Orientation Preparation 2026

Hi Guides! The time has come for us Guides and Scouts to prepare for the new Year 1s who would join our school on 13 January 2026. At the same time, they are given the chance to train and build up on their skills and discipline within their assigned Committees. This year's theme was Carnival!

Lounge

Reflection from a Year 2 in P4:

This was my first Orientation Preparation session, and I was assigned to the Lounge committee. At the beginning, I was unsure of what to expect, but as the session progressed, I gained many valuable learning experiences. During OP, I learnt how important cooperation with the Scouts is, as teamwork plays a big role in ensuring that tasks are completed smoothly and efficiently. We had to work together to build a Lounge structure, and this required clear communication, coordination, and mutual support among everyone involved. Through this experience, I learnt practical skills such as how to tighten my lashes properly. This was something I struggled with at first, but with guidance and practice, I gradually improved. I also learnt the importance of having a strong sense of urgency. In OP, time is limited, and delaying tasks can affect the entire 团. I realised that working efficiently is not just about finishing my own task, but also about ensuring that others are not held back because of my actions. I learnt the need to step up and help the rest of the 团 whenever possible. There were moments when I had completed my assigned task and felt tempted to stand around and rest. However, I came to understand that being proactive and offering help is crucial, especially in a team setting. OP is not about individual performance, but about how well everyone works together to achieve a common goal. Physically, the session was challenging, especially when moving logistics. I found it tiring, and at times felt like giving up, but this experience taught me the importance of perseverance. Even when I felt exhausted, I reminded myself that everyone else was also pushing through their own challenges. This motivated me to continue and give my best effort. For future 集合s and the next OP session, I hope to improve my lash timings and overall quality so that my work can be more reliable and efficient. I also aim to persevere more when moving logistics and constantly remind myself to keep trying. Overall, these OP sessions served as a meaningful learning experience that helped me grow both physically and mentally, and I look forward to improving myself in future sessions like this.

Reflection from a Year 3 in P1:

In preparation for our CCA Exhibition for the incoming Year 1s, we had our Orientation Preparation ‘26, where both the Scouts and Guides 团s were divided into a few committees, such as Lounge, Creative Structure, Gadgeting etc. and I was assigned to Lounge! On the first day of OP’26, we started with some icebreaker activities to familiarise ourselves with one another. Then, we first collected our logistics for the various venues, starting building the Lounge, taking small breaks and lunch breaks in between. Since it was our first OP’26 session, our In-Charge (ICs) gave us more leeway for making mistakes because we were not as familiar with the structure just yet. The first session was also for finding errors and solutions. Hence, we had spent most of the time understanding our mistakes. For example, we had encountered one problem because our floor boards on the structure were not stable when we stepped on it because all the pressure was only on one 木, making it dangerous to step on. Hence, our solution was to add more 粉红木 to spread the pressure across more points of contact. Other than that, I learnt that even if we are 做不-ing, we should always still take the initiative to take some awareness to our surroundings, seeing if we could do other tasks, for example, 清理场地, 收麻绳, even if the ICs say that there is nothing to do at that moment. Due to us not managing our time properly, we had 过时-ed and by not doing so, we could have been much more productive in the building of Lounge and hence, would not 过时. Fast forward to our second OP’26 session, since we had already 困-ed the 木s we needed, it was much easier to collect logistics. This time, we were more productive, finishing the structure much earlier than expected. This session was also much more smooth-sailing and well done. However, our sense of urgency and 报时 could have been improved, especially during 拆掉. Since we finished earlier than expected, a lot of us were complacent and started to slow down the pace. Moreover, we could have 报时 more often since our lack of 报时-ing made us lose our focus and sense of urgency. During the third OP’26 session, we, the Year 3s, would 集合 a while before the Year 2s and Year 4s did. During this period of time, we had some of us take charge. Under this leadership, although we were slightly lost at times, we worked with a sense of urgency and immediately identified our mistakes and quickly fixed them, which ensured that our structure was stable. When the Year 2s and Year 4s 集合-ed, we were already done with the main structure, left with only the table, seats and floor boards, which was great progress. The next 2 hours were to complete the structure and to make sure our structure was up to standard. Although during the tour on the actual day, the Year 1s were scared or shy to go into the Lounge, seeing that some of them still took the courage to step in and see that the structure was so stable made me feel a huge sense of accomplishment and pride in the structure and our committee. From OP’26, I had learnt many things from my Year 4s on many aspects of Guides, such as leadership, including how to better 集合 the 做不s, how to stay organised, and on soft skills like communication, teamwork, adaptability etc. I felt that OP’26 also gave me the opportunity to better bond with my Year 2 juniors and I was very heartened when they came to me for help or to clarify things they were unsure of or even just for small talk while we were tying lashes. Other than that, I learnt how our sense of urgency, 报时 and proactiveness in everything we do are all interconnected to make sure we stay on task. My favourite part of OP’26 was not just bonding with my juniors, batchmates or seniors, but also being the pillar of support for them, assisting them in every way possible. One thing I think really helped me identify my weaknesses and strengths was the debrief session at the end of every OP session, as it really helped us reflect on what we could have done better, not just individually but also as a whole committee. Hence, OP’26 was a very enriching experience for me and a great platform for me to bond with my fellow Guides. 

Creative Structure

Reflection from a Year 2 in P2:

For my Creative Structure committee, we were tasked with building a Food Truck for Orientation Preparation ’26. At first, I felt extremely nervous yet intrigued when I saw the layout of the Food Truck, as it appeared quite challenging to construct. Since OP’26 was my first ever OP, I had little idea of what to expect. I had heard from my seniors that OP was both demanding and enjoyable, which made me look forward to the experience. During the first session, we set personal goals and planned how to work towards achieving them in the following sessions, such as tying our lashes within standard timings and ensuring that their quality met the required standards. Initially, I struggled slightly to keep up, as it was the start of the year and it had been a while since my last CCA session. Nevertheless, I persevered and gradually managed to adapt. Over the next two sessions, we focused on constructing the main frame of the Food Truck and completing the decorations as well as the front of the truck. By the end of OP, the Food Truck was finally completed, and the end product looked amazing. We felt a strong sense of pride as we had built the Food Truck together as a team, and seeing the final result made all our hard work worthwhile. We were also excited to display it to the new batch of Year 1s during our CCA Exhibition. On the actual OP day, the Food Truck served a variety of treats such as popcorn and s’mores. After experiencing my first OP, I felt that I worked relatively well with my committee members. Despite the challenges and difficulties faced, it was a fun and meaningful experience that allowed me to apply the skills I had learnt from Guides. From this OP, I learnt the importance of persevering during hard times, and to increase my sense of urgency as well as improve my hard skills. I also learnt how to be good manpower, to ask my seniors what to do when I finish my task so that I will not be a 做不 and to help the whole team or committee to finish the structure on time. Moving forward, I will continue to improve on my hard skills and apply the new skills I have learnt in future OPs and 集合s.

Reflection from a Year 3 in P3:

As expected, building an Orientation Preparation structure was not easy and pushed all our limits. We spent two and a half days building our Food Truck structure and making sure it was presentable to the Year 1s. During the process of building, we started off quite relaxed and lacked a strong sense of urgency especially during the first OP session. There was a severe lack of 报时 and our lashes were not well up to the standard time and tightness. Most of us also failed to live up to our “不是跑，就是飞” motto, as we should not have been walking even when we were asked to 集合 or gather logistics. Another thing I learnt in OP is that every lash counts. In the words of a teacher I heard this from, “a single loose lash can affect the whole structure”. Regardless of whether the OP session was ending or if our lashes were part of the main frame, they should be tied neatly and tightly. Every lash reflects our commitment to making sure OP is a success. As such, we took the feedback from our seniors and ICs to heart and worked harder during subsequent OP sessions. It was all thanks to the blood, sweat and tears, literally for some and figuratively, that we got the structure up on time and made it presentable. Looking back, some things that could have been improved aside from our sense of urgency could have been our cautiousness as we had many casualties during the OP. Something both us Guides and Scouts have to remember is that we are all in this together and we should look out for one another because 团的力量大. It is not just about ourselves but ensuring everyone can get through OP safely. We should work together and also help one another more. I hope to carry all these lessons learnt during OP to future 集合 sessions because regardless of what we are doing, a sense of urgency, a mindset to try our hardest, and teamwork to not just work together but make sure everyone is safe, is key to being a strong patrol, team and 团 as a whole. All in all, I am still proud of the Food Truck structure we built and how far we had come together because at the end of the day, we worked hard together to build the structure to the best of our ability. This experience, though very demanding and challenging, showed us how much we can accomplish by working hand in hand. With that in mind, I look forward to going for OP next year, albeit that time as 领导层.

Gadgeting

Reflection from a Year 2 in P1:

Gadgeting during Orientation Preparation ’26 was a fun and memorable experience, even though there were many challenges along the way. I was in the OP’26 Gadgeting Committee and I really enjoyed the process because it allowed collaboration between the Scouts and Guides, to put our creativity to work, and also apply practical skills that we had learned during past 集合s. I had also made some new friends along the way, as we had to constantly cooperate and rely on one another, not only for support but also for encouragement, and help one another when we faced difficulties. Seeing our structures gradually come together was very satisfying, and it felt rewarding to know that we built something impressive, functional, and fun with our own hands and abilities. However, the process was not always smooth-sailing. One of the main challenges we faced was our Rotating Display Stand structure. It kept 飞脚-ing, which made it very frustrating to deal with. Every time we thought we had fixed it, it would 飞脚 again. We spent a very long time trying to adjust and secure it properly. This tested our patience, critical thinking skills and teamwork, as we had to keep communicating with one another to identify what had gone wrong and how to better improve it. I kept being tasked to 顶 and to retie the same lash over and over again as we had to readjust. During this process, we also had to encourage each other not to give up, which taught me the importance of perseverance and supporting one another when things do not go as planned. Another challenge was one of the Cornhole game structures we built. We realised that the dimensions of the two sets of Cornhole games were not the same, which made it inconsistent for use. We hence had to retie and adjust it to make it more consistent and standardised to the first one. This took much longer than expected and required several attempts before we were satisfied with the result. From this, I learnt the importance of long-term planning ahead and planning carefully, measuring accurately, and checking our work early to prevent larger problems later on. Despite these challenges, I still found OP’26 Gadgeting fun and meaningful. Overall, I learnt a lot from OP’26 Gadgeting. Firstly, teamwork is very important and communication is key, especially when facing difficulties. Secondly, patience and resilience are very crucial as things do not always go smoothly and might not be up to our expectations on the first try. Thirdly, a strong sense of urgency, proper 报时, and tying tight lashes are crucial for the stability of our gadgets, hence I would need to improve on the tightness of my lashes and 报时 more often. All in all, it was a very fun and enriching experience, and I had a great time working with my seniors, batchmates and fellow Scouts.

Reflection from a Year 3 in P4:

This was my second year in Gadgeting Committee and I can say that, as I have been in Gadgeting for two years and we also do it during most 集合s, I am familiar and used to Gadgeting. There were some setbacks as some of the Scouts were not used to Gadgeting which is very understandable as they do not do it often. We taught them the essentials of Gadgeting, such that Gadgeting lashes could be tied with one less frap and round than Pioneering, and after a while, they also got more used to tying Gadgeting lashes. We had to build a Rotating Display Stand, Dustbin Box that could be opened when pressed down with your foot on a lever, and a Kitchen Shelf, which had a lot of details. We also had to build two Cornhole Game structures and one Basketball game structure, which the Scouts and Year 1s who came to visit our exhibition absolutely enjoyed, so we felt a sense of accomplishment as we made the Year 1s smile and become interested in considering to join Scouts and Guides. Although that was an enjoyable experience, not all of Orientation Preparation was the same. There were certain times when we all felt really stressed, burnt out and just felt like giving up, but we persevered and managed to complete OP. I am really proud of every one of the juniors and manpower who made the effort to come for every single OP session as we really had a lack of manpower, with most of our manpower only coming on the last OP session, in which we were already almost done with the structures. An area that I felt I have grown in is communication with people I was not very familiar with. Before OP, I did not really know how to communicate with the Scouts as we barely interacted for 集合s or events, but after OP, I have found out that most of them are quite cooperative and I now know how to communicate better and work well with them. Overall, OP had a lot of ups and downs, but it was a necessary learning experience that I really enjoyed a lot, and I look forward to OP’27.

Performance

Reflection from a Year 2 in P1:

During Orientation Preparation ’26 and the rehearsals, I was apart of the Performance Committee and we built two structures, which were the Fireman’s Ladder (FML) and the 绳桥. We first built the FML by tying three 青木 to two 红木 using square lashes. Next, we tied the 绳桥 by first tying two A-架s, using the 营绳 to tie the two A-架s together. After finishing the two structures, we started to practice our performance stunts. Starting with the FML, we took turns to flip over it. Through this, I learnt certain techniques such as keeping our legs together when flipping to ensure that it does not bend when flipping so as to make sure that we do not get hurt from the stunts. Next, we practiced 绳桥. I learnt more unique techniques such as moving my hands and legs at the same time so that I do not get stuck. From these practices and rehearsals, I had many takeaways. First, I learnt that I could cheer much louder, especially during the actual performance, so that high morale is maintained throughout, and it also shows the Year 1s our enthusiasm. During the rehearsal, the anchor at the end could barely hear us, also due to the music being louder than our cheers. Furthermore, if the rest of the 团 cannot hear us cheer, they will not be able to cheer with us. This will make the performance appear awkward and silent. Secondly, safety is not just important but should be our first priority. During the rehearsal, the FML was leaning to one side. This makes the performance dangerous and unsafe. We should have 顶-ed the FML properly and use three points of contact to drive the 木 into the ground so that the FML would not sheer. Another example is, during the 绳桥 performance, the rope was not taut. This is dangerous as the performer may fall. Furthermore, when a performer reaches the end of the 绳桥 we can tell them when to turn so that they don’t hit their head or their leg when turning. When the performer is reaching the end of the 绳桥, the people on the other side can also pull harder so the climber can turn easier and safer. Also, I could have had a better sense of urgency. Thirdly, “不是跑, 就是飞”, we took a long time as we walked to our positions instead of running. This causes us to take more time to perform and it also makes the performance sloppy. Hence, we should have a better sense of urgency. Our actions should be sharp and quick, like through 集合-ing faster so it looks less sloppy. In future 集合s, I will practice 顶-ing better and also cheer and 报时 louder. Last but not least, I learnt that I should tie my lashes better, tie it once and tie it right. During 集合s, I will also work on the tightness of my lashes so that I would not have to 重抽 them so many times. In conclusion, OP’26 was a really exciting, fun and enriching but tiring first experience for me. 

Reflection from a Year 3 in P2:

Being in the Performance Committee for Orientation Preparation ’26 was a truly memorable experience. For the Performance Comm this year, we carried out 绳桥 and the Fireman’s Ladder (FML). I was also part of the Performance Comm during OP’25, but we only did the FML then. As a result, I was really looking forward to attempting 绳桥 this year. Throughout the many OP sessions, we set various goals to work towards. During the first session, we familiarised ourselves with the building of the FML and 绳桥, as well as the techniques required for flipping and climbing along the rope. Over the following two sessions, we focused on refining our techniques while also improving our speed and timing. These structured goals gave us a clear vision of what we were aiming to achieve during OP and what we wanted to showcase to the new Year 1s during the CCA Exhibition during the actual Orientation Day. I felt that this made the entire process more fulfilling and well-organised. Initially, I was unsure and quite afraid that my performance for 绳桥 was not up to standard. However, through consistent practice and encouragement, I was able to improve my timings and climbing techniques. There were several areas we needed to work on from the start of OP, such as our cheering volume, the way we 顶-ed the structure, and our overall sense of urgency. With constant reminders and encouragement from our In-Charges (ICs), the Performance Comm showed significant improvement over time. Although not all our dry-runs showed major progress, with some hiccups along the way during practices, such as incorrect mat arrangements or the FML being set at an inaccurate height, we managed to persevere, overcome these challenges, and stay positive by trying again. There were moments when I felt exhausted and overwhelmed, but my committee members always found ways to cheer one another up, whether through random comments or humorous jokes that made all of us laugh together. These moments made OP far more enjoyable, and everything felt much more manageable as a result. Overall, I was satisfied with my performance, and I feel that the OP’26 Performance Comm was highly committed and put in our best efforts during every session. I will make sure to apply all the learning points I have gained, such as constant cheering and maintaining a strong sense of urgency, during normal 集合s. From my perspective, OP’26 was a great success and an excellent learning opportunity.

Outdoor Cooking

Reflection from a Year 2 in P3:

During the three Orientation Preparation sessions and the actual OP day, I gained many meaningful experiences, especially as part of the Outdoor Cooking Committee. Across the first three sessions, I learned how to prepare different types of dishes such as Pineapple Rice and Taco Shells. Although the sessions were physically tiring, they were also very enjoyable and fulfilling. Through these activities, I realised that Outdoor Cooking requires not only practical skills but also teamwork, patience and resilience. One of the most memorable dishes we learned to make was Pineapple Rice. The process was more complicated and physically demanding than I first expected. First, we had to cut the bottom of the pineapple and remove a rectangular section from the side. Next, we dug most of the pineapple flesh out to create enough space for the rice and water. After adding the ingredients, we placed the cut-out piece back as a lid and cooked the pineapple over the fire. This required precision and skill, and it showed me how challenging cooking in an outdoor environment could be. I also really enjoyed working together with both the Scouts and Guides. Despite coming from different groups, we communicated well and supported one another throughout the sessions. One of my favourite moments was making and eating s’mores together after a long day of preparation. It was a simple activity, but it strengthened our bonds and boosted team morale. The actual OP day was the most exhausting part of the entire experience, as the workload was heavier and the pressure was higher. However, seeing the Year 1s enjoy the popcorn and s’mores we prepared made all the hard work worthwhile. Overall, this experience taught me the importance of perseverance, collaboration, and serving others with a positive attitude. These lessons will stay with me beyond OP’26 and help me grow as a more responsible and resilient individual.

Reflection from a Year 3 in P2:

I remember being extremely excited when I learnt that I had been assigned to my favourite committee once again, Outdoor Cooking. As I had prior experience, I looked forward to creating new dishes and interacting with the new committee members. During the first session, we introduced ourselves to one another, and the Year 4 In-Charges (ICs) presented the new dish items that we would be serving to the Year 1s. After going through the recipes, we immediately got to work and began constructing our improvised Indoor Fire Altar (IFA). Initially, it was rather challenging as we lacked manpower, and it had been a long time since we last tied lashes. This explained why our structure was loose during our first attempt at building the IFA. However, we quickly adapted, and my Year 4 ICs appointed me as the Patrol Leader in charge of building the IFA. This greatly helped the committee in terms of speed and organisation, and we were able to construct the structure more efficiently. We then recapped our fire-starting skills and moved on to food preparation. It was a truly thrilling experience to manage the fire while cooking appetising snacks for everyone. Over the next few sessions, we continued refining our recipes, and our structure gradually improved in stability and tightness as well. On the actual CCA Exhibition during the actual Orientation day, everyone worked together and successfully provided sufficient food for all the Year 1s who were interested in our CCAs. It was heart-warming to see the smiles on their faces as they took a bite of the popcorn and s’mores we prepared. Although things were rather hectic at times, we managed to persevere, which ultimately led to our sweet success. Overall, OP’26 was an enjoyable experience as it provided me with opportunities to lead my committee members, allowing me to further hone both my soft and hard skills. While there were some hiccups along the way, I am proud of my committee for believing in one another and never giving up. There were many moments when I felt exhausted from constantly switching between food preparation and managing the fire, but my committee members were always there to support me. They lightened the mood by cracking jokes, experimenting with unusual food combinations, and laughing together, which made the experience even more memorable. I believe that I performed well and did a good job working closely with my other members, and I will definitely apply the skills I learnt in my daily life and future 集合s, such as leadership skills, problem solving, critical thinking and effective communication with others.

OP'26 could not have been a success without the hard work and resilience of all our fellow Guides and Scouts members! We look forward to the Year 1s that will be joining us soon!

Published by:

Goh Kae Lyn

57th 届 Secretary

Annual Training Camp 2025

 Hi Guides! Annual Training Camp 25 has come to an end, and it was a great success! This year was different from the previous ones, where instead of Camp Christine, ATC was held in school. Our juniors were able to grow tremendously stronger, and as a 团, we have bonded and made many memories that will stay with us forever. We would like to share our experience with you!

Inspection (Pre-camp & In-camp)

Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P3:

This was our first inspection of the Annual Training Camp, and I felt nervous and unsure of what to expect. Before Pre-camp Inspection, we were required to memorise specific parts of the Inspection layout. This made me feel anxious because I was worried that I might forget my assigned portion. During the first round of Pre-camp Inspection, we had to lay out the poncho before placing our patrol’s logistics on it. Despite being given multiple time extensions, we were unable to complete the layout within the given time, and even 过时-ed. During the second round of Pre-camp Inspection, we were more familiar with the process and were able to help the Year 2s more. In the third round, we were required to plan and carry out our own layout, which we managed to complete. However, we were told that no one stepped up to take charge, resulting in the logistics not being properly standardised. This made me realise the importance of teamwork and leadership. Through the Pre-camp Inspections, I gradually became more familiar with the Inspection process. I could see that we had improved compared to our first inspection. Next, on the first day of ATC, we had an In-camp Inspection and I was still nervous. During the first round, many of us were unable to complete our layouts on time due to our lack of sense of urgency. In addition, we did not 照顾好 our logistics and manpower properly, causing logistics and manpower to be kapped by our Counsellors. For the second round of In-camp Inspection, most of us had a better sense of urgency and managed to complete the layout with extra time to help others. For the third round, we were required to flip our layouts. Although I was initially confused, I managed to adapt and complete my task. Moving on to the second day of ATC, we had another In-camp Inspection. By then, I felt more confident as we had gained more experience. During the first round that day, most of us completed the layout, though some logistics and manpower were still kapped, due to us not being alert and aware of our surroundings. However, during the second round, everyone managed to complete the layout and help one another. Overall, this experience helped me develop a stronger sense of urgency, better teamwork, and improved my communication skills. While there is still room for improvement, I also learned the importance of stepping up, taking initiative, and taking care of our logistics and manpower carefully.

Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P3:

Our Inspections started before Annual Training Camp with our Pre-camp Inspection where we had to memorise our already drawn layout before coming to Pre-camp Inspection. Most of us Trainees decided to split the work and have people from the same patrol each memorise a portion of the layout. This would save time and we would more likely be able to complete the layouts. Our first attempt for the Inspection was poorly done. We did not ask for any time extension and ended up 过时ing by a minute, which is not the standard that we should uphold. Our one minute to pack all logistics back to their 配备s was much better than the Inspection. The second round of Inspection started and we all decided to do better than the previous round. Well it was better than the first round, it still was not the best that we could have done. We moved on to the third and final round, where all the patrols significantly improved from the first round and we made sure to standardise everything across all the patrols. This time, the Counsellors decided to shorten our time for the Inspection from three minutes to two minutes and thirty seconds. While we were on a time constraint, we still managed to do our absolute best and complete our layouts. We started to ask for time extensions on time and not when time was running out and as a result, we managed to complete all our layouts. I realised that, as more time went on and we practised with more and more rounds of Inspection, we got better at it and we also had more and more extra time to help other patrols who were lacking in manpower. Then came ATC, our In-camp Inspection, which was the real deal. Our first few rounds of Inspection were not up to standard and we overran most of the time, but after several rounds of getting to the practise Inspection, we got better and better and even managed to complete several rounds of Inspection under the standard timing. All in all, as we got more practice with how the Inspection rounds would go, the more familiar we were with the whole process and the quality of our layouts improved.

Camp-D

Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P4:

On 19 November 2025, us Year 1s had to go for our very first Annual Training Camp. It was a 2 day, 1 night camp, and many of us were nervous because we heard that it was going to be difficult. After Inspection, we moved on to Camp Development, where we had to build a Kitchen Shelter, Indoor Fire Altar and Flagpole for 升旗. We were given about two hours to complete the three structures. We decided to build the KS first, which requires 1 深蓝木, 2 红木, 4 青木, 8 Arthurs, 1 Canvas Sheet, 1 Metal Mallet and sufficient 麻绳. First, we had to lay the Canvas Sheet down on the ground and place the 深蓝木 in the middle of it while the 红木 is placed at tips of the 深蓝木. Then, the 4 青木 are placed at each of the 4 corners of the Canvas Sheet before we tie 八字结 to the corners. Afterwards, we moved on to the next steps in building the KS. Unfortunately, we took a bit too much time working on the KS, and hence, when we were building the IFA and Flagpole, the structures were not very ideal and we had to ask for quite a lot of time extensions. The tripods for our IFA were loose, making the whole structure 飞 脚 and thus unsafe and unsuitable for cooking. Overall, although Camp-D was very tiring and rushed towards the end, it allowed us to learn that our sense of urgency was extremely important and hence we should 报时 more often. Besides a sense of urgency, planning ahead is also very important, which includes being able to foresee the steps of building our structures to ensure we could complete them in time, leaving sufficient time for other structures. We could have also cheered more often as well, to boost the morale of our 团 and patrol.

Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P1:

This year’s Annual Training Camp, especially Camp D, was incredibly challenging, but a meaningful experience nonetheless. We were tasked to build a Kitchen Shelter, Indoor Fire Altar, Creative Campsite Gadget, Patrol Flagpole and a Sleeping Tent within 3 hours and 10 minutes. However, due to our lack of time management in our previous ATC activity, Inspection, we were given less time to complete our structures for Camp D. Our original Patrol Leader for Camp D was injured, and had to sit out, and thus I was made to take her place. I was nervous yet excited at the same time as it was the first time that I was building a Kitchen Shelter this year where I was the one leading it. As expected, we faced many challenges. We were short of 麻绳 and some were too short. I also had trouble tying 活结s and had to ask the Counsellors for help. The hardest challenge that we faced when building this structure was to 抽 the 绳 to wrap around the arthurs. This required teamwork and coordination where we counted down to 抽 at the same time. There were times when the 麻绳 broke halfway and we had to redo the same procedure over and over again. Our Arthurs also came lose, thus we spent a lot of time on this step, and ended up 过时-ing. Our sense of morale was also pretty low as the rest of the PLs had to do burpees as a forfeit for not completing their structures on time. Looking back, I felt that we could have worked with a better sense of urgency and as a PL of Camp-D, I have learnt to step back and look at the bigger picture and have the Patrol Second look at the smaller details instead of trying to do both at the same time. I also learnt the importance of maintaining a positive attitude especially as a Year 2. It is not just about pushing through difficulties but also supporting my Year 1s and encouraging the people around by cheering each other on. Camp-D reminded me that leadership is not only about skills, but also about resilience and optimism. Even though things definitely did not go perfectly, this ATC was definitely a memorable experience and I am very proud of my patrol’s efforts.

Obstacle Journey

Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P4:

On 19 November 2025, us Year 1s had to go for our very first Annual Training Camp. In the afternoon, we had to change into our Obstacle Journey Kit in less than 10 minutes. Our OJ Kit required our DHS COY shirt, black slacks, 全制 scarf, belt and poncho. Mass Change was difficult, and we ended up 过时-ing. During OJ, the whole 团 was split up into two groups; one group would do one activity while the other group would do the second activity. I was split into the group which had to do the activity called “Acid River” first. Basically, what we had to do for that station was to build a bridge using the limited resources we had to cross the “acid river”. Furthermore, both the logistics and us were not allowed to touch the “acid river”, otherwise they would dissolve in the acid. We could also cross the smaller rivers to retrieve more logistics. My group decided to build ladder first to cross the smaller river and get the extra logistics. Then, we built a square with a 木 diagonally in the middle of the square as our bridge. However, we ran out of time before we could cross the “acid river” and were unable to accomplish our goal. Our next station required us to work together to gather logistics and the right to tie lashes in order to build a structure. Each person was given different tasks to do in order to earn either a 木 or the permission to tie a lash, and we were not allowed to exchange tasks. My tasks were to do 10 jumpsquats for one 中长木 and 20 jumping jacks for the right to tie a square lash. My groupmates had other tasks, such as to do a half push-up for 10 seconds, do 15 burpees, do a head and jaw bandage, tie a tight square lash, and more. We had to take turns doing our tasks so that the Counsellors could keep track of what tasks we were doing. However, there were some challenges during this activity. For example, some of us Year 1s were unsure of how to tie a head and jaw bandage, and tying tight lashes required more time than was expected of us. We tried our very best to do our tasks, but were neither able to collect the required 木 for the structure nor finish tying the structure. I think we could have 报时-ed more and have a better sense of urgency to ensure we could finish our tasks more quickly.

Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P3:

During our Annual Training Camp Day 1, we participated in many activities throughout the day. One of them was the Obstacle Journey, or OJ for short. To start off, we first had to mass change into our OJ Kit, which consisted of our COY tee, 全制 scarf, belt, poncho and black slacks. Although we were given sufficient time to mass change, due to our lack of urgency, we 过时-ed even after receiving reminders countless times about our sense of urgency that day. As we waited for OJ to start, the Counsellors gave us feedback on our mass change and shared better ways to improve our sense of urgency. When the Counsellors were ready to begin the OJ segment, the four patrols were split into two groups: Patrols 1 and 3, and Patrols 2 and 4. As there were only two stations, we took turns between the stations. Patrols 1 and 3 went to Station 1 first, where we were tasked to use the spars provided to build a structure that would allow everyone to safely cross the “acid river”. After being given 10 minutes to discuss our plan, both patrols started building a ladder, which we could use to obtain extra spars. As our lashes were not tied tightly and properly the first time, some of us had to 重抽 the lashes. However, without the ladder completed, the rest could not proceed. Hence, we picked up our speed and were eventually able to obtain the extra spars needed to build the next structure. For the next structure, we were much faster. However, as we did not fully think through the idea, many parts of the structure touched the “acid river”, and thus we did not manage to get across in time. From this station, I learnt the importance of fully planning an idea and managing manpower better so that progress would not be delayed. Afterwards, we proceeded to Station 2, which required us to build a simple structure. However, to obtain the logistics needed to build it, we were each assigned a few tasks. For example, one tight and proper diagonal lash for one 中木, one proper head bandage for one 中长木, or even a two-minute wall sit for a time extension. In the end, we 集合-ed with our structure incomplete, but the station taught me how to better allocate manpower and make full use of the time we had to achieve greater efficiency. Once we completed both stations, we returned to the Media Resource Library to 集合. During this short period of time, I reflected on what I had learnt from the OJ segment. My key takeaways were time management, manpower management, and effectiveness, all of which were learnt through a short period of time and simple station games. Not only were the stations fun, but they also helped me bond better with my patrol mates and juniors.

Rangers' Segment

Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P1:

During the 2025 Annual Training Camp, us Year 1s went through the Rangers’ Segment, which was Lash Training. From the activity, I learnt many new skills and also understood their importance. By the end of the segment, I can confidently say that I have correctly learnt how to tie a square lash, a diagonal lash, and a tripod lash, which are the basic lashes to learn in Guides. The square lash was the first one I learnt, and it is used to hold two 木s together at a right angle, making sure they do not move in any direction. The diagonal lash was slightly harder, as it takes a longer period of time to tie. Moreover, I easily got confused about where the respective angles were to correctly tie the diagonal lash. However, in my opinion, the tripod lash was the hardest to remember, as I was not familiar with the steps to tie it and hence made it more complicated for me. During this short period of time, I learnt a lot of important knowledge and tips to tie tight lashes. Firstly, I learnt that holding tension is very important when tying any lash. If the lash is not kept tight, the structure will not be stable and could fall apart easily. Secondly, to take the lash out, there is no need to struggle or remove it manually, just a pull of the 白绳 from the bottom of the 木, and it will slowly come undone. This hack made 拆掉 much easier and saved me a lot of time. Thirdly, I learnt that there is no specific way to 抽 a lash. What matters most is using my bodyweight to tighten the lash properly and efficiently. Using my whole bodyweight instead of just my arms makes the lash much stronger, with better tension, and makes the overall lash tight. Lastly, I learnt that tying a tripod is more effective with two people, as it is easier when one person ties the lash while the other 顶s and parts the 木s for the person tying to ensure no risk of losing tension. Overall, the Rangers’ Segment was not only fun but also taught me a tremendous amount of lash-tying skills.

Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P4:

On the first day of Annual Training Camp 2025, us Year 2s completed the Rangers’ Segment. For us, it was Physical Training. Before starting, we did some warmups and stretches with a leader to lead us through the warmups. From then on, our batch was split into 2 groups, and one group was tasked to move some pioneering 木 across the parade square, while the other group could do some physical training exercises to remove the number of 木 the other team would have to carry, and vice versa. In the middle of the activity, the Rangers surprised us with a lightning alert emergency evacuation. We had to quickly get ponchos, and move all of our 木 under shelter, to avoid them getting wet. This activity was physically draining, and many of us felt tired after doing so many exercises under the sweltering heat. In the end, the Rangers told us that due to a lack of communication, we had carried twenty extra 木 than needed! As a forfeit, we had to do even more exercises. At this point, we were incredibly exhausted. However, we counted during the exercises together, cheered each other on, and persevered. During debrief, the Rangers shared with us that this Rangers’ Segment was meant to imitate the Know Yourself Better Segment of the Counsellors’ PLTC, which we would soon experience, and they wanted to prepare us to stay determined and persevere through it, and encourage each other along the way. The lightning alert trained us to be adaptive in unexpected situations, and make sure that we communicate as a batch, to work effectively together. The whole activity as a whole highlighted the importance of caring for our batch, as when one team does extra exercises to help lighten the load of the other team, we are essentially taking one for the team, and doing our best to contribute to the batch. This teaches us teamwork that is vital, especially during PLTC. As a whole, we feel that our batch has really benefited and learnt so much from this Rangers’ Segment, and we would definitely apply the skills learnt in future 集合s and camps. 

Night Evacuation

Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P2:

During the Night Evacuation, I was feeling tired as it was just after Campfire and it was also quite late at night. I was pretty clueless on what to do as it was the first time I had experienced an evacuation during camp. It was pretty messy as all of us just had fun during the campfire and were tired from all the different activities during the day. However, we still managed to push through and do our best. A challenge that I faced was that our patrol was short on manpower, and I had to help carry a lot of things, like my personal logistics and our patrol’s 配备. One of my patrol mates was a casualty during the evacuation, and was unable to help us carry our logistics. My other patrol mate and I helped a casualty who had sprained her arm, and could not carry anything. We used a bandage to help her rest her arm in a sling, while we helped to guide her to the evacuation location. Moreover, there were also trekking signs to help guide us to the location of the meeting point. I was unfamiliar with most of the checking signs as I did not take time to revise my Guides notes. Fortunately, many of my Year 2 seniors helped us to figure out the signs, and we eventually found out the location of the meeting point. We 过时-ed quite a lot, and had to do a forfeit for not having a better sense of urgency and forgetting about our personal logistics, which were kapped by the seniors, due to us not 照顾好-ing them. Overall, I think we could have had a better sense of urgency, and taken better care of our belongings to prevent them from being kapped in future 集合 or activities. I am very grateful for my seniors who helped cheer me on during the evacuation, and helped me to do my best even though we were all really tired. I am glad that we managed to persevere through the evacuation, and complete it. I will improve my sense of urgency and read up on my Guides notes to familiarise myself with the trekking signs and other Guides-related knowledge to complete future similar activities more efficiently. 

Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P3:

Since the start of our Annual Training Camp, us Trainees’ hearts were filled with uncertainty and curiosity. “Would it be a Night Evacuation or a Morning Evacuation?” This was the question on many minds, especially during dinner. The answer came right after Campfire, when everyone was hyped up and enjoying the night, hoping to get some rest after a full day of hard work. Many were still suspicious of what the Counsellors might do, and chitter-chatter was heard all around the area. Right after Campfire, four Year 2s were secretly called out to act as casualties, and I was one of them. I was assigned a fractured forearm and stationed right outside the field’s exit. When I heard the footsteps of fellow Guides running to get their personal and patrol logistics, I strongly felt the lack of 团队精神 within our 团, as I saw them run past me, rushing only to retrieve their logistics. This showed the weakness of the bond and care between our batches and even among batchmates. This action also reflected our lack of social awareness and awareness of our surroundings. Even though I was positioned in an open area where I could be seen clearly, I was only attended to after some time. Despite the wait, I was happy when my batchmates and juniors eventually attended to me and correctly executed First-Aid. I was very proud of them, as I had observed that many of us were usually unfamiliar with First-Aid during Station Games in regular 集合s. However, I felt that the most difficult part of the Night Evacuation was reading the trekking signs, which was a major weakness for most of us. As a result, we spent quite some time figuring out what the signs meant. With many of our logistics kapped, we were reprimanded for not 照顾好人，照顾好东西. This showed our irresponsibility towards our patrol and personal logistics, as well as poor manpower management, since some Year 2s had left their Year 1s unattended. The Counsellors also pointed out that our behaviour was very selfish, only prioritising getting ourselves into safe shelter, instead of immediately helping others, since ultimately, we are one patrol and one 团. Another area for improvement would be reading up on the Guides Notes, as many of us were unfamiliar with the trekking signs. This was not only an issue among the Year 1s, but us Year 2s as well. I felt that us Year 2s still have much to work on and improve before stepping up as 领导层 in the coming year. Hence, I truly felt that this Night Evacuation, and ATC as a whole, helped me identify my weaknesses more clearly and observe what the 团 could improve on collectively. However, I also felt that the Year 1s were very lost and confused about what to do, and had to rely heavily on us Year 2s. Therefore, as Year 2s, we should have better trained and guided the Year 1s on how to approach such situations, allowing them to familiarise themselves and handle similar scenarios better in the future. All in all, I felt that the Night Evacuation was definitely a major learning checkpoint for me during ATC on how to act during times of need and uncertainty.

Outdoor Cooking

Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P3:

During our 2025 Annual Training Camp Day 2, we had Outdoor Cooking. This was the Year 1s’ second time doing OC, which explains our inexperience and the amount of guidance we needed. First, we had to fill the Zinc Plate with sand. Secondly, we arranged bricks from our Toyogo Box onto the Zinc Plate to form a “U” shape. Next, we had to start the fire. The first thing we did was form a “bird’s nest” with the 木麻黄 which we had collected and dried before ATC. Then, we placed some thin twigs, shaped like a tripod, and thick twigs, acting as a cover, on top of it. Lastly, we used a matchstick to light the 木麻黄 on fire, as it was the easiest to catch fire. We attempted this many times, as there was slight wind and we lacked the proper technique to ensure that the fire was sustained. However, when our fire was finally able to sustain itself, our patrol was absolutely delighted. The hardest challenge of OC, however, was sustaining the fire, as the wind kept blowing while we continued cooking. While some of us sustained the fire, the rest prepared the Mess Tins. Firstly, we smeared toothpaste all over the Mess Tins to ensure that the aluminium foil would stick on. Next, we covered the Mess Tins with aluminium foil to prevent burning and damaging of the Mess Tins. To start off our OC segment, we cooked my patrol’s first meal, “Cheezy Pipoca Noods”. The main ingredients we used were Maggi Mee noodles and cheese. We added water until the Mess Tin was half-filled. Once the water boiled, we cooked five packets of Maggi Mee separately, as the Mess Tin did not have the capacity to cook all five at once. Then, we strained the noodles and added cheese. Even though the cheese did not melt completely as expected, it still tasted good. Just as we were about to make our second dish, we encountered a huge problem. The 木麻黄 was wet, so even though it was burning, there was no flame strong enough to cook our dishes. Hence, while the Counsellors were solving the problem, we thankfully were allowed to use their fire, which had helped us avoid delaying our progress then. Eventually, we managed to light a proper fire and cooked the sausages, which we had cut beforehand, and eggs for our second dish, the “Pipoca Sandwich”. We also cut some tomatoes, then placed them, egg, some cooked sausages, and a slice of cheese between two slices of bread. Before we ate, the Year 2s thought that it was a better idea to char both slides slightly to make the bread crispier. Lastly, while the Year 1s were eating, the Year 2s cooked our final dish, “Pipoca Pops”. They were worried that the popcorn would not pop in time, as OC Clean-Up was about to start soon, but thankfully it did. They then had the idea of adding marshmallows along with the popcorn to improve the taste, as it had been accidentally overcooked and some parts were burnt. Overall, this was a very fun experience with the Year 2s and my patrol, and it was one of the best parts of ATC. 

Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P3:

One of the most enjoyable parts of the Annual Training Camp was Outdoor Cooking, where we had to start a fire and cook the dishes that we had planned in our proposal as a patrol. After that, we had to let the Counsellors taste and grade our food. For my patrol, one difficulty was that we were not able to start the fire quickly, and the fire kept extinguishing. We were anxious because we knew we had a limited amount of time to cook our dishes. As we could not start our fire, one of our Counsellors allowed us to use their fire to cook in the meantime, and another Counsellor taught us and helped to start the fire. Our first dish was a sandwich with egg, cheese, and sausage. However, we made the mistake of leaving it on the fire for too long, which caused it to burn. The bottom of the bread was burnt, and while the cheese melted properly, it got stuck onto the pan. It was disappointing, but we learned from this mistake. We decided to try again, this time being much more careful with the heat. The second attempt was a success, and we were proud to see the sandwich come out just right. Our second dish was noodles with cheese. Although we managed to cook the noodles well, we did not melt the cheese fast enough, so our dish ended up having clumps of cheese that were not melted. For dessert, we tried making popcorn. While most of it turned out well, some of it got burnt, as we did not research the correct time to pop popcorn, and after it finished popping, we left it on the fire a little longer than desired, leading to it getting burnt. Despite the burnt batch, we managed to salvage enough to enjoy and share. Overall, OC was both fun and educational. The challenges we faced, whether it was starting the fire, managing the cooking time, or overcoming small mistakes, taught us valuable lessons of teamwork, patience, and adaptability. Even though not everything went as planned, we managed to work together and make the most of the situation. I am proud of what my patrol has accomplished, and I will carry these lessons with me and apply what I have learnt in the future.

Physical Training

Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P4:

During our Annual Training Camp 2025, one of the activities we participated in was Physical Training. Although PT is usually one of the more physically demanding activities, I felt that this session was actually quite enjoyable. This was because the entire 团 of Year 1s and Year 2s worked together to complete the activity, and we felt a strong sense of teamwork and felt the strength of 团的力量 that motivated us to perform our best during the various exercises. For example, when we were doing jumping jacks and burpees, all of us counted in unison so that we stayed in sync and we made sure to 等人. Some exercises involved moving from one place to another, such as running laps or doing the crab walk. During these exercises, we made sure to 等人 so that no one would get left behind, ensuring that we 照顾好人. Our Year 2s also frequently checked in and communicated with us in between exercises to ensure that we were all feeling well before moving on to the next exercise, which I felt was something us Year 1s could learn from. I was also grateful that the Year 2s split the time allocations for some exercises, allowing us to rest and not get overly exhausted from doing one exercise all at once. This also allowed us to take water breaks in between exercises. One thing that stood out to me during this PT session was that my batchmates and Year 2 seniors who were injured still made the effort to be involved by encouraging and cheering for us as we carried out the exercises. As some of us picked up injuries during the course of the ATC, some were unable to participate in PT but still cheered and motivated us enthusiastically. This boosted our overall morale since we were very tired from all the exercises. Overall, through this PT activity, I felt more bonded with my batchmates and seniors, and I learnt to be resilient and to always do my best to motivate others. I will surely not forget the memory of doing PT during ATC with my fellow Guides.

Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P2:

On the second day of our Annual Training Camp 2025, we carried out Physical Training at the General Science Lab, Level 1. During ATC, quite a number of us sustained injuries and had to sit out of Physical Training to prevent our injuries from worsening. I was among those who were injured. Standing at the side, I felt a little disheartened that I was unable to participate and be an active part of my Year 1s’ first ATC. While the others were doing jumping jacks and burpees, us casualties did Buddha claps and counted along with the rest of the 团. We also led cheers throughout the PT session to help keep morale high, since we were unable to participate in the exercises. As my fellow Guides ran laps around GSL, I noticed that they made a conscious effort to 等人 and ensure that no one got left behind. Whenever they ran past us casualties, we waited at the side and held out our hands to give them high-fives. This was met with smiles and laughter, which further boosted the overall morale within our 团. My fellow Year 2 Guides demonstrated the importance of 照顾好人, taking care of those around them. They consistently checked in with our Year 1s and made sure to set aside time for water breaks so that no one became overly tired or strained by the exercises. I feel that the simple act of asking, “Are you feeling okay?” can show the care we have for one another. Although it may seem like a small and simple gesture, it can have a significant impact on the person receiving that care. I really hope that our Year 1s will learn from our example and, when they become Year 2s, give the same love and care to their juniors. This is a display of one of our Guide Laws: A Guide is friendly and a sister to all Guides. Through this experience, I also learnt that even though we casualties were unable to take part in the PT exercises itself, we could still be part of the shared memories made together by cheering them on. I observed how our constant cheering and encouragement motivated one another to persevere and not give up even when we felt like giving up. Overall, this ATC has been a truly unforgettable experience for me, and I have taken away many valuable lessons from it.

Strike Camp

Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P4:

This year, we participated in the 2025 Annual Training Camp Strike Camp, where we 拆掉-ed the structures we had built during Camp Development, while accounting for the overall patrol logistics and cleaning them up. The four patrols were split into two groups. For my group, the first task was to 拆掉 the Camp-D structures, starting with the Indoor Fire Altar used for Outdoor Cooking. We cleaned up the area and returned the logistics back to 团部. Through this, I learnt how to clean up after Outdoor Cooking and how to handle the bricks while they were still hot. During 拆掉, I felt that the morale between the two patrols were very high as we not only constantly 报时-ed but also constantly cheered each other on. Not only that, we were commended by the Counsellors for splitting the manpower efficiently and had worked with a good sense of urgency. We then proceeded to D’Area at the field to 拆掉 the Kitchen Shelter. During the process of 倒-ing the structure, we had to ensure that we 顶-ed the 木 properly and 倒 the 木 at the same time so that the structure would not fall on anyone and could be lowered down safely. This reminded me that when dealing with large structures, we have to be very careful and alert when 起-ing, 顶-ing, and 倒-ing the structure, as safety is the top priority. Afterwards, the lashes were 拆-ed, and the spars were brought back to Backstore. Finally, all the wet logistics remaining were laid out to dry. This 拆掉 process reminded me that working with a sense of urgency is important. The following day after ATC, we participated in the ATC Clean-Up. The first thing we did was to relabel and fold the ponchos we had used and return them to the 小队箱s. After that, we brought out our ATC patrol logistics in the Toyogo Boxes and 配备s to relabel them, ensuring that all ATC patrol logistics were returned to the correct regular patrol. During this process, we accounted for all the patrol logistics and ensured that none were missing before returning them back into 团部. Lastly, we whipped brand-new 麻绳. New bunches of 麻绳 were cut and pairs were assigned to whip one end each so that the rope would not come fray. The process of whipping 麻绳 was quite challenging. Nonetheless, after some time, we managed to successfully whip a few, and I also learnt how to whip 麻绳. Overall, this year’s ATC Strike Camp allowed us to practise 拆掉-ing structures within a strict time limit while accounting for all patrol logistics, training our sense of urgency and accountability. It also gave us the opportunity to bond with our patrol mates, batchmates, and seniors.

Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P4:

On 20 November, nearing the end of our Annual Training Camp, the 团 was tasked to 拆掉 and return all the logistics from the structures built during Camp Development. We were split into two groups to 拆掉 the Flagpoles and the Kitchen Shelters respectively. The Flagpoles were taken down and the logistics returned faster than planned, which gave us additional time to assist the other group in 拆掉-ing the KSs, with the added manpower in D’Area. The process of 拆掉-ing the KSs began with removing the aluminium foil from the ropes. During the process of 拆掉-ing the KSs built the day before, one aspect I felt could have been improved was having more consistent and regular 报时. There were times when there were a few 做不s, and we could have taken on the role of 报时-ing while the others were untying the structures. We also encountered difficulty pulling the Arthurs out of the ground, so one of us were assigned to retrieve two Metal Mallets from 团部 to make the task easier. After 拆掉-ing the structures, we proceeded to 清理场地 by forming a line and walking together hand-in-hand to check for any leftover pieces of aluminium foil, short strands of 麻绳 or other pieces of rubbish. Some of us were assigned to return the spars, while others sorted the logistics into wet and dry piles, as it had rained the night before. We also untangled knots in the 麻绳 wherever possible. The dry 麻绳 were stored in the 麻布袋s to return to Backstore, while the wet ones were brought to the General Science Lab’s second floor to be untangled and dried by hanging them inward-facing on the railings, as hanging them outward could pose potential safety risks. To make the untangling process easier and more efficient, we were given 青头s to pry the knots loose. While we were unable to untangle some of the 麻绳 knots due to them being too wet or tied too tightly, we ensured that all of them were properly hung up and that our logistics were fully accounted for by gathering and returning the 青头s at the end of the activity. Although ATC was quite demanding, it allowed me to better understand the areas in which our 团 can improve our efficiency. This includes better manpower allocation, more consistent 报时 to help the entire 团 keep track of time, and the importance of responsible accounting for our logistics. Through this experience, I also learnt the importance of cleaning up after ourselves, as it shows consideration for others who may use the same area in the future.

Company Games

Reflection from a Year 1 in ATC P4:

The Annual Training Camp was one of the rare times we got to have Company Games together. We were all looking forward to playing the game, which was revealed to be 老鹰捉小鸡, where one of us would be the “老鹰”, who had to catch the others who were the “小鸡” lining up behind the “母鸡” in order to win. During this game, I volunteered to be the “老鹰”. At first, it was a little bit difficult to catch the “小鸡” as I had to run around in big circles in order to reach the back of the long line and I also had to change directions swiftly while running when I was blocked by the vigilant “母鸡”. I had to find new ways to get around the “母鸡” in order to catch the “小鸡”.  It was also quite tiring to keep running around, but I managed to catch some “小鸡” at the back of the line, and also some who unfortunately broke off from the line while the group was anxiously trying to avoid getting caught by me. In the next round, I decided to be a “小鸡” instead and let a Year 2 senior take on the role of the “老鹰”. I got to experience playing the game from both perspectives and as the “小鸡”, there were also challenges as I had to make sure I did not break off from the line while avoiding the “老鹰”. Being the “小鸡” also taught me teamwork and cooperation as all of us “小鸡” had to work together to run away from the “老鹰” while following our “母鸡”, who did an excellent job at protecting us. We had to be on high alert at all times and it really got my adrenaline pumping. I felt like it was also sweet that the Trainees who got injured and could not play with us still cheered us on from the sidelines. It was really encouraging, especially when I was working alone as a “老鹰”. However, we also had to make sure to 等人 and be aware of our safety when running so that no one would trip over and get hurt. Overall, it was a really fun and exciting experience and I definitely look forward to playing Company Games like this again in the future.

Reflection from a Year 2 in ATC P2:

On the second day of Annual Training Camp 2025, we had Company Games. We played 老鹰捉小鸡, a game that everyone loved. When we found out we were going to play 老鹰捉小鸡, everyone buzzed with excitement, excited to laugh as we play. The atmosphere felt lighter as we had just finished physical training and many of us were exhausted. Unfortunately, as there were many casualties, mainly from patrols 1 and 3 and a lack of manpower in patrol 2, the three patrols combined and played against patrol 4, equaling out the manpower. It was quite thrilling to play against each other this way. We took a while to decide who would be the “老鹰” and who would be the “母鸡” as many of us were afraid that we would put our patrol down. Fortunately, we managed to encourage people to take on the roles and got to the game. As the game started, we were a bit rusty at first as it felt a little unnatural. But as the game moved on, it felt more natural and fun, expressing ourselves more and putting more effort into the game, showing our patrol spirit. The casualties could not participate, but they gave us support, cheering for us as we played. Throughout the game, I realised how important it is to communicate and to have a good sense of teamwork, as well as having 团队精神. Even though the results of the game did not turn out like how we expected it to, it was still really fun and enriching. The game allowed me to connect more with my patrol mates and feel the patrol spirit that had been ignited from the start of ATC until the end. I felt closer and more united, as we worked through the challenges we faced together all the way till the end. After playing 老鹰捉小鸡, I learned to step out of my comfort zone and be more confident as we work with others, allowing us to be more efficient. This game has also taught me perseverance and how we can work and connect with our patrol better, giving us a good bonding opportunity as we laugh and play together as a patrol. The game reminded me that ATC is not only a training camp, but also a time to build relationships and bond together as a 团, building resilience and meaningful friendships. 

ATC'25 was a meaningful experience for everyone of us, including the Counsellors! We are extremely thankful for the opportunity and will continue to strive to improve.

Published by:

Goh Kae Lyn

57th 届 Secretary