抽. With not enough time left, all of us just quicken our pace and tried to finish as much as we could before time was up and we had to 集合 to the rangers. The rangers gave us a lot of valuable feedback on our allocation of manpower and different ways for us to improve. Mystery games was a great opportunity for us to know what we could improve on.





Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P2 on Outdoor Cooking:

Outdoor Cooking was definitely a very tough yet fulfilling experience. In the days leading up to our Annual Training Camp, our whole patrol had to make frequent trips to East Coast Park to pick up kindlings for our fire. There were many requirements for the kind of kindlings that we had to pick up. For example: twigs cannot be purple and waxy. Twigs cannot have holes in the middle and twigs should be able to break cleanly. We should also not pick twigs that are too scrawny. We were also tasked to label the kindling bag as 1 bag “Thick Twigs”, “1/2 Bag 木麻黄” before drying the sticks thoroughly before using during OC. To start cooking our ingredients for our meal, we had to first start a fire. That was the hardest process in the whole Outdoor Cooking experience. Firstly, we had to set the thinest sticks, on fire. We were tasked to strike a matchstick and immediately place it closely to the kindlings, to set it on fire. However, the wind was extremely strong, and kept putting out our flames. We kept on using our hands to cover the wind from our fire, but to no avail. Thankfully, the Rangers and our seniors guided us and told us to use two short and one long breath to sustain the fire. After making sure that those sticks were set on fire and producing smoke, we proceeded to add the second layer of sticks, and the third one. After that, we started adding in our ingredients to cook our dish. Time was of essence, even though we asked for time extension, we still had a limited amount of time to complete all our dishes for our seniors to try. We tried our best to work as fast as we could. While the Year 3s were sustaining the fire, my batchmates and I were cutting up the meat into smaller pieces to allow them to be cooked faster. Flipping the meat from one side to the other was also a challenge as we had to multitask between sustaining the fire and ensuring that both sides of the meat were equally cooked. We also had to take note of the amount of time needed to cook the meat to not overcook it. It was a tedious challenge. I felt really impressed by my seniors as they were really motivated and persevered on despite the challenges that we faced. It was also a really hot and humid day so I was even more awed by how they managed to endure the heat and continue cooking for us. Last but not least, I feel that Outdoor Cooking was really an interesting experience to test our perseverance and our determination. We were all overwhelmed with accomplishment when we savoured the food that we made. To conclude, it was a valuable learning opportunity.






Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P3 on Outdoor Cooking:

On the second day of ATC, we had outdoor cooking. We had to cook our own food for lunch. We first moved the Indoor Fire Altars built during Camp Development to the second cabin to have our OC. We first laid the sand and bricks onto the zinc plate and tried to start the fire. The sand was a little wet and so were the kindlings we picked as the weather was wet the whole week of camp prep when we picked the kindlings, despite us airing and drying them out. This resulted in the fire dying out everytime we started it again due to the small amounts of moisture in the kindlings. Due to this it took us a long time to actually get the fire up. We also required help from the campsite warden, however, even with his help, it still took us close to 2 hours and many fire starters just to get the fire to be stable and we finally started cooking. By that time, many other patrols were already on their second dish, moving onto their third, so my patrol was very behind. Even after our fire was up, we were still concerned it would not maintain as our 木麻黄 was moist and threatened to put out our fire everytime we fed it to the fire, so, we asked to have some of p1's 木麻黄. In the end, we exchanged our thick twigs for their 木麻黄. This helped both our patrols out as p1 ran out of thick twigs. After our fire was up, we started cooking the first dish, our noodle dish. Nothing went wrong with it and it was done cooking really quick so we moved onto the next one, which was supposed to be skewers, however, we did not have time to actually make the skewers so we just cooked the broccoli , potatoes and mushrooms with the noodle dish and added it in. For our third dish, it was smores. This was a relatively simple and quick dish to make as it is just a roasted marshmallow sandwiched between two meiji plain crackers with chocolate. Hence, we managed to finish cooking our dishes on time. We also shared food with other patrols, like p3's edible cookie dough. It tasted so good and it had a slight mint taste from the toothpaste we covered the mess tins with to aid with the washing of them. During clean up of OC, many people were washing the dishes, cleaning the drains and emptying the zinc plates. However, more than half the manpower were just standing around chatting and did not bother to ask for things to do. I think this could have been fixed if someone stepped up, or the people who weren't doing anything to take initiative and look for things to do, like clearing the drains or picking litter off the ground.







Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P2 on Company Games:

On 1 December 2024 during ATC 24’ company games, we played many different kinds of interesting games and different tasks to gain points. Even though we thought that the challenges would be a breeze, we faced a few challenges, such as when we played the marshmallow game. It was really hard to continue the game until it reached seven marshmallows, so we decided that we should move on and try out the other challenges. One game I found very enjoyable was the three-legged race with P1. It was really exciting and we tried our best to make it to the end as fast as we could. I think that this game strengthens our ability to bond with one another and strategies. There were other games such as doing PT, which strengthens our physical fitness level, which can help us in our NAPFA test, and games which requires us to think. For example, we played a game where we had to name 30 different kinds of fruits to earn the points. This game, for instance, allows us to use our brains to think of the different fruits and challenge ourselves. We can learn about more fruits through this game. There was also a game where we had to stand in one straight line and the last person in line would have to draw on the first person’s back, and the person will draw on the other person’s back, all the way until it reaches the person and the start of the line. The person would have to guess the drawing accurately. In my opinion, this trains our way of delivering and allows us to stay attentive, as we will have to remember what the previous person drew on our backs, as so as not to draw the wrong thing on the other person’s back. This game helps us to be more attentive and think of ways to articulate our thoughts appropriately as we can use the things we learnt from the game in our daily lives. We also made a fun TikTok as a patrol and it was really fun and enjoyable. All these skills that we have learnt from company games has helped to make me become a more developed person. I have learnt how to build a stronger bond between me and my peers, and the importance of teamwork. If we do not have teamwork, our team would not be able to share our ideas openly and we would not be able to achieve good results in the games we played. Furthermore, my physical strength has also been improved since then, and I found myself having more stamina than before. Last but not least, I learnt to be resilient in hard times and always try our very best in all that we do. I hope to have more bonding activities like company games again as it has been a very fun and amazing experience. 




Reflection from a Year 2 in P4 on Company Games:

During the ATC 24 Company Games, we were able to participate in a range of fun and challenging activities that tested our teamwork and individual abilities. At first glance, many of the tasks seemed overtly simple and easy to complete. However, although all of us initially thought that the tasks would be easy, we quickly realized that some of them were tougher than expected. One of the games we struggled the most with was the marshmallow game, where we had to each take turns saying the number of marshmallows one by one. Reaching seven marshmallows seemed simple at first, but it proved far harder than we had anticipated. After struggling with it for a while, we finally successfully completed it and was able to move onto the next challenges. One of my favourite challenges was the physical training exercises that were like a test of physical fitness. The exercises pushed us to give our best and showed how much teamwork mattered, as we encouraged each other to keep going. Working together in this way helped build trust and made the experience more enjoyable. We also participated in a song game and challenged another patrol. Both of our patrols were to listen to a song and compete against each other to see who could say the name of the song first and the name of the singer who sang the song. It soon became a race to see who could shout out the correct answer first. This challenge was more of a fun challenge that tested our knowledge of music and our ability to think quickly under pressure. It was extremely fun but also intense and everyone got more excited as the game went on. It was a fun challenge that was also a really good opportunity for us to bond. Reflecting on the experience, I’ve learned a lot. Teamwork played a key role in our success, as we wouldn’t have performed as well without open communication and mutual support. My physical fitness has improved, and I’ve developed more resilience in challenging situations. Overall, the company games were both enjoyable and educational, and I look forward to similar bonding activities in the future.





Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P2 on Obstacle Journey:

For ATC’24 Obstacle Journey, we had mass changed into our OJ Kits and got ready for the Obstacle Journey stations. The first station for my patrol, P1, was the Fireman Ladder. The Fireman Ladder was part of the “quest” created by the Year 3s. We quickly set up the mat and ladder. Then, we started flipping on the ladder. Not many of us were very eager to try, so we did not really attempt to climb the ladder. Afterwards, we went to the First Aid station, where we attended to “patients” while answering questions one by one. There was an “unconscious” person, a hurt ankle, a concussion and broken arms. For the “unconscious” person, we used the COWS acronym; Can you hear me? Open your eyes. What’s your name? Squeeze my hands. For the person with the concussion, the bandage should go around the head, but should not be too tight, just snug, and leave the bandage tucked behind one ear to allow the person to be able to hear. For the broken arms, there were two types of bandage ways, an arm sling and an elevation sling. For the arm sling, the whole arm should be supported, down to the little finger, and needs to be tight. For the elevation sling, the fingertips of the injured arm of the patient should be touching the shoulder and supported in the same position with the cloth. The First Aid station allowed us to revisit how to treat injuries and refresh our knowledge on handling medical emergencies. The next station was Gadgeting. We were supposed to come up with a creative design for our Gadgeting station. However, we took too long to plan and needed a lot of time extension. Our lashes were also not tight enough despite the long duration taken. We learnt that we should be more effective and efficient, to take lesser time in planning and also tie fast and tighter lashes within the standard timing. The last station was about the trekking signs of the days of the week and the weather. It was hard but we managed to identify most of the signs correctly. I learnt that I should memorise the trekking signs better. Overall, it was a valuable learning experience.




Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P4 on Obstacle Journey:

For the ATC’24 Obstacle Journey, there were various stations at three different locations for us to participate in. Each station would have different challenges and would require various different methods to overcome them. Before the Obstacle Journey started, we first had to mass change in order to get ready. During mass change, we were constantly reminded to 报时. 报时 is very important as it helps us to take note of the time so that we can ask for a time extension in time and not 过时. We should also ensure that when we 报时, we 报时 with a loud voice so that everyone can hear and take note of the timing. Out of the various different stations, for my patrol, the station we faced the most challenges with was the station that required us to build a Fireman Ladder. We were quite slow in the retrieval of the logistics and this caused us to lose a lot of time. We also did not measure the height of the Fireman Ladder correctly, causing our Fireman Ladder to appear slanted and crooked as we also did not ensure it touched the wall. This caused us to be unable to climb the Fireman Ladder as it would not have been safe as we could have fallen off the Fireman Ladder, causing us to be injured. We also struggled with the First Aid station. At the First Aid station, some people in our patrol were allocated to pretend to be patients who had sustained injuries and the rest of us were to properly treat their injuries and check with our seniors if they were correct. As we were trying to treat the injured people, we were each asked questions about First Aid to test out our understanding of the basics of First Aid. Unfortunately, many of us were unable to answer the questions correctly and for those that were answered correctly, it was not without the help of someone else in the patrol. This showed that it was very important for us to revise and brush up on our First Aid skills as First Aid is very important. The trekking signs station showed us that we should also revise on our Guides notes in order to familiarise ourselves with the trekking signs. 






Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P4 on Night Games:

We had Night Games on the first night of Annual Training Camp, and there were several different stations we had to complete. After completing each station, we were given a clue about one of the Year 3s and we had to figure out who they were. The first station my patrol completed was one where we had to take turns throwing a paper ball into a circle formed with 白绳 while being blindfolded. That meant that the rest of the patrol had to guide the person blindfolded. This game tested our communication skills and teamwork. Regardless of how good we were at the game, we encouraged each other and cheered each other on. In the second game, the Year 3 station master showed only 2 of my patrol mates a story and we had to take turns saying one word at a time to try to tell the original story as accurately as possible. This game tested our patrol’s teamwork, resilience, as well as our creativity and thinking skills. Our story actually ended up to be quite similar to the original one. The next game we played was something similar to ‘Broken Telephone’. The Year 3 station master gave us 2 plastic cups connected by a string and we were supposed to speak into the cup and convey the tongue twister to our patrol mates. This game was really fun as it really tested how good our memory was to memorise the tongue twister. Many of us were having a hard time trying to remember the tongue twister to pass it on to the next patrol mate, but with the support and help from our patrol mates, we managed to successfully complete the game. In another game, we had to build floorball sticks out of gadgeting poles. As we were on a time constraint, this game challenged us to think quickly. At the end of the station, we played a few fun games of floorball. After seeing some Year 3s screaming to try to scare us for fun, we also attempted to scare other patrols, but they did not have much of a reaction. In the end, we did not manage to find out who the mystery Year 3 was and another patrol had beaten us to it. Nevertheless, as a patrol, we had lots of laughter and worked together well to complete the stations. Overall, the Night Games were a very fun, fulfilling experience and we really bonded as a patrol.





Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P1 on Night Games:

Night games was one of the most enjoyable activities during our Annual Training Camp. We went to four stations to play the games and earn clues to guess a chosen Year 3 (current Year 4). The first station, we had to pass a ball around successfully to get our first clue for the. We decided to use a 2 中长木 and 4 half bamboos to build 2 “floorball” sticks, attaching the 2 half bamboos at the bottom of the 中长木 in a super square lash. We then managed to smoothly pass the ball to each other enough times to earn ourselves the first clue. Next, we went to the next station, where we had to communicate a sentence through paper cups connected with string. We had some trouble with this station as the sentences were quite long and some were tongue twisters, while the cups also muffled our voices a bit. We somehow managed to get some sentences correct and earned the second clue. The third station, was a word game, where there's a sentence and two people each have to say one word at a time and let the others guess the sentence. The game was quite confusing but we also eventually guessed the sentence and got the third clue. The final station was a game where we were blindfolded and had to try and throw small paper balls into the circle without looking. The station was not that hard as we had a few tries to practise before we actually had to play the game. We thought we would not finish in time but fortunately, we somehow did, earning us the last clue. After we finished all the stations, we went back to Olave Hall and sat in a circle, laying out the clues and discussing our answers. We came to a conclusion that the mystery Year 3 was Frederika, and it turned out to be correct. The night games were quite fun as when we were at the stations, a few Year 3s appeared out of nowhere and screamed to scare us. It was a memorable and funny experience for us that taught us the importance of teamwork, resilience, and problem solving.






Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P4 on Physical Training:

On the second day of Annual Training Camp, we had Physical Training. During Physical Training, we first did warm ups, then jumping jacks, lunges and also burpees. For the warm ups, a Year 3 and 2 volunteered to lead us through it and also make sure that all of us were doing the warm ups properly so that we could stretch ourselves to prevent injuring ourselves. Warm ups are extremely important as they prepare our muscles before exercises so as to prevent any strains and pulls of our muscles. Next, we did lunges. While doing the lunges, some of us were doing it too quickly while others were not doing it properly and letting the front knee go past her toes and not lowering her back knee enough. Letting the front knee go past the toes would increase the stress placed on the knee joint and not lowering the back knee enough reduces the efficiency of the exercise. For jumping jacks, everyone did the exercise properly and made sure that everyone was one-arms length apart to prevent everyone from hitting each other while doing the exercise. We also made sure that to 等人 so that everyone could catch up. As for the burpees, we ensured that everyone had enough space and would not hit our Camp Development structures before we started doing the burpees. Some things we took note of was to jump high enough after each burpee and to also 等人 and to be in sync. In between the exercises, we hydrated ourselves and drank water. It is extremely crucial to hydrate ourselves while exercising as we will sweat a lot, leading to water loss. If it is not addressed, it could lead to dehydration. We also cheered throughout the activities, thus boosting morale. Through this activity, I have gained a lot physically and have also learnt the importance of 等人and doing each and every one of the exercises properly. I also felt really proud of myself and everyone for being able to push ourselves, to keep on improving and not giving up halfway through. In the future, we can also cheer more often while doing Physical Training to further boost our morale and to encourage one another. This session of Physical Training definitely helped me to improve a lot and has also taught me the importance of cheering together as a 团.





Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P4 on Physical Training:

During our annual training camp, we also had physical training, which played a crucial role in building our strength, endurance, and teamwork. I believe our seniors chose to have this PT session in order to push us beyond our limits, focusing on both individual fitness and collective effort. As we worked through each challenge, we learned how to pace ourselves and maintain focus, even when we felt tired or exhausted. Beyond the physical benefits, this physical training session also had a strong element of teamwork. As part of “照顾好人,照顾好东西” we had to wait for everyone when complete if each challenge. Before starting on the first exercise given, we first had to spread out to ensure that there was sufficient space for everyone to do the exercises before we started. After everyone had finished the first few rounds of lunges, the majority of us were quite tired already. The rest of us that were not tired patiently waited for those who were tired to rest for a while before continuing. We also had to constantly 报时 in order to keep track of the time so that we would know how much time we had left and could ask for a time extension in time before we 过时. For the second exercise, we were allowed to choose which one of all the options our seniors had provided us with that we wanted to do. We discussed it with one another before deciding. We had to take into account all of our different physical capabilities before making a decision. After we had unanimously come to a decision, we carried out the exercise that we had chose together. We all had to ensure that we waited for one another and that not a single one of us would have to be lagging behind as we made sure to wait each time. This was a great opportunity for us to improve our communication skills and also improve our bond with one another. All in all, the physical training during camp was not just about improving our fitness, it was also about developing resilience, teamwork, and discipline.





Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P2 on Strike Camp:

On the last day of ATC, we had strike camp just before leaving camp christine. First, we had to 拆掉 all of our gadgeting structures , which included our creative gadgeting structure , indoor fire altar, and 旗杆,and we were given 15 minutes to 拆掉 everything and 捆 the 木. We were able to finish 拆掉-ing everything and 捆-ing the 木 in time ( with the help of all the counsellors ) and I think that we did really well, considering we were able to finish all of that work in such a short time. After that, we had to 清理场地, which included cleaning and mopping the toilet floors and sinks, picking up any litter that was left behind, and mopping the floors. My first job was to pick up the litter on the floor in the cabins and throw it away. After that, I also helped to mop some of the toilet cubicles and clean some of the sinks that we had used throughout the camp. All of us including the counsellors were very stressed out at that time as the camp warden was not happy with the working speed and the quality of cleaned toilets. He had to constantly remind us that the bus was arriving soon, and that we had to work faster in order to make it on time. There was also a lot of congestion in between the cabins that caused us to work significantly slower. I think we could have had an improved sense of urgency and communication, which would have allowed us to complete everything much faster and prevented the camp warden from being unsatisfied with our work. Not only that, but we could have been better at manpower allocation so that we would not have had to deal with the congestion in the cabins. Overall, I think we still did a very good job with strike camp, though there is still a lot of room for improvement. Although it was very tiring and stressful, I think it was a rewarding experience as it taught me the importance of proper planning and having a sense of urgency.



Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P4 on Strike Camp:

On the last day of Annual Training Camp, we had to strike camp. First, we had to 拆掉 all of our gadgeting structures. As we had not done any pioneering structures, this should have made the process of 拆掉 much easier and faster, however, we could improve on our sense of urgency as we took quite a long time to 拆掉 all of our gadgeting structures. After we had finished the 拆掉 of all of our gadgeting structures, consisting of our creative gadgeting structure, patrol 旗杆 and indoor fire altar, we had to quickly 捆 all of the 木 before loading them onto the truck. Luckily, we were able to finish doing so in time. To 清理场地, we had to hold hands with one another and form a straight line across the field. We then had to check if we had left anything in the grass or if there was any rubbish left in the grass. Unfortunately, something that could be improved on is that we should remember to 等人 so that we do not leave anyone behind. After we had checked the grass for things we had left behind, we had to go and clean the toilets by cleaning the sink and picking up any rubbish left in the sink or in any of the drains. We also had to mop and wash the floors. After that, we went to retrieve the dustpans and brooms so that we could sweep and mop the floors. We brought the dustpans and brooms to the different rooms at camp christine and started to sweep any litter left behind before disposing of the trash into the big garbage bags outside each room. After we had swept the floors, we mopped the floors to ensure that it was clean. After that we went from room to room to do one more check in order to ensure that there was truly no litter left behind in any of the rooms. I think we could have improved on our sense of urgency when doing this also as it took quite a bit of time. We then loaded all of the Toyogo boxes and 配备 onto the truck.






See you next year, Camp Christine!



Published by 
Chan Zi Xuan
56th届 Secretary









28 November 2024

Annual Training Camp Preparation Sessions 2024

Hi Guides! As much as we are excited for ATC’24 to happen, we still have to go through many sessions in order to prepare for the upcoming camp, in order to make it run smoothly and have fun! These sessions started early before ATC on 29th November. We split into 4 different patrols, so that we get to worm with other people from other normal patrols, just for ATC!


Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P2:

On the first session of ATC prep, we built our indoor fire alter. I think we did a good job as all our lashes were really tight for our first session of ATC prep. However we could have 報時 more without the seniors reminding us. There were also a lot of zuobos thus we could have had a better man-power allocation. During PT, we could have also 等人  at times. On the second session of ATC prep, we had really little manpower and many of us had injuries. Thus our original plan had to be changed to building our creative gadgeting structure. During the first session we could have had a better sense of urgency and 報時 more often. Our lashes were mostly tight but our tripods were not as tight. Thus we need to work on our tripods lashes more. On the third ATC prep session, we built the kitchen shelter. We had lots of y1 zuo bos at the start as we did not know what to do. Thus our man-power allocation could have been better. We also should have 顶 the structure properly with our knee to the 木. Hence there were a lot of times when our safety was at stake as the structure was very unstable and was leaning. We also could have chatted lesser and 报时 more frequently without the seniors reminding us. We also should have chosen a better canvas sheet as the one we had taken had no holes at the corners. We also could have worked faster with a better sense of urgency. We could have picked out longer 木 as some of our 木were to short and had to be substituted.However we managed to finish the structure despite the burning sun. On the last ATC prep session, we built the flag pole. We could have had a better sense of urgency and worked faster. We also learnt our patrol dance and songs. During pre-camp inspection, we could have 报时 more and should have 照顾好人,照顾好东西 as a few of us y1s got cupped and our flag pole too. We also should have taken better care of our flag pole and not let the 头 动地. We also should have listened to our ICs giving us the layout instead of shouting over to ask for the layout.



Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P3:

In the weeks leading up to our Annual Training Camp, we had multiple CCA sessions to prepare for camp. During one of these sessions, we built a Kitchen Shelter on the elevated platform, together with P4. Through that, we all managed to familiarize ourselves with the steps to build a Kitchen Shelter, as well as find out what we could improve on during ATC itself. During our Camp Preparation sessions, we also practiced tying an Indoor Fire Altar, as well as a Flagpole. We took very long to tie the flagpole at first as many of us in the patrol had not tied a Flagpole before our Camp Preparation sessions. However, the more we practiced, the less time we took to complete our flagpole. For our Indoor Fire Altar, we practiced it many times. The more times we did it, the faster we would tie the next one, and we grew very familiar with the structure.  During our Camp Preparation sessions, we also came up with ideas for our Creative Gadgeting structure. We had to think of a completely new and different structure many times as issues would arise. For example, one of our structures might have been very unstable had we gone with it. One of our ideas was too similar to a standard baggage rack. One was too similar to another patrol's structure, so we edited it so it would not be the same. However, we did manage to think of a unique structure, and we managed to finish it. Apart from the building of structures we did during our Camp Preparation sessions, we also relabelled all our logistics and packed our 配备s and Toyogo boxes so as to ensure that our logistics were easily identifiable as our patrol's, and that we would bring everything we need to Camp Christine. All in all, these camp preparation sessions were fulfilling, and helped hone our hard and soft skills before ATC.





Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P4:

In preparation for Annual Training Camp 2024, my patrol attended three separate preparation sessions to train our skills and prepare for ATC. For the first session, we planned to start building the gadgeting structures for the Camp Development segment of ATC, to familiarize ourselves with them, which were the Indoor Fire Altar and Flagpole. We were already familiar with building the Indoor Fire Altar, but we had never built a Flagpole before. Hence, we enlisted the help of our Year 4s to guide us through the process. By the end of the first camp preparation session, we were much more confident in building the two gadgeting structures. On the second day of camp preparation, we decided to train up our pioneering lashes through lash training. We set aside 40 minutes for lash training and it definitely helped improve the tightness and quality of our lashes. Then, we worked on our creative gadgeting structure that we had come up with. As we were building, we improvised some details of the structure to allow it to serve its functions more effectively. Lastly, as we had some buffer time left, we headed to 团部 to relabel our patrol’s 配备 and Toyogo Box logistics. Overall, day two was to practise our pioneering hard skills and try out our creative gadgeting structure to see if it worked and aligned with what we had envisioned it to be. On the last day of camp preparation, my patrol combined with P1 to build a Kitchen Shelter. However, the process took longer than anticipated due to our lack of time management and the ground being too soft due to recent rainfall, causing the Arthurs to be uprooted easily despite our efforts to 打进 it down. After completing our Kitchen Shelter and 拆掉, we worked on a newly designed creative gadgeting structure as other patrols had similar designs as us. It turned out well and was exactly what we were going for. Lastly, we had some time left and used it to work on our patrol songs and cheers. Day three of camp preparation was very helpful in helping us learn to build the Kitchen Shelter faster and familiarize ourselves with building the new and improved creative gadgeting structure. Overall, throughout these three camp preparation sessions, everyone in the patrol was able to prepare ourselves and practice the structures for ATC. All in all, we managed to improve our hard skills significantly, as well as refresh our memories for the structures that we do not build very often.



Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P1:

Before we went to our Annual Training Camp, we had to have some Camp Preparation sessions. When we were having these sessions, we had to build some structures. One of which was an Indoor Fire Altar. While building the Indoor Fire Altar, we encountered some difficulties as we had some wrong proportions of the two tripods and the zinc plate, which is supposed to stand on the two 中长木s kept falling down and we had to make do with what we had. We also built a Flagpole. While attempting to build the Flagpole for the first time, we faced many challenges as it was the first time building a Flagpole for the Year 1s, who are now Year 2s. We also had to learn how to tie the Mickey Mouse lash and learnt about new logistics. Some of us also had a first time experience of using a rubber mallet. After our first unsuccessful attempt at the Flagpole, we managed to have a chance to attempt the Flagpole again at the next camp preparation session. This time we were more familiar with the structure and successfully managed to build the Flagpole, even though there were still some minor difficulties. Other than the flagpole, we also built a Kitchen Shelter with P4. Some of us had never built a Kitchen Shelter before, so it took some time to get used to building the Kitchen Shelter. We took quite long to build this Kitchen Shelter and the Kitchen Shelter needed to use the metal mallet. However, there were classes going on that day and even some examinations going on so we had to wrap the metal mallet with a cloth to try to muffle the sound. The cloth kept slipping off the metal mallet and the metal mallet ended up making a huge hole in the cloth, which slowed down our progress. We finally managed to get the Kitchen Shelter up after around two hours. We also had to build our Creative Gadgeting structure and after hours of planning and experimenting, we finally managed to come up with a structure that acted as a device to hang all of our quanzhis. We familiarized ourselves with this structure and managed to perfectly execute it during ATC. We also had to plan what we were going to make for outdoor cooking, and ended up coming up with a creative idea of making a wrap, which had chicken and vegetables in it. All in all, the camp preparations were very helpful for us and prepared us well for ATC.




Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P2:

The Pre-Camp Inspection was quite a trying experience, yet enlightening, for our patrol. We were frustrated and panicky when some of our patrol's belongings were kapped on the day of inspection. The items were taken from us because we had failed to take good care of them, and that was a key issue we needed to address. We were upset by these consequences of our actions, but it eventually became a learning experience. The tension within our patrol was palpable during the inspection. We knew we were disorganized due to our own negligence, and I was not very helpful initially, waiting for my seniors to tell me what to do. Of course, watching some of  our important items being taken away drove us into a state of panic, on top of the fact that we failed to complete the layout on time a few times. We were not ready for that, and the results showed what responsibility means. It was a moment that made me reflect on how easy it is to overlook small details, yet how crucial they can be in the bigger picture. But it was only after the Inspection that I began to grasp the motives of such Inspections. It's not all about just having our stuff in their places, but inculcating these qualities among us: responsible, accountable, and concerned for details. Nowadays, when one feels embarrassed due to those tough situations (during the inspection), I have understood they help us to become better Guides; pushing us to be reflective over what went wrong and changing our ways to act differently the next time. In the future, I am committed to taking better care of the patrol's stuff and preparing better for future inspections. I have learned from this experience that a person should keep things organised and take pride in what we do. Moreover, I will pay special attention to the improvement of my time management in order to efficiently manage tasks within the allocated time set. I want to use this experience as a learning experience to become a dependable, efficient part of the patrol who can handle problems with clarity and confidence. Our  Pre-Camp Inspection had taught me yet another valuable lesson that I can carry on further in my continuing journey as a Guide. 


After all our efforts in preparing for ATC, we know it will be the best one yet! Looking forward to it!


Published by
Chan Zi Xuan
56th届 Secretary





17 October 2024

Y2 First Aid Certification Course

Hi Guides! Knowing First Aid is very important as we are often on the move during CCA! It can also be very useful in our lives, and so we always send our Year 2s on a compulsory course to master FA! We have gained many skills through this course, so let’s share it with you!


Reflection from a Year 2 in P1:

In Term 4, the Year 2s attended a First aid certification course for our First aid Badges. The objective of the course was to equip us with First aid knowledge and skills and to be confident in performing First aid on others when in need. In the course, we first learnt how to react when we see someone unconscious on the floor, checking the surroundings for danger and using the AED. As the AED was a new machine to us, we were taught step by step on how to safely and correctly use it. The AED kit came with the machine, gloves, shaver, towel and scissors, which we were to use if needed. When using the AED, we had to take note if the person had hair on their chest, any medicated plasters, if their chest area was wet, if they had a pacemaker or if they had any jewellery around their neck. Precautions needed to be taken in such scenarios for us to operate the AED safely. We had to most importantly check for breathing of the person. The instructors also taught us a series of things, such as how to help a choking person, a person who fainted, a person who had a stroke and others like seizures. They also went through slides on the different types of injuries and how to treat them. We learnt different bandaging methods for different injuries like a severed hand, a fractured arm and more. Overall, it was a really enriching programme as we managed to learn a wide variety of First aid skills, how to perform CPR and how to use an AED. We were all very proud of completing the course with added knowledge on First aid because of the hands-on practices. This course equipped us with an essential skill and the confidence to carry out the skills that we have learnt and would help us in the future in the event when someone is in a life threatening situation.



Reflection from a Year 2 in P4:

A month ago, our batch went to school to complete our First Aid course. During the course, we learned how to treat different types of emergencies, such as low blood sugar, high blood sugar and many more. During the First Aid course, we learned how to help a person who was choking to stop, as well as what to do in cases where the victim faints. We got to practice with our batch mates on what to do in this situation, where we took turns to be the first aider and the victim. Aside from that, we also learned how to correctly do cardiopulmonary resuscitation, otherwise known as CPR. We did not use the real automated external defibrillator, or AED, but we did use a fake one for practice, as well as a dummy. We paired up and took turns to practice doing CPR on the dummy, and it was extremely helpful as we now knew how to do CPR and use an AED. We also learned what bandages there were in the first aid kit, what they can be used to treat, and how to tie them. We learned how to use a triangular bandage to bandage a dislocated shoulder and also use a triangular bandage to bandage a fractured arm. Once again, we paired up and took turns to be the one bandaging the other. Although we struggled a bit, we managed to get it done well with the assistance of our instructors. Aside from using a triangular bandage, we also learned how to bandage an injured person's head with a crepe bandage. In our pairs, we took turns to bandage the other's head. To many of us, bandaging the head was more challenging than bandaging a fractured arm or dislocated shoulder. However, with some guidance, we did manage to bandage our partners successfully. Although we did many things that we had never tried before the course, it was not only enriching, but also informative. The information and skills that we learned would definitely be helpful in the future, and we would try our best to remember as much as we can.



Reflection from a Year 2 in P5:

Attending a First Aid course for the first time was an eye-opening and rewarding experience for me. At first, I felt a little nervous because I was not sure what to expect. I was worried that I would perform the wrong treatment to the casualty. However, as the course progressed, I realised how important and empowering it is to know how to help someone in an emergency. During the course, we learnt various first aid techniques, from cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR to bandaging. When they first demonstrated the techniques to us, I felt very lost as there were many steps to memorise. The skills that were taught seemed complicated and overwhelming. However, with guidance from the instructors and encouragement from my batch mates, I gained confidence. The instructor broke down each step clearly, making it easier to follow. After repeating the steps multiple times, I slowly started to pick up the skills and techniques. By the end, I felt proud knowing I could potentially save a life if a similar situation ever arose. The course also taught me how to stay calm during emergencies. I learnt that staying composed during an emergency and acting quickly was the most crucial part of saving lives. During the course, we also learnt the Heimlich manoeuvre, and how to use the manoeuvre on different types of people, such as a pregnant lady. Furthermore, I learnt how to use bandages to treat wounds. The more practice I got, the more confident I felt in performing first aid to an injured person. Overall, this First Aid course was a meaningful experience. It left me feeling more prepared and responsible. Knowing I now have the skills to help someone in need gives me a sense of accomplishment and reassurance. All in all, this course was a fulfilling and enriching experience for me.



Reflection from a Year 2 in P6:

A while ago, we had our Year 2 First aid certification course. A few days before the First aid certification course, we were given a set of slides to revise before the activity so that we could go through the programme with some background knowledge of first aid and an understanding of the basics of first aid. During the certification course, the instructor gave us some instructions on how to deal with certain injuries such as a fractured elbow, an amputated arm or a broken leg. Before showing us how to bandage a fractured elbow, she first explained to us the various situations that could have caused such injuries and how to avoid such situations. She also explained that before helping anyone, we should also check our surroundings and ensure we keep a cool and calm attitude such that we do not panic and cause more harm to the injured person rather than help them. After that, she gave us a demonstration on how to bandage a fractured elbow and emphasised on the importance of ensuring the arm is firmly propped up. After she had given her careful explanation of things to take note of, she allowed us to try out the act of bandaging by ourselves. We were told to pair up and try it on each of our partners. At the start of the practice, a lot of us were struggling to remember how to properly do the bandage or were struggling to get the bandage to stay in place. Luckily, the instructor would walk around and check up on all of us to ensure that we were all clear on what to do. Under the supervision and guidance of the instructor, we were able to experience how to bandage an amputated arm, broken leg, or fractured elbow. We are very grateful to the instructure for her care and all the help she provided us. Overall, the First aid certification course was a very meaningful and memorable experience for us Year 2s to learn the importance of learning first aid and the basics of first aid.


All in all, it was an interesting experience and a lesson that we will remember for a lifetime — as our motto states — To Be Prepared! 


Published by
Chan Zi Xuan
56th届 Secretary

23 August 2024

Patrol Activity, 23 August 2024

Hi Guides! Today, we had Patrol Activity before our first Camp Prep Session for ATC'24! We are very excited to tell you all about it.


Reflection by a Year 1 in P1 on Patrol Activity:

During Patrol activities on 23rd August, we were partnered with P3 and tasked to build a Fireman's Ladder and encouraged each of us to climb over it. After tying and building the Fireman’s Ladder, we found that some of the Lashes were not tight enough even though we were given 15 minutes to tie them. I feel that we should have had a better sense of urgency and 抽 and hold tension while tying the Lashes to make sure they were tight. When I was tasked to 顶 the 木, I noticed that the Ladder leaned sideways occasionally. However, after communicating with the Guides on both sides of the Ladder, we managed to keep it steady. I was too scared to flip over and try to use the Fireman’s Ladder even though the seniors kept encouraging all the Guides to try. Hopefully, I am able to muster up the courage to do so next time. After that, we had a game called “Capture the Flag”, where the 2 Patrols had to retrieve either 1 of the 2 pieces of cloth corresponding to "true" or "false" to answer various questions related to information in the Guides' notes. In my opinion, our patrol revised the notes this time round, so we won the game by getting to 5 points first. Through these Patrol Activities, I learnt that tying tight lashes efficiently is very important as they have to support the weight of a person, and we have to tie quickly as well to ensure that we do not 过时.





Reflection by a Year 1 in P6 on Patrol Activity:

On 23rd August we had PA and we did Fire Man's Ladder (FML). But before that, we had lash training. Each member had to tie one square lash, one diagonal lash , and one A-架 and we were given 35 minutes. I was barely able to complete all three lashes and had some difficulty doing my A-架 as it was my first time doing a pioneering A-架 by myself but I managed to do it in the end. I think one improvement I could have made was to tie the square lash and diagonal with a greater sense of urgency so that I had more time to figure out my A-架. After that, we did FML. Unfortunately, our dimensions were off and at first, our second and third 木 were too close together but after making some adjustments, it was too far apart. Because of this, we were unable to flip. I think one improvement we could have made was to do it once and do it right , we should have measured the FML properly so that we could flip in the end. Overall, I think that this PA was quite successful as at least we were able to complete the structure but I hope we will not make the same mistakes in the future.




Reflection by a Year 2 in P4 on Patrol Activity:

On 23rd August, we had Patrol Activity. We were tasked to do a creative structure that represented Dunman High School and included rafting. We had to complete various challenges in order to ‘unlock’ different logistics. Each of the challenges were worth different points and were of different difficulties. As the number increased, the amount of points that could be acquired also increased. Some required the entire patrol while others only required one person and the challenges were actually quite fun. A lot of them involved a lot of cheering which I think is great for patrol identity, I feel that it also brought the whole patrol closer together as we had to work together for a lot of the challenges. We decided to make a swing as it represented the swings at GSL that we go to before 集合 and we were given 1h and 30 minutes. We were able to complete this task within 1h 41 minutes and I think that we did really well as most of the lashes were quite tight and we did not have to 从抽 any of them. However, one improvement we could have made was to work with a greater sense of urgency when completing the challenges as some of them took quite a long time. I think that this PA was very fun and I look forward to having more PAs planned by the Y3s.




Reflection by a Year 1 in P1 on Camp Prep:

After our patrol activity, we went to 团部 for ATC camp prep. Initially, we were planning to do lash training first and then start on our gadgeting structure. However, our counsellors suggested that we start on our structure. We started building an indoor fire altar. The process was quite smooth as we had done indoor fire altars just the week before. In the end, we finished the gadgeting structure much faster than the previous time, which was around 40 minutes, also having a majority of tight lashes. This was a big improvement, meaning we worked with a better sense of urgency and were getting better at tying tight lashes. Despite the improvement, we still had some issues like not all the 脚s of the tripod were touching the floor, therefore the tripod was quite unbalanced and shaky. Our counsellors explained and reminded us that it would be dangerous if the 木 holding the zinc plate and the tripod were unstable as there would be heavy objects such as bricks placed on the zinc plate and there would be food placed on the zinc plate and if the zinc plate were to fall or if the tripod was accidentally tipped over, the food and bricks on the zinc plate would also topple over. There would also be fire used to cook the zinc plate to cook the food, which could lead to members getting burnt if the zinc plate or tripod fell. The other problem pointed out was that our manpower allocation was not efficient as there were only two Year 1s tying lashes on a tripod while others were tying lashes on the other tripod. Thus, we learnt that we need to improve on our manpower allocation. Our counsellors also gave us Year 1s a “test” to name all the logistics needed for the indoor fire altar, which we were able to answer, showing that we were getting more familiar with the structure and logistics. Through this camp prep, I have not only bonded better with my ATC patrol members and learnt how to work with different people with an open mind but also had been given a chance to familiarise myself with the logistics and steps to make an indoor fire altar.



Reflection by a Year 2 in P1 on Camp Prep:

During our Camp Prep we headed to 团部 to carry out our activities. We overran slightly during Patrol Activity, so we had less time. Initially, we planned to carry out lash training. However, a counsellor suggested that we start building a structure immediately as lash training is not the same as doing an actual structure. Hence, we started to build an indoor fire altar. The process went quite well as we had just built the structure the week before, but there were still some parts that the Year 1s were a bit confused about. We set a target of finishing the structure in 35 minutes, but we ended up missing the target and took 39 minutes instead. However, it was an improvement from the time that we took for 集合, which was 45 minutes. It was a good improvement, but we can improve more by taking less time to tie our lashes, and making the lashes tighter as we had to 重抽 a few lashes, making the process take more time and also reducing the manpower we could use for other lashes. We also could have allocated our manpower better as our seniors pointed out that most people were gathered around one tripod while the two needed tripods were being tied, leaving two of our Year 1s alone. We also could have set target times to finish our lashes by, so that we could have a better idea of how fast we need to work. This camp prep was definitely a good way to check our standards of the structures, and also find out how we can improve on them.


Reflection by a Year 2 in P2 on Camp Prep:

On 23 August we had a Camp Prep session after Patrol Activity. We got into our Annual Training Camp patrols after PA. P2 had plans to combine with P3 to build a kitchen shelter, so that the Year 1s could familiarise themselves with the steps of building one as we would be doing so during ATC, and the Year 2s can recap on it too. This way, it would be faster and more time can be saved by combining patrols as only 1 kitchen shelter can be built at the elevated platform at a time. However, the lightning alert suddenly went off and we had to come up with a wet weather plan on the spot. I think that next camp prep session, we can be more prepared by thinking of wet weather plans and other problems we might face before the actual session. We decided to start planning and building our creative gadgeting structure for ATC at 团部 as a wet weather plan. The structure we came up with was a rubbish bin with rafting beside it to hold our stuff for example our 白绳 box. In the end, our structure turned out amazing and it worked exactly how we wanted it to. Though we did not get to build a Kitchen Shelter, we still managed to overcome the problem and change our plans without wasting time.



Reflection by a Year 2 in P4 on Camp Prep:

For Camp Prep, my patrol practiced the building of an Indoor Fire Altar, as well as learning how to build a Flagpole from the Year 3s. After tying the two tripods of the Indoor Fire Altar, we took the measurements for the tripods in order to tie the 定脚s. Afterwards, we tied the horizontals before adding the Zinc Plate onto the structure. However, due to not paying attention to the big picture of the structure, the 木 was slanted and it was not stable enough to hold the Zinc Plate in place. We also realised halfway through building the Indoor Fire Altar that we had collected a few wrong logistics. Thankfully, the Year 3s were extremely patient and allowed us to use different 木s just for this Camp Prep. After re-measuring, we attached the Zinc Plate onto the structure successfully and proceeded to tie the diagonals. After a short amount of 过时, we completed the structure. Most of the lashes were tight and secured in place. Afterwards, we had a debrief for our structure, and we proceeded to build our Flagpole. As none of my patrol mates had any experience with tying a Flagpole, we were all quite clueless despite reading the Guides notes in advance. Thus, our Year 3s patiently taught and guided us in building it. We learnt how to tie a Mickey Mouse lash, and how to use the 银钉s. We also realised that the building process was quite similar to a part of building a Kitchen Shelter. After all the guidance from our Year 3s, we left this Camp Prep session with a better understanding and more knowledge on building a Flagpole and overall, it was very enriching. I look forward to our next Camp Prep session!



Reflection by a Year 1 in P3 on Camp Prep:

During our Camp Prep we headed to 团部 to carry out our activities. We overran slightly during Patrol Activity, so we had less time. Initially, we planned to carry out lash training. However, a counsellor suggested that we start building a structure immediately as lash training is not the same as doing an actual structure. Hence, we started to build an indoor fire altar. The process went quite well as we had just built the structure the week before, but there were still some parts that the Year 1s were a bit confused about. We set a target of finishing the structure in 35 minutes, but we ended up missing the target and took 39 minutes instead. However, it was an improvement from the time that we took for 集合, which was 45 minutes. It was a good improvement, but we can improve more by taking less time to tie our lashes, and making the lashes tighter as we had to 重抽 a few lashes, making the process take more time and also reducing the manpower we could use for other lashes. We also could have allocated our manpower better as our seniors pointed out that most people were gathered around one tripod while the two needed tripods were being tied, leaving two of our Year 1s alone. We also could have set target times to finish our lashes by, so that we could have a better idea of how fast we need to work. This camp prep was definitely a good way to check our standards of the structures, and also find out how we can improve on them.

Published by:

Chan Zi Xuan

56届 Secretary