Searching for?

23 May 2022

Patrol Activity, 23 May 2022

 Hello Guides, 

Today, we had our last Patrol Activity with the Year 4s before they have their Passing Down Parade. All the patrols did Outdoor Cooking for the last Patrol Activity. Here are some reflections from the Year 3s in each patrol. 


Reflection from a y3 in P1:

On Monday’s Patrol Activity, we held an Outdoor Cooking session. It was the second time for the Year 3s, and it was also one of the last 集合 sessions with our Year 4 seniors before they stepped down. Thus, it was the last Outdoor Cooking session that our seniors guided us on what to do. As it was only my second time building an Outdoor Fire Altar, I was unsure of some parts of the structure. Hence, I should have revised the steps ahead of time, upon knowing that we were doing Outdoor Cooking on Monday. We managed to improvise on the small confusion of the position of the horizontals, and fortunately the fire altar could be used. Due to our lack of planning beforehand, the food items we had this time were the same, if not less, than the first Outdoor Cooking session. Some of my juniors seemed bored at the idea of having the same food items, and I could have done better by collating a list of what they wished to eat beforehand. The process of cooking itself was not as easy as the first session either, as the fire was easily snuffed out over and over again. As Year 3s that will soon step up as 领导层, we had to learn how to start a fire ourselves, and we had to light a fire each. It was not easy as the twigs would not light up, and we were overly dependent on the 木麻黄. We also had to stick to the short-short-long pattern for fanning the flames. We had inhaled a considerable amount of ash and soot in the process, but it was worth it when the fire relit once more.  Apart from a cooking mishap with the provided mee goreng, the cooking session went by smoothly, and I wish to bring back Outdoor Cooking as a more frequent activity after stepping up in the near future.



Reflection from a y3 in P2:

On Monday, we had Outdoor Cooking (OC). For our batch of Year 3s, it was the second time that we were able to experience Outdoor Cooking due to the relaxation of Covid-19 safe management measures. This time, we prepared to make marshmallows in a cone and popcorn. Earlier in the past week, we went to pick kindlings. We managed to pick a lot of them, so we were able to sustain the fire for a long time. The session was fun as we were able to bond with our patrol mates. We helped one another while building the Outdoor Fire Altar as well as cooking the food. We roasted marshmallows before, so it was pretty easy for us to do it. However, for those in a cone, it took a long time  to cook, but we were able to solve the problem and help the marshmallows melt faster. Popcorn was something new for us to cook, but we were unable to do so as we did not have enough oil and butter. However, we would definitely try again in the future and hope that it will be a successful try. This session was very meaningful to us as it was the last Patrol Activity session with our Year 4s, and we were able to become closer with our seniors and juniors through this activity.



Reflection from a y3 in P3:

For this week's Patrol Activity, we did Outdoor Cooking. It was also the last Patrol Activity with the Year 4s as well, so I was also quite sad. For the building of the Outdoor Fire Altar, I feel that we definitely could have improved on our sense of urgency. First of all, we took a very long time to 打进 the 中木 into the ground. I feel that we could have worked faster on that because after all, we have a limited time to build the structure. We could also have been more precise with measurements, such that the zinc plate would fit nicely into the frame of the Outdoor Fire Altar such that there would not be problems attaching it. However, that being said, the lashes we tied were quite tight and the structure was stable. I also felt that I enjoyed doing the Outdoor Cooking activity as well.  The activity was also very insightful as compared to the previous Outdoor Cooking session, we did a better job than before. When we were lighting the fire, the fire kept burning out and we had to do many things to sustain the fire, such as using the 白绳 box cover as a fan and fanning it desperately. I think this also served as an experience in teaching me what to do in these kinds of unexpected situations. It was also interesting to cook the food and the activity in general was enriching as we do not usually do Outdoor Cooking during 集合 or Patrol Activity. I also gained insight in the preparation leading up to the activity as I learned where to pick the sticks and 木麻黄 for the fuel to light the fire.




Reflection from a y3 in P4:

On Monday, we had our last Patrol Activity with the Year 4s before they stepped down. We did Outdoor Cooking (OC) for the entire duration of the Patrol Activity. To prepare for the session, we went to the park nearby to pick kindlings. We picked many kindlings to ensure that our fire was sustained. We built an Outdoor Fire Altar and started cooking. This was our first successful Outdoor Cooking session as during the previous session, we tried to make popcorn but it was unable to pop. This time, our seniors prepared a lot of marshmallows and sausages for us to roast. We also managed to cook 3 packs of instant noodles and some scrambled eggs. I really enjoyed this Patrol Activity Session as not only did I get to bond with the Year 4s before they left, but I also gained a deeper understanding on how to light up the fire. I was very proud of our patrol as we managed to sustain our fire on the first try. We used all sorts of things to fuel the fire such as paper, dried leaves and the burnt part of the marshmallow. This allowed me to learn about how to be adaptable to our surroundings as we ran out of kindlings to light up the fire. We went around searching for alternatives and found dried leaves around the GSL Level 1 area and used that to fuel our fire. We also had the chance to interact with other patrols as we went around asking for matchsticks and kindlings. Overall, it was a fun and memorable Patrol Activity as it was our last time spending time with our Year 4s as a patrol.



Reflection from a y3 in P5:

The Outdoor Cooking session during Patrol Activity was an incredible learning experience. During the building of the Outdoor Fire Altar, we encountered some problems as the 中木 was the wrong thickness and had varying heights. This led to the fire altar being slightly low and we encountered some problems when trying to  打进 the 中木. However, this also taught me to be more careful in the collection of logistics in the future, as the logistics we collect may have a significant impact on the stability and usability of the structure. During the Outdoor Cooking, we learnt how to start and maintain a fire using the matchsticks and twigs. We also learnt the importance of ensuring our logistics are in good condition so that the activity can be carried out smoothly, such as ensuring the condition of the twigs. This includes taking note of the colour, snapping sound, etc. of the twigs, so that they will be suitable for maintaining the fire later on. Additionally, I was touched by our seniors who spent a lot of effort to start and maintain the fire. They also did not eat much and only ate when we offered them food. We are inspired to be selfless seniors like them when taking care of the juniors especially when we step up to become 领导层 in the future. Last but not least, I also look forward to future Patrol Activity outdoor cooking sessions as Covid-19 restrictions begin to ease and we can go back to normal 集合s. Overall, we had an fulfilling and enjoyable outdoor cooking experience as we got to bond with both seniors and juniors. Furthermore, it was an especially memorable one as it is the last Patrol Activity session we would be having with the Year 4s before they step down.



Reflection from a y3 in P6:

During Patrol Activity on Monday, my patrol did Outdoor Cooking. Over the course of the PA session, we cooked french toast. When constructing the  Outdoor Fire Altar,  we had to measure precisely before we 打进 the 木, taking note of the dimensions. However, our structure was too wide to do rafting with the short-half bamboo, so we improvised and did netting instead. After the structure was ready, we set up the fire after placing the bricks, 木麻黄, and twigs on the zinc plate. It was difficult at first to sustain the fire as the wind kept extinguishing the fire. Hence, we had to assign work among ourselves, such as washing plates and utensils, preparing the food, lighting the fire, and blocking the wind. Also, it was hard for the fire to continue burning as some of the 木麻黄 did not catch fire fast enough, so some of my patrol mates had to blow at the fire to prevent it from extinguishing. Cooking the food took some time but it was worthwhile. It represented the efforts that we put in to prepare the food. I truly enjoyed the Outdoor Cooking session as we rarely conduct Outdoor Cooking, so I believe that this opportunity was great in helping us revise on how to build an outdoor fire altar as well as how to light and sustain a fire when cooking the food. I do look forward to more Outdoor Cooking sessions in the future with my patrol mates as it was an enjoyable experience.



We hope that everyone enjoyed Patrol Activity today!


Published by: 

Pok Jing 

53 届 Secretary 


20 May 2022

Skills Training, 20 May 2022

 Hi Guides, 

For this week’s 集合, we did Creative Gadgeting and then built a Kitchen Shelter. It was quite hard deciding if we should continue the Dry Weather Plan as although the skies were clear, the weather forecast had predicted it would rain later on. As such, we carried on Wet Weather plan of doing Gadgeting first. Thankfully, after the Creative Gadgeting was done, the Lightning Alert went off, and we could resume building a Kitchen Shelter. 


Creative Gadgeting

For this activity, the juniors were tasked to build a boat and an oar. This Creative Structure was previously not built before, and it gives the Year 3s an opportunity to step up and lead their patrol. We also gave them a few handicaps during the building of the structure, such as the sudden rotation of PL and PS to be the Year 2s and Year 1s. This would give the Year 2s and 1s a chance to also step up and they would have to adapt to this unforeseen situation. 


Reflection by a y1:

On Friday, we were originally supposed to build a Kitchen Shelter. However, as it looked like it was going to rain, we had a change of plans and were tasked to do Creative Gadgeting. We were given a storyline, and were tasked to build a boat. It was the first time I was building this structure, so it was a little confusing at first. When we were close to finishing the boat, we realised that we were short of one 木 for the diagonal which supported the structure. So, we had to connect 2 中长木 and use that instead. Though we were short of 木,  we managed to quickly come up with a solution to solve the problem. In the end, we were still able to finish building the boat, and it was able to stand on its own. One thing I felt that we could have improved on, would be the tightness of the lashes. Although we managed to complete the boat, it was still able to wobble around when shaken.  However, during this Creative Gadgeting, we were able to bond with one another in our patrol and it was very fun building the boat.


Reflection by a y2:

During the Creative Gadgeting of the boat, only the allocated ICs for the activity could see the picture of the boat. I found this activity quite interesting, because I could not see what the structure was supposed to look like.  I had to listen to my senior’s instructions and try to build the boat to be as firm and sturdy as possible. In addition, our patrol was not very fast and we took quite a while to finish. There were some people not doing anything, and I think that we could have allocated the manpower properly to ensure that our patrol could finish earlier. I think I should have helped more to make sure that our patrol finished the structure and did things more efficiently. A lot of our lashes were also loose and needed to be re-tied over and over again. In the end, our structure was still loose and very shaky. I think we should ensure that the Year 1’s lashes are tighter, and do more lash training to make sure we do better next time. In conclusion, I think that we should make better use of our manpower and time, and also ensure that our lashes are tighter to make the best structure possible. 


Reflection by a y3:

For Friday’s 集合, we first did Creative Gadgeting. I was one of the allocated ICs and the structure we had to build was a Boat and an Oar. When I first saw the structure, I was a little confused as there were many diagonals in the drawing. However, after some analysis, I figured out the main frame and I proceeded to allocate some manpower in tying the structure. Since my other patrol members were unable to see the structure, I knew that I had to give clear instructions so that we could build the structure as accurately as possible. A problem that we faced when building was that 团部 did not have enough 长木 and so we had to modify our structure and made used of the 中长木. This caused the proportions to be slightly off and the diagonals were unable to reach the furthest ends of the mainframe. As we were quite rushed for time as I did not allocate manpower promptly, we asked for time extension multiple times and our lashes were not very up to standard. I feel that we could have worked faster and have a better sense of urgency by 报时-ing more often. All in all, I learnt that leadership is very important during Creative Gadgeting as no one is more clear of the structure than the IC, and it is the ICs responsibility to disseminate information quickly and accurately to her patrol members. 


Kitchen Shelter

This was the first time the Year 1s had a chance to build a Kitchen Shelter and see how the structure looked like. The building of this structure also exposes the Year 1s to new lashes that are hardly used in other structures, such as the Mickey Mouse lash, and the 火结. The Year 3s were also required to step up and facilitate the building of the structure, as well as guide the Year 1s along while they built the structure. Since we have not built a Kitchen Shelter in a long time, this serves as an opportunity to allow the Year 2s and 3s to recap on how to build the structure. 


Reflection by a y1:

One of the activities we did for Friday’s CCA session was to build a Kitchen Shelter. I first saw this structure when the seniors gave us a briefing when we first joined, but I have never built it before. I must say, it was a great, new experience. I was quite impressed at how the structure could stand on just 4 木, and some guylines. The structure itself was not complicated, but it was quite tedious to 抽 the guylines as well as 打进 the arthurs. I learnt that teamwork was very important when building the Kitchen Shelter as when we had to 起 the structure, some people had to 顶 the 木, while others went over to the other side to 接. Also, we had to shift the position of the canvas sheet many times, and the canvas sheet was very big and heavy so it required us to work together to move it. I also learnt that the tightness of the lash was very important as there were only 2 lashes involved in the building of the structure, and they are important in propping up the shelter. Hence, we will need to tie both lashes tightly or else the structure will sag. From the building of the Kitchen Shelter I learnt a new lash called the Mickey Mouse lash. It was used for the main guylines of the structure. I also revised on how to tie the 八字结 to attach the 青木 to the canvas sheet. All in all, I found today’s 集合 very insightful and I have learnt many new things from today. 


Reflection by a y2:

Building the Kitchen Shelter on Friday improved our teamwork skills, and exposed us to a new pioneering structure that most of us were unfamiliar with. When building the Kitchen Shelter, we had to work together as a patrol. For example, some of us had to 顶 the spars to make sure they stayed in place, while others 抽-ed the 麻绳 and tied it onto the arthurs, securing the guylines. This allowed us to learn how to communicate and cooperate with one another. It was an enjoyable experience for all of us as we were given a chance to bond with our seniors and juniors. Furthermore, building the Kitchen Shelter also served as a reminder for us to work on our sense of urgency. We had to allocate our manpower properly and plan our time well, as well as do things as fast as possible, so that we would not 过时. We feel that we could have 报时 more frequently so that we could keep track of our time better. All in all, this activity has allowed us to understand the importance of teamwork and cooperation. It was definitely a wonderful and fulfilling experience building the Kitchen Shelter and we enjoyed ourselves a lot.


Reflection by a y3:

During last Friday’s 集合, we initially planned to build a Kitchen Shelter at the beginning of 集合. However, it seemed like it was about to rain. Hence, the seniors had to stop us from collecting logistics halfway and asked us to carry out the wet weather plan. After a while, the sky had cleared and we proceeded with building a Kitchen Shelter at the D Area. Hence, we had to collect logistics again and report to the D Area with our logistics. I had to retrieve the arthurs from Guides 团部 and I was initially confused as to where the arthurs were, but I eventually found them with the help of fellow Guides. Unfortunately, I had forgotten to take the metal mallet and my junior had to run back to 团部 and retrieve it for me. I thought that I was very careless for forgetting so easily, and I will not make such mistakes again. Once we had collected all the logistics, we were given less than 1 hour to build a Kitchen Shelter. However, my patrol had run into some problems during the building of the Kitchen Shelter. The 浅蓝木 that we had taken was not long enough to span the width of our canvas sheet, and the 红木 were of different lengths, which threatened the stability of the Kitchen Shelter. Only 2 Year 3s were present in my patrol for that 集合 including myself, while the rest of the patrol were unfamiliar with the process of building a Kitchen Shelter. Hence, my other patrol mate and I struggled to convey instructions to our juniors. I was quite at a loss as my memory was hazy, and I had difficulty remembering the steps and the different lashes that were required for the structure.  We had also lacked a sense of urgency, and we ended up as the only patrol who did not manage to successfully 起 our Kitchen Shelter by the end of our time limit. Despite our challenges, I am proud of my patrol for remaining optimistic and I feel that this was also a very good bonding opportunity with my juniors. I hope that we will be able to work more efficiently and deliver products of good quality together as a patrol in the future.




All in all, we hope that the Year 1s have learnt something new from today’s 集合, and the Year 2s and 3s took the opportunity to step up and lead their own patrol. 


Published by: 

Pok Jing 

53 届 Secretary 


13 May 2022

Combined Activity with Scouts, 13 May 2022

 Hi Guides! 


For today’s 集合, after a long hiatus to prepare for MYE/WAs, we had a Combined Activity with the Scouts. We had combined patrols with Scouts and Guides and played station games in those patrols. We ended off today’s activity with a mass three-legged race competition. 


Station 1: 

For this station, all but 1 patrol member are blindfolded. Together, they will have to tie a square frame using spars. This activity focuses on communication as the patrol members that were blindfolded had to trust their leader, who is not blindfolded, to give them clear directions, such as which lashes to tie and where they were. The patrol would need to have trust in their members and seek help from the leader if needed. The leader is to also look at the big picture, and help whoever is blindfolded. Through the activity, we have noticed the juniors becoming more open to chatting with their group mates and actively participating in the activity.


Reflection by a Year 1: 

During the Combined 集合 of the Scouts and Guides, I think the most memorable activity is the 夜里行军. During the activity, all the patrol members had to put on a blindfold except one and that person was required to give instructions on how to tie. When I heard about the long time given for the activity, I was quite surprised because I thought a frame was relatively easy to tie and do not need such a long time. When the timer started, I was quite apprehended as I was not very certain if I could tie the lashes properly while being blindfolded. When I was finally given some instructions by the leader who was not blindfolded, I started tying but had to retry many times as I did not know how many times I had gone around the spars and kept messing up the steps. When the timer was up, we failed to complete the structure and the lashes were quite loose. I realised that it was a game of team effort and that to complete it well, we all need to communicate effectively. Next time, I would also take more initiative and not keep waiting until someone tells me what to do. It was an activity that definitely was harder than I expected, and it was not an activity I could do with my eyes closed. I feel that my lashes can also be improved in terms of timing and the tightness of the lash. All in all, I still had fun doing the activity and all the other activities during the Combined 集合.


Reflection by a Year 2: 

The 夜里行军 activity was an interesting activity. We have never done it before so it was quite a memorable experience. During the activity, we had to use a blindfold to cover our eyes and tie lashes. One person was not blindfolded as they would be the leader to guide those that were blindfolded to build the structure. We had to tie 4 square lashes and 2 diagonal lashes to form a square frame with spars. I also had a chance to lead my patrol. I managed to pick up some leadership skills such as being patient and making my instructions clear. It was quite tough as those that were blindfolded could not work as efficiently as usual. This is due to not being able to see, hence they might have overlaps in their lashes which causes the lash to be loose and not up to standard. Overall, we managed to complete our lashes and the structure in a reasonable amount of time and we did not 过时. Some things I felt that we could improve on would be the standard of our lashes. We could tie our lashes tighter and 抽 more even though we are blindfolded. I feel that this was a memorable experience and I hope to have more opportunities to lead better in future.


Reflection by a Year 3:

The 夜里行军 activity was a fresh challenge, and a memorable learning experience. I experienced some difficulty in giving clear instructions so the patrol members knew what to do and handling the excessive manpower as the members were all blindfolded and lost. This made me realise the importance of the involvement of the people in the patrol aside from a competent leader as this game could model how every patrol member has to play a part in seeing what tasks have to be done and taking initiative to do so, apart from the leader just giving orders, in order for the delegated task, in which case was to tie a perfect square using spars, to be completed efficiently. Giving clear instructions from the perspective of the members by their limited senses and understanding of the surroundings was also crucial. Through the activity, I gradually grasped the hang of using clear and direct command words step by step such as “move forward”, “step over”, and “squat down”. Despite the fact that our patrol eventually did not manage to complete the given task, it was a rewarding experience that I could learn many tips about leadership in, such as clear communication skills and time management. Nevertheless, this station was overall a new and interesting experience that helped me identify my own various areas of improvement.



Station 2: 

For this station, it aims to improve the teamwork between the patrol members. Through doing a set of standard Physical Training, they learn to 等人 and also always keep a lookout for one another. This activity also serves as a good chance for the juniors to recap on how to do a standard PT. To add a twist to the Physical Training, 1 member from each patrol will be chosen to be the “sneak”, where they would have to do something slightly different from the rest of the patrol. The other patrol doing the PT would then have to try to guess who the “sneak” is. From this, the juniors are also able to point out which PT is not up to standard as that would be the “sneak”. 


Reflection by a Year 1: 

The “spot the sneak” section in last week’s PT was in my opinion, one of the hardest segments in the Combined Activity with Scouts and it was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the stations in the 集合. When I first heard that I would have to do the various segments of the PT, I felt anxious as Physical Training was not something I was good at and I was afraid I would drag the entire group down. However, when I heard about the game rules about someone having to do the wrong steps in various physical training segments, I felt a little confident, yet terrified at the same time. Terrified that there would be forfeits if I did the wrong steps despite not being the ‘sneak’. Confident because I knew I would be able to confuse the opposing team as I was sure I would be identified as the “sneak”, given how bad I knew I would carry this out. After all, I was well aware my physical ability was not on par with my other patrol mates. I quickly realised I was lagging in many sections during the activity— burpees, running and jumping jacks. I was sure I had already tried my best. Alas, I did far worse than my expectations. To my relief, they were encouraging and were willing to wait for me and ensured that I would not lag as much. That was when I learned what team spirit was — to include all of your members, despite their abilities and not discourage your members, even if they might seem to be lagging since everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. 

In the end, none of the members in the opposing patrol identified me as the “sneak”. I had mixed emotions from that, albeit relief but mostly amused that they did not notice that I did some of the PTs wrongly. I was slower for the burpees and did one less than the number I was supposed to do because the pace of the patrol was a little too fast for me. In hindsight, I learnt what team spirit was and the importance of being honest and this “spot the sneak” PT session was one of the most interesting forms of Physical training I had ever experienced.


Reflection by a Year 2: 

During Spot the Sneak PT, I think our patrol had a lot of fun and it was an activity that we all enjoyed. We had to carry out our PT properly and up to standard while trying to spot the sneak in the other group. It teaches us to always look out for one another and also teamwork and coordination. Every PT we did, we had to ensure that everyone in the patrol was following and nobody gets left behind. For example, when running, we had to always look out for each other to see if anyone could not catch up with the speed we were going and we adjusted our running speed accordingly. After every PT, we would stop and rest for a few seconds, checking if everyone is okay to move on to the next PT activity. Everyone was caring towards one another and we all managed to clear all the PTs successfully without fail. Even though some of the PT was quite tough for some of us, we managed to cheer for each other and motivate each other to push on and complete the PT exercises.  Through this, we learnt the importance of teamwork and the spirit of not giving up. Lastly, I also feel that the added element of spotting the “sneak” from the other patrol made the entire PT more fun. We were able to work together as a patrol to monitor who was not doing the PT accurately, so as to identify the “sneak”. In conclusion, I feel that this station allowed my patrol to work together better and we definitely bonded through doing PT. 


Reflection by a Year 3: 

One of the activities we did was Spot the sneak PT. I found that it was a really fun way of ensuring that our PT was standardised across each patrol.  As we had to look out for the “sneak” person who does 2 PTs incorrectly in the other patrol, we were more aware of how we were doing the PTs and also to look out for the standard of the other patrol’s PT. We also had to work together in the patrol to try and cover up for the “sneak” person so that it would be harder for the other patrol to guess correctly. However, I feel that we still could have done better, by counting the burpees together as a whole patrol and waiting for others to catch up with the rest before continuing the next activity. While teamwork was necessary, it also highlighted the importance of trust amongst patrolmates, especially in the sneak. As long as you know you are not the sneak, you would do your best to camouflage the sneak while doing standard PT. As such, I believe this “spot the sneak” PT is an interesting way of carrying out PT with a completely different patrol. Even though we were out of sync at times, we managed to complete standard PT together. While there is room for improvement, I felt that this station has brought our patrol closer together as we worked together to figure out who the “sneak” was from the other patrol. 


Station 3:

For this station, the patrol had to solve a famous Einstein riddle, which only 2% of the world population are able to solve. This seemingly easy riddle, however, puts the patrol's inferential skills, determination and also teamwork to the test. With so many clues given, the patrols are required to gather all the knowledge they are given in order to make use of them effectively in solving the riddle. The clues were also not stated in an obvious manner, which would require trial-and-error before the patrol is able to achieve the answer. Lastly, the patrol would have to work together to solve the riddle as 1 person working on it alone would seem like an impossible task. 


Reflection by a Year 1: 

During Scouts and Guides combined 集合 last week, we had station games. One of the stations, the station about the riddle, was one of the toughest. We had to find out the order of the houses, the owners of the houses and the food,drink and pet each owner has. When we were solving the riddle, we were given challenges like speaking only Chinese and the Year 3s not being able to speak. The riddle was very difficult and it took us a long time to figure out some answers. Even though our answer sheet only had some blanks filled in, all the answers were correct. One of the challenges was to do a physical activity and the Scouts in the patrol volunteered to do it. The riddle was mostly solved by the Year 3s. I think we could have worked together better as a team to fill in more blanks and get more points. I think teamwork is very important because collaborative problem solving leads to better outcomes and people are more likely to take calculated risks that lead to innovation if they have the support of a team behind them. Working in a team encourages personal growth, increases job satisfaction and reduces stress. All in all, I feel that this riddle game allowed my patrol to be more bonded as we all contributed a small part towards solving the riddle. I also found the riddle game fun as I have never attempted such a challenging riddle before. 


Reflection by a Year 2: 

13 May was our first 集合 in one month, as our last CCA session was on 11 April for Patrol Activity. Our batch had just finished their Mid Year Exams, and the Einstein's riddle component was very fun as it allowed us to take a break from the stress. This 集合 session was also a combined activity with the Scouts, and it was a good opportunity for us to work with them. The aim was to match each house to the correct colour, owner, drink, food and pets. The seniors said that only 2% of the people in the world could solve this riddle. This evoked a sense of competition between us and the other patrol. We worked together, and fortunately, we managed to solve the riddle in under fifteen minutes and earned a clue. However, I felt that we could have communicated with each other more, instead of writing down what we have individually found without explaining the reasoning behind it. We also could have discussed it together because more heads are better than one. This has also increased the bonding between our patrol as we managed to solve the riddle while the other patrol did not. I look forward to another combined 集合  session with the Scouts. 


Reflection by a Year 3:

For 集合, one of the station was the Einstein Riddle. This is something I have never done before and it was quite new to me. Since we seldom do such riddles in 集合, this was a breath of fresh air for me. My other patrol mates were more experienced, so they helped to lead us more in this area. I also met new people from Scouts. The way that they think was different from mine, so I got to understand different viewpoints of the situation. We slowly worked together, trying to figure out the correct answer. It was fun and frustrating at the same time, as we joked around and figured out each other's mistakes. Sometimes, when one requirement is fulfilled, another is not. This made it really frustrating, but we could only move on and seek other options. When we had to choose someone to complete a challenge, it also made us think about who were the most essential people that were participating actively in solving the riddle. Allowing people to do what they are best at can ensure maximum efficiency in completing the task. In the end, we did not finish solving the riddle, but I still felt a sense of accomplishment for not giving up. I think we could have 报时 more to keep better track of the timing and keep on task. I think it was good that the morale was high as we were joking around. This probably helped us to work slightly faster. I think the riddle also taught us to look at alternative choices that suit the given rules better to eventually get the correct answer. Overall, I would say it was enjoyable using our brains and having fun while working together.



Station 4:

For this station, each patrol had to search for 4 post-it notes hidden around the classroom, and complete four corresponding challenges as a patrol. This station aims to promote teamwork among the patrol, in working together to search for post-it notes and also completing the challenges. It also promotes communication between patrol members, such as gathering the post-its each member has found together. 


Reflection by a Year 1: 

One of the activities that we played during the Combined Activity was Escape Room. The activity put two patrols together in a race against the clock, which usually would have been very exciting. Sadly, as we were all still quite unsure of each other and we were not very bonded yet, we had a higher chance of losing. During the Escape Room, we were supposed to find the post-its as quickly as possible so that we could start the challenges quickly. The classroom was quiet for a while while everyone searched in earnest. People were checking through the lockers, crowding at the back, but I stayed at the front as I had an idea, to check under chairs. Afterwards, it was to no avail and I continued to search for post-its at the other parts of the classroom until I finally found one. After a while, my patrol finally found all the post-its and we began attempting the challenges. I found the challenges hard to complete, but it was fun and it has definitely fostered bonding within our patrol. One of the challenges we did was to answer a question as irrelevant as possible and I found it funny seeing my patrol members trying to think of words that did not answer the question. Another challenge was to bottle flip 4 times consecutively. This challenge really put our determination to test as we struggled to do it consecutively. There were times where we felt like giving up but we kept on trying until at last, we managed to bottle flip successfully. The challenge that was most memorable was the Riff-off, as it trained me to think on my feet while I tried to think of a song that starts with the last word from the previous song. I had to remain calm and composed as I tried to recall a song that fulfils the criteria. In total, I enjoyed the Escape Room activity tremendously as it allowed my patrol to become stronger together and also allowed me to interact with my patrol members more. 


Reflection by a Year 2: 

Overall, I found the escape room to be rather challenging, but it helped to foster bonding at the same time. For the first part, we had to look around the classroom to find the hidden post-it notes which contained numbers that corresponded to certain challenges. This short but simple activity helped to encourage bonding not only within the patrol, but also across patrols as well. The patrols could trade post-its that had the same number on them or even help each other to find the post-its, which promotes unity and friendship. Afterwards, we got to the second part, the challenges. The challenges were rather difficult for us. An example being that we had to sing a line from a song, and continue it with another song starting from the last word of the previous line. Most of the patrol members either do not listen to music or listen to music of other languages, thus proving it to be quite a challenge. Although we were unable to successfully complete it, we communicated during the activity and brainstormed together, which made us closer. Furthermore, another challenge was that we had to complete 4 consecutive bottle flips, another huge obstacle. At first, we were rather optimistic, but that quickly dulled as we could not even land a single one. This challenge in a way, taught us to be humble and persevere. Overall, the challenges were not easy, and although we did not complete all of them, we learnt important lessons from them.


Reflection by a Year 3: 

During last Friday’s 集合, the Guides had Combined CCA with the Scouts. We played station games; one of the stations was an Escape Room. In our new patrols combined with the Scouts, we had to find 4 post-its around the classroom, and complete the assigned tasks according to each post-it. The first task was a riff-off of an English Pop song, where we each had to continuously sing the lyrics of a song. At first, we had a hard time finding a song that everyone knew the lyrics to, but eventually found that all of us knew “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley, and managed to complete the task quickly. Then, we played a game where when asked a question, we had to reply with 3 unrelated answers to that question. We completed this task fairly quickly. I found that this activity also allows me to think on my feet and be fast and accurate when giving a reply. It was also quite funny when we heard the funny answers given by my patrol members that were completely unrelated to the question. Next, we had to flip a bottle 4 times, successfully and consecutively, and a different person had to flip the bottle each time. We had a hard time completing this task, but after some time, we managed to do so. I feel that determination was an important aspect, as without persistence, we would not be able to do such a seemingly difficult task. For the last task, we unfortunately ran out of time to complete it. As such, I felt that we could have worked faster when looking for the post-its such that we can have more time to complete the challenges. However, overall, we still felt that this station was a fun and engaging one. We hope to have more opportunities for Combined CCA in the future!


Station 5:

For this station, the Scouts and Guides had to put their gadgeting skills to the test. They were required to design a structure that was able to stand on its own, yet could reach a height as tall as possible. This activity allowed the Scouts and the Guides to work together better and think of how they could make use of the limited resources to effectively design a tall structure. Besides, this activity puts the juniors' hard skills to the test, as only with tight and standard lashes can they achieve a stable structure. Hence, this activity was a great way to bring about discussions within the patrol and allow the juniors to tap on their thinking hats. 


Reflection by a Year 1: 

One of the stations we did for Combined 集合, was Gadgeting. This time, it was not building a standard or creative structure. We did not have a sample to follow and we were told to use our creativity to build the tallest and stable structure. However, we had limited sources of 木 and they mostly were not very long to begin with. My patrol had a discussion and the seniors decided that we shall build a tripod since it was more stable for a base to support the structure. Then, we connect 1 Gadget pole to 2 others before connecting it to the tripod. I feel that this station allowed us to apply the lashes we have learnt and use them appropriately to support the tall structure. Halfway through the building, we were also told that some handicaps were given to some people. I found the part where some could only use 1 hand to tie the most impactful handicap. This is because we always require both our hands in order to tie a tight lash. As such, we would need to have good teamwork where both hands of two people will have to tie that one lash together. Although it was tedious, it was a great experience and bonded our patrol together more. All in all, I feel that this station was very interesting as we had not done Gadgeting like this before and I definitely had fun. 


Reflection by a Year 2: 

The Gadgeting activity was where we had to tie the tallest structure possible. It was fun and interesting as we had to find ways to stabilise a very tall structure. We had to work together to find ways to make the tallest possible structure while making it stand on its own. Our patrol had difficulties trying to make the structure stand. We came up with the idea of tying the sticks like a flag pole. However that did not work either. In the end, we did not finish and we only had a tripod. We were also given a time limit so we had to work together quickly to come up with ideas. We were also given some challenges such as not being able to talk or only using one hand. These handicaps were mostly imposed on the Year 2s and Year 3s and I believe this helped the Year 1s to be more independent since they had to do some of the tasks without the help of their seniors. Overall, I feel that this activity taught us the importance of thinking fast, teamwork and creativity. It has also taught the Year 1s to be less dependent on their seniors as they would also need to contribute a part of tying the lashes. 


Reflection by a Year 3: 

For the Gadgeting Station during 集合, our patrol had to build the tallest structure possible with only limited types and number of 木 in just 15 minutes. We were quite taken aback by the overwhelming task but we stayed calm and decided to plan our structure first. After quick discussion, our patrol came to the conclusion that we would use a tripod as our base and attach a few 木s on top in order to reach the height that we wanted. To effectively allocate the manpower in our patrol, we had two people tie the tripod and one person tie the clove hitches to get ready for our 定脚s. As we were not very sure about how we wanted to attach the 木 on top yet, the rest of us continued discussing and came to the conclusion that we would tie a 中木, a 短木and a 中长木 together, forming a small triangle in the centre, for it to reach the height we wanted and yet be stable. Once the tripod was done, 2 people started to attach the 3 木 together and the rest of us helped to tie the 定脚. As we were tying, the Station Master told us that some of us were muted and afterwards, some could only use 1 hand. Although this became a handicap, we were still able to efficiently work together and communicate to make the structure taller. Overall, this station taught us the importance of good communication among a patrol and how it can lead to success.




Station 6:

For this station, Scouts and Guides had the opportunity to try a traditional game, 绳桥. This station aims to teach the juniors the importance of encouraging and cheering each other on as a member completes the 绳桥. Increasing the morale of the patrol by cheering is very important and provides one with motivation to complete the task at hand, no matter how hard it may be. This also gives the Year 1s a chance to try out 绳桥 for the first time.


Reflection by a Year 1:

The traditional game of 绳桥 is really enjoyable! In this station, we spurred each other on with cheers and although it was a little awkward at the beginning because we didn’t know each other well, it got better as more time passed. Although it was quite hard for me to move quickly from one side of the 绳桥 to the other side, I tried my best to quickly climb over. The second part of the game was when we had to pull the frames apart for the other patrol to have their five minutes on the 绳桥. I was tasked with pulling the 绳. We were told to ensure that the 绳 had to be taut in order for the person climbing to climb safely. It was quite tough ensuring both sides of the 绳桥 were pulling with the same amount of strength to prevent the structure from leaning. Although my hands were a little red from the pulling, I feel very satisfied that I managed to climb the 绳桥. In the end, my patrol had gotten half of the points the group we were against in that station, had gotten. We were pretty shocked as we did not think we had done it especially slowly. Overall though, as it is our second time playing this game, we found it easier than we would have if we had not tried it before! I am also grateful to the seniors who had to build the structure before we started the CCA session and had to help support the heavy structure for all the patrols. 


Reflection by a Year 2: 

Last Friday, we had Combined 集合 with the Scouts, and it was the first time we had Combined CCA. We played station games for 集合, and one of the stations was 绳桥. We had done 绳桥 a few weeks ago, so this was my second time doing this activity. This time, the seniors made it a competition, each patrol competing with the others. While the first time doing 绳桥 helped me to learn more about the activity and was just a chance for us to experience and explore the activity, for the 集合 on Friday, we were required to do the activity with a greater sense of urgency to try our best to win. There was another challenge, however, as we had to work with the Scouts in our patrols too. They did not seem very familiar with the Guides traditional game, but they picked up the skill fast. In the end, our patrol managed to have quite a lot of people successfully doing the 绳桥 which gave us an advantage of winning. It was a fun and new experience. Through the activity, I not only learnt about the skill set, but also about stepping up. As 绳桥 required arm strength and flexibility, it was not easy, and for our patrol, after some of the seniors did 绳桥,there was a period of time when no one wanted to step up, and thus I volunteered. I learnt that it is important to step up when it is needed. Overall, it was enriching and also fun, and it was nice to experience combined 集合. 


Reflection by a Year 3:

On Friday’s combined 集合, we had to do 绳桥 for one of the stations. The objective of the station was to encourage and motivate each other so that everyone could complete the 绳桥. I felt very motivated from my patrol mates’ cheering, and was able to complete going across the 绳桥. I think that this station was very meaningful as it showed us just how important and motivating cheering could be. Although it was hard to do the 绳桥, I managed to complete it because of my patrol mates cheering for me. It was the first time some patrol members tried 绳桥, but I am proud that they were able to complete it and have the courage to try the 绳桥 for the first time. With everyone’s cheers and motivation, it pushed every one of us to try out the 绳桥 and complete it. The other part of this station was to help the other patrol 定 the 绳桥 structure.Without us, the other patrol would not have been able to go on the 绳桥 as there would not be enough people to help support the frames of the structure. It also taught me about how it was important for people from different patrols to help one another out, as some activities required more people to carry out the task smoothly. Although this 集合 session was a competition between patrols, we would still help out the other patrols and cheer the other patrols on. We learned that not everything is a competition and no matter what, we should prioritise helping each other out first. Overall, it was a fun experience having 集合 sessions with the Scouts as we could learn from one another and make memories together.  



Three Legged Race:

To end off, we had a mass three legged race. This activity aims to promote bonding between Scouts and Guides, as each Scout had to pair up with a Guide to participate in the race. Only through teamwork and communication, can each pair pass the finish line smoothly. We have observed that some pairs tried to come up with a command for them to progress together faster, which was great in showing how the Scouts and the Guides have become more bonded through the game. All in all, the race was a light-hearted way to end off today’s Combined Activity where the Scouts and the Guides have gotten a chance to interact more. 


Reflection by a Year 1: 

The 3-legged race we did during the combined Scouts and Guides activity last week, was something that I have not done in a very long time, so getting to do this activity made me feel very excited. With my legs tied to someone else's, I was “disabled” and could not walk around wherever I wanted to freely. Because of this “disability”, I had to cooperate well with the Scout I was working with. To prevent us from tripping over, we tried to create a system as to when which leg would be used.  Not only did we have to prevent ourselves from tripping, but we also had to be swift in our pacing in order to win the challenge. Even though it was difficult working with someone that I was completely unfamiliar with, I still had to learn to work well and cooperate with them. Through this activity, I learnt the importance of teamwork and cooperation with other people. It was important that we listened to one another to know when we should move or when to speed up. In conclusion, I felt that this activity was a great way for us to work with different people and have a lot of fun.


Reflection by a Year 2:

During the combined 集合 with the Scouts, the last activity was the most memorable, the three-legged race. During the three-legged race, the rules were that a Guide had to be paired with a Scout. Although it was extremely awkward because we barely knew any of the Scouts, however, we managed to overcome the awkwardness. When participating in the three-legged race, I learnt that we must learn how to adapt to the given circumstances. Even though the situation was not what we had expected and was not something we would have chosen to do, we still managed to complete the race and even made new acquaintances with our batch mates, seniors, and juniors. During this activity, we had a lot of fun. Despite the fact that this activity was not in our comfort zone, it turned out to be a valuable experience. We learnt many soft skills such as communication and teamwork with people who we are not familiar with, as well as stepping out of our comfort zones, all of which are useful skills which we can use in the future.

 

Reflection by a Year 3: 

The last activity for the combined 集合 was a 3-legged relay race, and it was a competition between patrols. Each pair of 2 members were to tie their left and right leg together, with the objective being walking from one edge of the road to the other side in sync. However, my patrol had an odd number of members, with 5 Guides and 4 Scouts. One Scout left before the race started, hence we had 4 pairs. Most of us did not know what to expect from the relay race. Each pair was supposed to walk or hop to the other side, a total of four times, or 2 laps. As I was paired with someone shorter than me, I did my best to slow down and count a pace that would help the both of us walk in sync. Another pair from my patrol had an interesting idea of crab-walking, which reduces the chance of falling. As the race started, pairs from both sides rushed to get to the other side, and it was hectic squeezing through the crowd. As we completed 2 laps, we had to raise our hands to signal that we were done. The IC had a hard time keeping track of who was done and who was not. Had we kept to an orderly relay race, the ICs would have an easier time identifying the fastest patrols. Overall, this activity taught me to look at the bigger picture even if it is a race, apart from micromanaging and working together with my partner.



All in all, we hope that everyone had fun bonding with their patrol during this Combined Scouts and Guides Activity, and made some new friends. 


Published by: 

Pok Jing 

53 届 Secretary