Skills Training, 4 August 2023

 Hi Guides!

Today, the Year 2s and Year 3s were still practising for the National Day Observance Ceremony on the 8th of August, thus there were only Year 1s, 1 Year 2 and a few Year 3s during today's 集合. Today, the Guides did Pioneering during the 集合. Firstly, they had Pioneering lash training, followed by the building of a Kitchen Table (KT). 

Lash Training:

As most the the Year 1s are currently still unfamiliar with Pioneering as they have not done it a lot of times, they had Pioneering lash training for them to get used to tying Pioneering lashes. As usual, after they were done, the Year 3s and YAs checked their lashes and gave them feedback, helping them to improve. 

Reflection from a Year 1 in P6:

For Lash Training on 4 August, we had to tie a Square Lash, Diagonal Lash, and A-架. After we tied each lash, our senior would check the lash for us. I learnt that holding tension is very important in order to keep our lashes tight. I realised that even if we 抽 hard but let go of our tension, our lashes will still be loose. From our senior’s feedback, I learnt that I should make sure that my frapping does not overlap and that I can tuck in the 鸟绳 to make the lash look neater. Throughout the Lash Training, we had to ask for time extensions many times. I could have tried to tie my lashes faster and 报时ed more often to improve my sense of urgency. Furthermore, when one person from each patrol was asked to ask for a time extension, there were a few times when nobody from a patrol stepped out to ask for the time extension. As we were all busy tying our lashes, we did not want to step out. Therefore, I realised that I should have volunteered to step out instead of wasting time and depending on someone else to step out. We could have also taken turns to ask for time extensions. Through this lash training, we had the opportunity to realise and learn from our mistakes, helping us improve our lashes and sense of urgency.

Reflection from a Year 1 in P1:

During last Friday's 集合, I did lash training with the other Year 1s and one Year 2. We struggled to collect the required logistics on time and had to ask for many time extensions. We also only managed to get one 麻绳 barrel instead of the two we were supposed to get, resulting in us barely having enough 麻绳 to tie our lashes. When we were tying our square lashes on the spars, it was quite squeezy, so I just stood at one side at first. I felt that I could have gone to an empty spot to start tying my square lash instead of just standing there and wasting time. I only went towards the middle to tie my lash when a senior pointed out an empty spot that was more spacious. While I was tying my lash, I also had to get up many times to get time extensions as one person from each patrol is required to get the time extension, resulting in my lashes losing tension and not being that tight anymore. I could have tied my lashes more quickly before getting up to get a time extension so that my lash would be tight and could be approved once checked. When tying an A-架, I also should have backed my spars against a wall so that it would not move up and down as I tied my A-架 and get loose. I feel that in general I should tie my lashes more quickly and try not to lose tension while avoiding just standing at one side waiting. I should also have brought some gloves so that I could have carried the spars and tied my lashes more efficiently. Overall, it was a learning experience for me.

Reflection from a Year 2 in P2:

On Friday, I did lash training with the Year 1s. I was a little concerned at first because I was the only Year 2 there. However, I was immediately relieved as I realised the Y1s were able to carry out instructions somewhat well. I feel like I could have stepped up more as the only Year 2. During the collection of logistics, we needed many time extensions and we were so disorganised to the point that the YAs were telling us that there was no longer a need for us to ask for time extensions. I feel like I could have stepped up more and assigned the Year 1s roles more efficiently instead of concentrating on taking the 木. This caused us to take only 1 barrel of 麻绳 which was just barely enough. A similar thing happened during lash training when the Year 1s were disorganised, I did not effectively direct them into laying out the 木 properly. Because of this, we 过时 several times and had to ask for many more time extensions. When Lotus asked me to help form a separate ladder for the diagonal lash, I could not effectively communicate it to the Year 1s which resulted in us tying the diagonal lash anyhow. I feel like throughout this lash training session, I could have stepped up more as the only Year 2 to allow this entire session to move more smoothly.

Building of KT:

After doing lash training, the Guides were split into 2 groups and were tasked to build a KT within the standard timing of 50 minutes. Prior to this, most Year 1s only built a KT once, with the help of both the Year 2s and Year 3s, thus it was a challenge for the Year 1s and the Year 2 who had to lead them alone.

Reflection from a Year 1 in P5:

During last week's 集合, my batch mates and I, along with one Year 2, built 2 Kitchen Tables. We were split into two groups, consisting of P1, P3, and P5 in Group 1, and then P2, P4, and P6 in Group 2. Firstly, we went to backstore to collect logistics. As this was only my second time building a KT, I was unsure about the logistics or steps needed to build the KT. However, with the help of my batch mates, I was slowly able to familiarise myself with the steps needed to build a KT. After we collected the required logistics, we started building the KT. The Y3s reminded us the put our logistics at the side as it is easier for us to 照顾好东西. We started off by building 2 tripods. We had to work extremely fast as we were only given 50 minutes, which is the standard timing for building a KT. It was stressful as we had to tie fast but tight lashes. In conclusion, we had to have a strong sense of urgency if we wanted to finish building the KT. Unfortunately, it took very long for my group to tie the tripods as the string kept getting tangled or the lashes were not tight enough. In the end, we were only able to 齐 the tripods at the 40-minute mark. Hence, we had very little time to finish the structure. As we were not working fast enough, the PLs had to ask for a lot of time extensions. Even with the time extensions, we were not able to finish the KT in time. When the Y3s checked our lashes, we realised that our lashes were not up to standard. This is very dangerous as it might cause the structure to fall if the lashes were not tight enough. Although this experience was very tough as we had to work within a very short time frame, I learnt many things. For example, we had to 报时 louder so that the people tying the lashes will know how much time had passed. This will allow everyone to have a better sense of urgency when they know how much time they have left. Furthermore, I had a better understanding of what 木s are used in the building of the Kitchen Table, a standard pioneering structure that I have to familiarise myself with. All in all, it was a fulfilling and enriching experience. 

Reflection from a Year 1 in P4:

Last Friday, for co-curricular activity (CCA) for the Year 1s, the Year 2s were not there with us as they had to rehearse for the NDP contingent, leaving us, and there was only one Year 2 for CCA that day. I would not say it was easy, as we had to do pioneering, and lash training, with only us Year 1s and a single Year 2 to help and lead us. Thankfully, the Young Adults (YAs) guided us through the training, checking on our lashes and giving us feedback on them to help us improve. Our lashes were not as tight as we thought they would be and therefore, I will strive for better and tighter lashes in the future. Next, after lash training, we were tasked to build a kitchen table, which involves building two tripods with 定脚s on each side before being connected by 红木, which forms the seat for the kitchen tables. I think we did not do very well since the allocation of manpower was not efficient, and our lashes were loose. Additionally, the tripod had to be redone numerous times, making us frustrated and tired that our tripods could not even 起 yet, which delayed the rest of the construction of the kitchen table. We were still struggling with the tripod until the Year 3s stepped in to give us some useful advice, such as how to choose better 麻绳, frap over knots better, and how to keep tension. We tried again and we succeeded, even though I think we could have still done better. I am glad to have picked up some new skills from my seniors. In the end, we were unable to finish the structure in the allocated time, while the other group had already completed their structure. Thus, my group was given forfeits. I thought of the forfeits as not just physical training, but also an opportunity for us to learn from our mistakes. The never-ending time extensions we asked for should allow us to improve, and have a better sense of urgency. Even though we did not do well this 集合, I believe everyone learned many things from it and will strive to do better the next time we have pioneering during 集合! 

Reflection from a Year 1 in P3:

Last Friday’s CCA session was a very memorable 集合 for me. As most of the Year 2s and 3s had to go for contingent practice for the National Day celebration on 8th August, there were only mostly Year 1s during Friday's 集合 where we participated in the building of a Kitchen Table. For the building of the Kitchen Table, we were split into two groups, my group consisting of patrols 1, 3, and 5. Throughout the building of the kitchen table, I think that there was a lot that could have been improved. Firstly, the quality of the lashes, especially the tripod lash, could have been much tighter and neater. Due to many of our lashes being not tight enough, we had to constantly 重抽 them, which wasted a lot of time. However, with the advice and feedback from the Year 3s, I was able to learn a lot, gaining many valuable tips and feedback which I will use to improve the quality of my lashes in the future. Secondly, I believe that we were lacking in our sense of urgency when building the Kitchen Table. We could also have 报时 much more consistently. As many of us did not take the initiative to 报时, we could not stick to the timings we were given to finish our structure, which I think is one of the main reasons we did not manage to finish building our Kitchen Table. Despite this, I was still able to learn a lot about how we could have improved the quality of our lashes and sense of urgency. Overall, through this 集合, I was able to improve my understanding of how to build the Kitchen Table. I now know what different logistics we need for our Kitchen Table, and the required steps to take to build it. I am glad to have been given this opportunity during 集合 to improve my skills and I look forward to our next batch activity 集合!

Reflection from a Year 2 in P2:

On Friday, in addition to lash training, I built 2 Kitchen Tables with the Year 1s. I was originally assigned to Group 2 because I was in P2. While I was there, I tied 1 tripod lash. As I was tying the lash, I could not step out when they asked for someone, preventing me from becoming PL. However, it still worked quite smoothly. Group 1 was extremely lacking in manpower so I transferred over to help them. While I was in Group 1, they were extremely disorganised and did not know the steps to build a Kitchen Table. I tried to help them as much as I could but I may have taken charge too much and overstepped my bounds as I was not PL. Jodi set a very small goal for us, hoping for us to only 起 the tripods with the 定脚 fully tied by the end of 五十分, but we were not able to achieve that. We had to do a forfeit because of that and we were even given extra time but we were still unable to complete the Kitchen Table. That resulted in another forfeit. The quality of the lashes on the tripods was also very bad. The lashes on the tripods were very loose which resulted in a very unsafe set of tripods. I should have noticed that and corrected it instead of rushing to 起 the structure. 起ing the structure with the loose tripod lashes was extremely dangerous as there was a possibility that the entire structure could have collapsed and injured many people. Those 2 tripods should never have 起ed and I should have checked the lashes before allowing it to 起. I should have been more careful and aware of potential safety risks and will do better to watch out in the future.

I hope that the Year 1s and Year 2 present during today's 集合 learnt something important, and honed their pioneering lash-tying aand leadership skills! 

Published by:

Chin Yan Tong

55届 Secretary

Skills Training, 28 July 2023

 Hi Guides!

Today, as most of the Year 2s and Year 3s were preparing for the National Day Observance Ceremony, there were only Year 1s and a few Year 2s present during today's 集合. Firstly, the Guides there had gadgeting lash training, followed by the building of a few standard structures, and lastly the Year 2s taught the Year 1s a few Guides songs that we usually sang during campfires or other activities. 

Lash Training:

To hone the lash-tying abilities of the Year 1s, they were to do lash training. They had to tie lashes such as square and diagonal lashes and time themselves. Afterward, they would have to let a Year 3 check their lash for its tightness and also to receive feedback. 

Reflection from a Year 1 in P6:

For Lash Training during 集合 on Friday, we were able to learn more and improve on our lashes and find out what we did wrongly when we tie our lashes. First, when we tied the square lashes, I learnt that I would be able to make my lash tighter by holding tension and ensuring that my frapping does not overlap. I also learnt that I should take note of protrusion. When we were tying diagonal lashes, I realised that I was taking a long amount of time to tie my lash and that next time, I should ensure that I tie my lashes faster. My diagonal lash was also loose and could be improved by ensuring that I 抽 tightly and remember to hold tension. Also, I had gotten the number of rounds around the 木 wrong. It was supposed to be 4,3,2 but I accidentally tied it as 4,4,2. When we tied A-架, I also realised that I was tying my lashes really slowly and that my lashes were not tight enough. I learnt that I could improve on my lashes by remembering to hold tension. I had also forgotten to tuck in the 鸟绳. Through this lash training on Friday, I learnt how I could improve my lashes and not repeat the same mistakes again.

Reflection from a Year 1 in P3:

The lash training that took place during 集合 last Friday was incredibly enriching. I feel that I have learnt how to make my lashes neater and tighter, and I have also learnt how to work at a faster pace due to that lash training. This is mainly because I had to tie my lashes under strict timings, and also because the Year 3s gave me very in-depth feedback, allowing me to greatly improve the standard of my lashes! An example of the constructive feedback that they gave me that really helped me tremendously in my goal to tie tight lashes was when they informed me that while my lashes were neat and had no overlapping, it was not tight enough. They told me that this was mainly because I did not hold tension. My Year 3 seniors then proceeded to show me how I could hold tension, such as by wrapping the 白绳 around my palm and tying it as quickly as possible. I am thus very thankful to my seniors, as in the end, I think I have improved greatly in terms of the tightness of my lashes. However, I did face some difficulties during the lash training as my 木 was too long and I would accidentally hit my head with the 木 when I was not careful enough. Nevertheless, I overcame that challenge and managed to finish tying all my lashes within the standard time. Through this lash training, I also got the opportunity to improve my time management. I made sure to 报时 consistently which helped me keep track of my timings for my lashes. I believe that this lash training will prepare me for future 集合s, where we need to tie tight lashes for a steady structure that will not shear. This lash training allowed me to understand my weak points and how to improve on them. Thus, I am happy to have had this lash training, where I was given the opportunity to improve my lashes! 

Building of Standard Structures:

After Lash Training, the Year 1s were split into 2 groups and each group was to build 1 shoe rack and 1 baggage rack in total. The Year 1s were also tasked to assign 1 PL and PS per group. 

Reflection from a Year 1 in P5:

On 28 July, my batchmates and I built baggage racks and shoe racks. First, we collected our logistics. As it was our first time depending on ourselves without our seniors' help, we were confused and did not remember the logistics needed once we arrived at 团部,  causing us to keep asking the Year 3s to repeat the logistics. Our entire batch was split into two groups and each group had to build one baggage rack and one shoe rack. Most of us did not know the exact steps to build the structures hence wasting a lot of time. When we started building, manpower was not allocated properly and most of our manpower was focused on either one of the two structures. At the end of the time given, we were not finished with our structures so we kept asking for time extensions. We also did not 报时 frequently hence lacking in a sense of urgency. For the netting and rafting for the baggage rack, only a few of us in our batch knew how to do it, so we had to rely on the same people. Moreover, when we were done with our structures, the lashes were not tight enough causing the structure to be unstable. Through this activity, I bonded with my batchmates and learnt more about building standard structures and pointers to take note of while building.

Reflection from a Year 1 in P2:

On Friday, the Year 1s had a batch activity to build standard structures. We had to build 2 shoe racks and 2 baggage racks. After collecting the logistics, we were split into two groups, P1, P3, and P6 were in group one, and P2, P4, and P5 were in group 2. Each group needed to build 1 shoe rack and 1 baggage rack and we were firstly given 50 mins. But due to a lack of manpower and a sense of urgency, the PL and PS had to ask for time extensions after time extensions. Most lashes were not up to standards too, hence we had to retie many lashes, also wasting a lot of time. When we were about to finish, the time extensions were up and Samantha told us to suggest a time for the very last time extensions for us to complete the structures. Thankfully we were able to complete the structures. The baggage racks were not stable at all and could be rocked from side to side with just a little force. Samantha gave us tips on how to improve by making sure the 定脚's diagonals are tied very tightly so the structure will be steady and also making the spacings between the netting smaller to hold things better. For the shoe racks, Samantha said that they were not squares but rhombus shaped. We can improve this by making sure people are 定-ing the quadpod sides while tying so the structure will be a square. Though we got scolded by Samantha, Natalie, and Yue Yao many times, we learnt a lot, like stepping out to look at the bigger picture, 报时-ing constantly, and also allocating manpower better.

Teaching of Guides Songs:

During this activity, the Year 2s that were present had the opportunity to teach some commonly sung Guides songs to the Year 1s, as most of them were unfamiliar with Guides songs and were mostly unable to sing along during the 55th Anniversary Campfire. 

Reflection from a Year 1 in P4:

The singing of Guides songs helped us bond with our batch mates and seniors, despite the fact that there were only a few Year 2s and Year 3s. One of our Year 4s also came and sang “Peace like a River” along with us. The singing of Guides songs lifted our morale after our previous gadgeting activity and it was fun to do the actions while singing, especially after the 55th Anniversary Campfire when we got to know them. The singing of campfire songs, especially ones that are supposed to boost excitement such as "Father Abraham", made us happier and more relaxed, along with everyone else. Time passes by when one is having fun, and it felt like only a few minutes had passed when we were told to 集合 again. Many of us enjoyed the song "Ging Gang Goolie", because of the lyrics, the clapping, the different parts we had to sing at one time, and the catchy tune.  All of us enjoyed this activity, and it made our 集合 a lot more enjoyable. We hope that we can sing more Guides songs in our future co-curricular activities (CCA) sessions, as it makes us more excited and it helps us bond with our batchmates and seniors more, which is important in a CCA where we have to work together often. 

Reflection from a Year 1 in P1:

During Friday's CCA session, the Year 2 seniors taught us how to sing and dance to several Guides songs. Some of the songs included “Peace Like a River”, “Father Abraham”, “Ging Gang Goolie”, “My Side” and “BP Spirit”. Before each song, they would demonstrate the actions of the song, after which we would attempt it together. It was an entertaining and enjoyable session for everyone as some of the actions were very funny, and it allowed many of the quieter Year 1s to step out of their comfort zones and have some fun too. It was also a rare opportunity for our seniors to be teaching us Guides songs, and everyone had a whale of a time learning new songs. At the same time, my batchmates and I got to bond and know each other better. I feel that it was a good opportunity for the Year 2 seniors to interact with us as Year 1s as well since many of us previously did not know them as they were not our own Patrol seniors. As Guides is a sisterhood, this was incredibly valuable to us all. In conclusion, my batchmates and I really enjoyed this CCA session and hope that we would learn more guides songs.

Reflection from a Year 2 in P3:

It was an exhilarating experience. Due to a previous activity, those from my class had only arrived for Guides at 430pm, causing us to be dismissed after a short time as there was already enough manpower. Undeterred, we politely asked the seniors if we could help with anything else, and to our delight, they sent us to where the Year 1s were having lash training. After a while, the Year 3s suggested we teach them some songs for the rest of the time until dismissal. We sat with the Year 1s in a circle around us and started with the song ‘Ging Gang Goolie’. Throughout, I tried to get some of the quieter Year 1s to join in more enthusiastically by staring intensely at them and looking down at their hands while waggling my eyebrows suggestively. I struggled with coordinating my body through the song ‘My Side’, and then—as we should have done all along—the Year 2s moved outside the circle so that we could observe everyone at once. ‘Father Abraham’, ‘Peace Like a River’, and ‘BP Spirit’ flew by; before I knew it, it was all over. During the intermissions between each song, I remember worrying that we weren’t leading the Year 1s well enough. Were they all properly engaged? I reflected on such questions. Truth be told, as I noticed my friends interacting with Year 1s around them only, I had the creeping sensation that we could do better—by also valuing the enjoyment of those who are not close to us. Having previously noted the Year 1’s downtrodden spirits from the group corner, I wanted them to end the session with a reaffirmation of their sense of belonging to Guides and their Patrols. I tried my best to introduce potentially novel songs to them. Alas, I was hindered by nervousness throughout, which dampened my mood overall. However, I still enjoyed the experience greatly. I got to gain a better understanding of everyone I interacted with, including myself and the Year 3s, as I watched them in action. This experience motivated me to revise my Guides songs and improve my leadership skills among others.

Hope that everyone present during 集合 today learnt something new or gained a new experience today and mostly importantly, had fun with their batchmates and seniors/juniors!

Published by:

Chin Yan Tong

55届 Secretary

55th Anniversary Campfire, 15-16 July 2023

Hello Guides!

This year, Dunman High Girl Guides celebrated our 55th anniversary, and to commemorate it, we held the 55th Anniversary Campfire on the 15th of July. Months of preparation were put into this campfire, with the YAs starting to plan for this campfire since last year. The theme for this campfire was "Our Blazin' Spirit", 重燃 and the tagline was 重点灯火，再次燃烧. The theme represents DHSCOY's hope for the Guiding Spirit to shine brightly forever for the generations of Guides to come, even in the face of unexpected challenges. Meanwhile, the tagline symbolises a new beginning for DHSCOY as this is the first major Guides event planned and held ever since the Covid-19 pandemic. 

However, behind the scenes of the successful campfire was the hard work put in by Guides and YAs from the various committees: Programmes, Construction, Decoration, Booths and Logistics, with the logistics committee only consisting of YAs. 

Programmes

The programmes committee comprised 2 YA ICs, 2 emcees and 8 song leaders. This committee was in charge of keeping the audience hyped up throughout the campfire through, with the emcees hosting the campfire and the game shows involved and the song leaders performing sections intermittently. 

Reflection from a Year 3 in P6:

For our 55th Anniversary Guides Campfire, we started the Campfire preparation months before the event. In Programmes, we learnt a wide range of songs, some of which we never heard before. Besides learning the lyrics of the songs, we also had the chance to make actions for the pop songs that we will be singing. For the Guides’ songs, we also learnt the dance for the songs and it was a very fun and enjoyable experience for us. Through this experience, we got to know a lot more actions of 领歌 songs that we can sing and dance during 领歌 in 集合s. On the actual campfire day, we had several dry runs in the morning and afternoon. Around 6.45 pm, the guests started to arrive. At this time, we started feeling more and more anxious and nervous. However, we continued to keep the morale high by cheering each other on and keeping each other calm. As I was on stage for the first section of the campfire songs, I was nervous and scared that I would not do well. So much could go wrong, like not singing the songs at the right speed or messing up the lyrics of the songs. Thankfully, everything went well and we were able to do our best on stage. After we got down from the stage, we were proud of ourselves for putting on our best performance and making the audience happy. Afterward, we were standing in front of the audience below the stage to guide the audience through the different dance moves. We all did a great job in leading the songs and dances and we were satisfied to see the audience enjoy themselves. Overall, I think we did a good job and we really enjoyed ourselves being song leaders and being in Programmes.

Reflection from a Year 3 in P1:

The 55th Anniversary Campfire was definitely one to remember, with exhilaration and of course some difficulties. For Programmes, the camp preparation sessions were all rather smooth sailing. Though in the last preparation session, the pressure was definitely building up. We were all rather worried about messing up in front of such a large audience but we all comforted one another and made the promise to just try our best and have fun. On the day itself, we also had many adjustments that needed to be made, such as setting up the stage during various segments and the arrangement of song leaders. Not to mention that one of our song leaders fell ill and the emcees had to substitute in. These all increased our nerves, especially when nearing the official campfire. However, I think we all found comfort in one another and our countless hours of preparation. The Young Adults along with the alumni mentors also kept encouraging us, reminding us that it’s okay to make mistakes, we just have to have confidence in ourselves. Backstage, our Programmes YAs in-charge were also doing their best, giving debriefs on our performance and briefing us on the segments that had to be cut out due to time constraints. Although the campfire segments had a lot of last-minute changes, I think we all adapted very well to it. For me, I was very comforted by the fact that I had a capable partner to emcee with me as it provided a safety net for mistakes. Overall, the campfire was a huge success and one to remember. The actual campfire was memorable as standing on stage, and seeing everyone sing their hearts out really let the guiding spirit shine bright and reminded me that Guides is a home, where generations can come together after decades to have fun and celebrate. But even more so, the journey of preparation was immensely heartening, enjoying one another’s company, going through songs over and over again, synchronizing dance actions and just having fun together.

Construction

The construction committee was the largest committee with a large amount of manpower from all batches. Their job for the campfire was to build the gateway, in which hung laminated photos of past and current Guides activities, and the 旗杆, which was used for 升旗 and 降旗. 

Reflection from a Year 1 in P6:

The 55th Anniversary Campfire is my very first campfire in Guides. During the close to 40 hours of campfire preparations, I think we can say that this campfire was a huge success. At first, I was not used to being in the sun and doing Pioneering for 10 hours but over the few months, I learnt to adapt to the hot weather and doing Pioneering under the sun. Although we did have some overruns and were worried that we might not catch up with the planned timeline, we got back on track and could reach our goal. During the campfire, I felt very excited that I was able to experience this wholesome campfire, from singing songs and screaming my lungs out during the cheers. I was able to bond with my batchmates better. I think the guests that joined us in the campfire made the campfire even more memorable and we got to usher them and give them our tasty roasted marshmallows. My favourite part of the campfire was singing campfire songs, I thought that it was very wholesome. Seeing the final product of our structures, I think that the Construction Committee did an amazing job and I am happy that we were able to pull this off. After the campfire, it was also my first time sleeping overnight in school. I got to experience sleeping in a sleeping bag and showering quickly. Although I could not get much sleep, I am still thankful to experience this. I think that we were all exhausted from the preparation sessions and the actual setting up of the campfire. I am not used to preparing for campfires but I think it was a very fulfilling few months of preparations. I realised how much our Year 5s and Year 6s had to plan just for the few hours of our final product. This was definitely a fun and enjoyable experience and I cannot wait for the next camp!

Reflection from a Year 2 in P1:

The Guides 55th Anniversary Campfire included long preparation sessions leading up to the overnight stay in school. For the construction committee—which I was a part of—we spent preparation time learning and practicing Pioneering structures meant to be used at the campfire itself, such as the Gateway. Progress was impeded by unforeseen circumstances, however—such as the renovation of the basketball courts, which were near backstore, where we retrieved Pioneering spars from. During the campfire stay, we spent the larger part of the day Pioneering under the sun, as well as setting up the campfire site. This included moving a hundred benches from the canteen to the field, which was decidedly tough. Suffice to say, that part of the process was rather exhausting and physically taxing. We pushed ourselves to the limits, however, and managed to make good time for our structures. We also had to keep our eyes peeled for any signs of redness on our skin—lest that became peeled too. Upon lathering and slathering my skin with sunblock, I was displeased to realise that a tan was still coming on. Nevertheless, our hard work and endurance paid off on the campfire night. It was truly a moment of sisterhood and warmth when we all huddled together to jump around, sing, and dance. I had so much fun. As a participant in the games segment as well, I can say that it was rather creatively planned, and we all had a meaningful time. Afterward, most, if not all the patrols grouped together to take patrol photos. That night, although I do not think we slept very soundly, overnight stays in school are certainly not common, and it was definitely an experience. The second day was mostly spent cleaning up the campfire area and disassembling our structures. Overall, I think those doing construction, myself included, were very tired but fulfilled after the camp. It was certainly a memorable experience.

Reflection from a Year 3 in P6:

During the campfire preparation sessions, we tried constructing the 旗杆 and a gateway. Through the campfire preparation sessions, the Y1s to Y4 constructed the structure while the Y5s gave us instructions and improved on the structures from one campfire preparation session to another. Although it took a lot of effort to finish building the structures, it felt really rewarding to see our structures being completed. During the day before the actual day for campfire preparation, we had already finished building most of the 旗杆 and were left with the gateway. The gateway consisted of two main frames with 红木 and 黄木 with 黑木 as the internal diagonals. After that, we built the external diagonals to stabilise the structure. In the structure, there was also a quadpod to add to the stability and aesthetics of the gateway. After we finished building the structure, the deco comm then added fairy lights and decorations to the gateway. As for the 旗杆, I realised that I still have much to learn regarding the types of lashes as I did not know how to tie a butterfly lash. Even though this was already the last time we were able to work with the Y4s, we were still able to learn so much from them. When dusk arrived and guests started streaming, I felt a sense of accomplishment as I saw the alumni and guests being in awe of the structure that we built. Moreover, my batch was able to take a photo in memory of the 55th Campfire in front of the gateway. Overall, I feel that everyone had worked hard for this 55th Campfire Anniversary as on top of the construction of the structure, we had to move logistics and stay long hours under the hot sun. Not to mention the other committees who also worked hard in their comms. All in all, although this was an extremely tiring 2-day 1-night camp, I felt that it was an extremely rewarding experience. 

Decoration

For the campfire, the decorations committee was in charge of the aesthetics of the campfire. This included mini-gadgeting, cutting out stickers, packing goodie bags, designing the gateway built by the constructions committee, etc.

Reflection from a Year 1 in P4: 

Before the actual day of the campfire, the decoration committee had to prepare all the decorations for the campfire. On the first campfire preparation, we went to school from eight in the morning until six in the afternoon. During the session, we painted all the banners that we had to put up such as the booth signboards, the stage decorations, the phoenix for the entrance, and the giant banner at the entrance that said "Our Blazin' Spirit". Even though it may sound like an easy job to do—just sitting on the floor and painting, we did have our setbacks and issues. When we first tried to sketch the picture of the phoenix onto the cardboard, it was really difficult to get the dimensions right. Some parts of the wings had to be parallel to each other so that they would look realistic, and the feathers had to curve nicely. It was really frustrating trying to get it right but when we finally did, it was such a relief. Throughout the few other sessions after the first, we had a list of other things for us to do!! We had to make other decorations like phoenix origami, sort photo albums, make goody bags for the guests, stick photos together to make a photo gallery at the entrance, and many others. After many days of hard work and preparation, it was the actual day of the campfire. It was quite a rush for the decoration committee as we still had to make the photo gallery and hang all the decorations up before the campfire started. The photo gallery kept getting tangled up and it took very long to untangle them again. It was very frustrating for us as we knew that time was not on our side. When we finally untangled them, we hung them up at the entrance made by the construction committee. The phoenix, the banner, and the patrol boards were all hung up there. When enough people were doing one job, the rest had to go carry canteen benches up to the second floor with the booth committee. It was very tiring work and some of us needed two people to carry the benches. Even then, it was still very hard. We persevered, however, and managed to carry all of them up. Following that, we had a mass change and the seniors gave us just 10 minutes to change into our 全制. We had to rush to the crowded toilets, and it was hard to change there as there were too many people. When the mass change was completed, there was an attire check before the flag-raising ceremony. We gathered at D'Area, and formed a horseshoe formation. Our Assistant Company Leader raised the flag, and we watched her. When it was done, we still had a few more minutes before the start of the campfire. We explored the booths and admired all the structures and decorations while the ushers ushered the guests to the D-area. When the campfire started, we could sing songs and dance and even to interactive games with the guests. My favourite parts were when we sang "Style", and "Night Changes" and when we danced "The Thousand Legged Worm" and hopped around the campfire. The campfire ended at around 10 and we took a group photo with all the guests and our batchmates and patrol mates. They gave us until 11.30 pm to shower and eat supper and lights out was at 12. I was so tired that I fell asleep immediately. This 55th Anniversary Campfire was exhausting but I enjoyed it a lot. It was a good experience for me!!

Reflection from a Year 2 in P3:

Being part of the 55th Anniversary Campfire’s Decoration Committee has been an interesting and enriching experience for me. We did activities that varied from our normal 集合 sessions, such as drawing, painting, cutting, sticking, and tidying photo albums. I remembered during our first 集合 in our Decoration Committee, everyone was unsure as to what our task was and we all stood around looking at each other hesitantly. However, the Young Adults explained to us our task and, after going through various 集合 sessions of us preparing the decoration, I feel that we have all improved so much on the various arts and crafts work. Despite this, I feel that we still have room for improvement in our time management. We could have worked faster and finished our work quicker. Although having a few hiccups here and there, we still managed to pull through. A memorable part of the preparation was the painting of the stage phoenix as I had never worked on such a large piece of artwork. Although we spent hours on the painting and were exhausted after, I still had an incredible time and loved every second of the painting process. It was heartening on the actual day to see our decorations being hung up. We knew all our hard work and efforts had been put into those decorations, and we all felt very proud of ourselves. It also made me realise how much work is put into hosting a 3-hour campfire programme. It was obvious that it was not just our committee who had put in a lot of effort, all other committees did too. The Construction and Booth Committee’s structures were well-built, and I absolutely loved the henna booth. It was also interesting to interact with the alumni and hear about their guiding experience. I especially loved the campfire at night, where everyone was singing and dancing together. It was so special and joyful, and I truly felt that we were just one big family. I hope that the scouts and visitors also enjoyed the campfire because I remember it was mainly us Guides who were screaming and singing along to the songs. Overall, the campfire has been a very memorable experience for me. It was tiring and made my back feel like it was about to break, but all of the months of hard work were definitely worth it when I experienced the campfire and the wonderful atmosphere of it. 

Reflection from a Year 3 in P3:

For the first few sessions of campfire preparation, we painted banners and the phoenix board. We could definitely improve on our urgency and could have taken it more seriously as we had to repaint the white banner. Then for the rest of the camp prep, we cut stickers and pack the goodies bag for our guests. On the morning of the campfire, we laid out the banners that needed to be hung around the gateway and took all the other decorations down. I think the Year 3s should have done a better job to allocate manpower better as there were many zuobos doing nothing outside 团部. After we took the decorations down to D'Area, we started hanging them around. One difficulty that we faced was tying the gateway phoenix onto the gateway, as the structure was very tall thus hard to stabilise the phoenix. The seniors were adaptable to the situation and wrapped the phoenix with 白绳 onto the gateway. I think that we should learn from them in times of difficulty. Not only that, the strings for the photo wall tangled together we definitely could have worked faster to untangle them and also taken it seriously as even though we had 过时ed but nobody went to ask for a time extension. In the end, we managed to overcome the difficulties and did our best to make this campfire a memorable one for everyone. I feel that the overall experience of camp prep and the campfire itself was very fun and I realized the amount of hard work needed to plan the campfire and also to execute it in order to make it a successful one.

Booths

Last but not least, the booths committee was in charge of manning the game booths, outdoor cooking booth and the henna booth. The game and outdoor cooking booths were made from scratch by the booths committee with cardboard and gadgeting materials.

Reflection from a Year 1 in P2:

Before the actual day, we had many campfire prep sessions, so the booths comms painstakingly polished over 50 trophies using sponges and water, and did the gadgeting structures until the Young Adults were satisfied. We had to 重抽 the mini gadgeting structures many times in 团部. We also helped to whip 白绳, which in our opinion was quite difficult as the string was very thin and hard to see. We had put in a lot of effort in the campfire prep and we were very proud of the results, and were in eager anticipation for the actual campfire. On the 15th of July 2023, it was the day of the actual campfire, after many camp prep sessions, of building mini gadgets and preparing for the actual day of the campfire. After we brought the logistics from 团部, we started tying the structures and improving them. Some examples of the structures were the Ferris wheel, the shoe rack, and the baggage rack. We built the baggage rack and the shoe rack. However, we faced a few difficulties, we forgot to look at the bigger picture of the structures so the protrusion was not equal and the whole structure was slanted at one point. However, due to our collaboration and teamwork, we efficiently 重抽 the structures and overcame all the challenges we faced. After making sure that our structures did not have any flaws, the Young Adults made us re-tie the loose lashes and replace the ones that were not as nice and neat with the new 白绳 that were whipped by us. Then we had a very well-deserved lunch break. After lunch, we were finally done with our structures, so we carried all our remaining logistics back to 团部, and the structures to D'Area. After that, we arranged the mini gadgeting structures, albums, and pictures, and also set up the outdoor cooking booth and the henna booth for the guests. After that, we had mass change. After the mass change, we had an attire check and 升旗礼. We 集合ed at D'Area and 排马蹄, which is standing in a horseshoe formation. Our Assistant Company Leader raised the flag while we watched her. Then, we had to continue with our respective duties, such as ushering the guests and introducing our structures to the guests. We also roasted marshmallows and watched the sun set as we gathered around the campfire with the scouts, young adults, and alumni. At 7 pm, the well-anticipated campfire started, and the emcees and song leaders came on stage. We sang many songs and played games for us to bond as one. The most memorable songs for me were “Style” and “The Night Changes”, as we sang that during the last 集合 with my seniors. At 9.30 pm, the campfire ended and we all went back to our rooms to shower and eat supper. 

Reflection from a Year 2 in P5:

The Campfire Preparation that led to the 55th Anniversary Campfire included 8 am to 6 pm days that were fruitful and tiring, yet after all our preparation, it paid off as the actual Campfire was well organised and the guests enjoyed the whole Campfire. During the Campfire Preparation Sessions, we had to learn how to tie different creative and standard structures to showcase to guests on the actual day. We experimented and tried different ways to tie the structures so as to perfect them for the actual day. Then, the requirements for our lashes also increased as it neared the actual day, and we had to work harder and faster to meet our seniors' expectations. As such, we always managed to keep to the timeline and sometimes even finished earlier than planned. Thus, we helped other Committees like Construction and Decoration and helped to set up the chairs and structures on the field for the actual day. Carrying the chairs was actually one of the most memorable moments on the day of the Campfire before the guests arrived as it required everyone to work together and we did a relay. It was heartening to see how despite all of our aching muscles, we were still trying to cheer one another on and helped one another persevere. Soon, the blazing sun had set and although there was no longer any unbearable heat beating down on us, we were still anxious for the guests' arrival as we were unsure if we could please them or if the whole programme would run smoothly or not. To our joy, the guests enjoyed the performance and enjoyed the booths set up for them to feast their eyes on. The standard structures such as the baggage rack and shoe rack were on display for guests and other structures such as the Outdoor Cooking booth, Table Soccer, and Maze were interactive structures for guests to engage themselves with. As I was in charge of the Outdoor Cooking booth, I had to make sure that the fire does not die out so that guests could enjoy toasting their marshmallows and enjoy them. I felt satisfied with my work despite all the heat and having to breathe in a lot of smoke as it made the guests elated to be able to try out toasting their marshmallows with the OC structure that Booths made from scratch. The guests also enjoyed playing the games at the Soccer Table booth and Maze booth, and as both were multi-player games, the guests had to call on their friends to play it together, and it definitely would be etched in their memories as they had a whale of a time playing the games. Overall, the Campfire ceremony was memorable and one of the most thrilling experiences I have had in Guides. 

Reflection from a Year 3 in P5:

During the campfire preparation sessions, the Booths committee mainly did gadgeting to build the standard structures as well as the games. These structures included a baggage rack, shoe rack, maze structure, table soccer, and a Ferris wheel. During the first few campfire preparation sessions, we often took a long time to finish building the structures. The structures would also look messy, and our lashes were not up to standard. However, we eventually familiarised ourselves with the different structures, and we managed to complete them much quicker and of a better quality. Other activities that the Booths comm did were to 重抽 all the loose lashes for the mini gadgeting structures as well as wipe the trophies, so that they would look presentable to the guests on the day of the campfire. On the actual day of the campfire, we all felt very excited and we made sure to put in our best effort for our last preparations. While fixing the structures and setting up the booths, we constantly encouraged one another and maintained high morale. After that, we moved all the structures to D'Area and built an indoor fire altar there for the Outdoor Cooking booth. At the same time, some of us brought the mini gadgeting structures and photo albums down from 团部, and we arranged them neatly on the tables. After setting up the booths, finally, the guests were arriving. We felt a sense of pride as the guests came over to look at the booths and play the games, and we felt that all the hard work we had put in was definitely worth it. We were delighted to see the number of people that came over to the booths, as we could showcase the things that we do in Guides now, as well as let them walk down memory lane and look back on the precious memories that they had made. Overall, the campfire was an unforgettable experience that made all our time and effort so worth it.

Through this campfire, we hope that Guides have learnt something new and gained new experiences from working with different people in their respective committees. We hope that all the guests and alumni who joined us to celebrate the 55th anniversary of DHSCOY had fun at the booths, admired the structures built by construction committee and decorated by the decorations committee, and lastly enjoyed themselves to the fullest during the campfire led by the programmes committee! We thank everyone present at the campfire for helping to make this campfire a successful and special one for all of us to remember. Till the 60th aniversary campfire!

Published by:

Chin Yan Tong

55届 Secretary

Combined Activity with Scouts, 30 June 2023

Hi Guides!

During the first 集合 of term 3, we had the long-awaited Combined Activity with the Scouts planned by the Year 4s. During the combined activity, we played station games in our combined patrols with the Scouts. 2 of the stations were related to Pioneering, the other 2 were related to Gadgeting and Inspection, and the last 2 were related to 绳桥.

Stations 1 and 2: Pioneering

In this station, Guides and Scouts were first tasked to tie as many Square and Diagonal Lashes as possible within the given time as part of a competition with another patrol. Afterwards, the patrol who tied the most lashes would choose one out of the 2 structures shown to tie, and the other patrol would automatically have to tie the other structure. 

Reflection from a Year 1 in P1:

During combined 集合, there was a pioneering station. Two identical frames made of spars were laid out for us, and we were tasked to compete with another patrol to see who could tie the most number of good lashes in the same amount of time. My patrol quickly tied as many lashes as we could in hopes of winning. We worked extremely well together and managed to win the contest! The Year 3s from the winning patrol, us, were then able to choose which pioneering structure we wanted to build next. The Year 3s from my patrol chose to build a structure consisting of a Tripod with an X shape attached to it. We split into two groups, one group to build the Tripod and the other to build the X. Even though we tried our best, we did not manage to finish the structure within the given time limit. We were quite disappointed as it was a simple structure that we should have been able to complete within the time. I feel that we could have worked faster and managed our time better. We should also have been more aware of what other things had to be done, instead of just standing around and doing nothing. I believe we all had a great time working with the scouts in this combined 集合. All in all, this pioneering station was fun yet enriching.

Reflection from a Year 1 in P2:

On the 30th of June, we had combined 集合 with the Scouts. We played a variety of activities such as first aid, gadgeting, pioneering and more. However, the most exciting and memorable activity was, of course, the pioneering station. We were competing against each other to see which patrol, between patrol 9 and patrol 12, would win, as we encountered a swamp monster in the game. Reflecting, we could have worked together more cohesively and collaboratively, as when one of us was tying the tripod, the rest of us were just looking at him. We could have used our manpower more efficiently by cheering more enthusiastically or 报时 more consistently, as we took 17 minutes, which is much longer than the time we were given to finish the tripod. Thankfully, Patrol 12 came to our rescue and helped us in the end, so we were very grateful for their help. We were the last group to finish and did not win, but we made many memories which definitely made up for it, as we all enjoyed the pioneering station with both Scouts and Guides collaborating as one, forging friendships and also gaining new opportunities to bond as brothers and sisters.

Reflection from a Year 2 in P1:

On Friday, we had combined 集合 with the scouts. The second station my patrol participated in was located outside the hostel canteen, where we had to race with another patrol to see who could tie the most lashes on a frame made of spars, within a given time. The winning patrol got to pick which pioneering structure—out of two—that they would build, and whichever patrol finished tying their respective structure the fastest would be the overall winner of the station. My patrol only managed to tie three Square Lashes and two Diagonal Lashes on the frame. Therefore, we lost, allowing the opposing patrol to decide which structure to build. In my mind, I thought that they had picked the more complicated one. When we started building our structure, however, we quickly realised that our base was a Tripod—meaning my patrol could not do anything while waiting for one person to finish tying the Tripod, which took quite a while. After he was done tying the Tripod, we had to rush the rest of the structure and did not manage to complete it in time. When those in charge of the station asked the other patrol why they had decided to pick the more complicated-looking structure, they replied that the structure they had chosen required fewer lashes. My patrol was told that our structure had taken such a long time to build because we could only wait for that one person to complete the Tripod before doing anything else, while with the other structure, everyone could be tying something at once, which would get the structure completed much faster. I found that extremely fascinating. This pioneering station was very fun and interesting, so overall I really enjoyed it.

Reflection from a Year 2 in P2:

On Friday, we had combined 集合 with the Scouts. The first station my patrol had to go to was the pioneering station. The first task was to tie as many square lashes and diagonal lashes as possible on a frame within 10 minutes, while 3 people from our patrol had to do a series of physical training. I felt that we should have worked faster as we took too long to lay out the frame, leading us to tie fewer lashes. However, we still managed to win Patrol 4. The winning team could choose between 2 structures and we chose the first structure as we thought it was easier. However, we still did not manage to finish the structure. I learnt that we should have used our manpower more effectively so that we could have completed the structure within the given time. We also should have 报时 more often. Personally, I found this station very interesting and enjoyed it very much as I got to work together with my patrol mates for the first time. This combined 集合 helped us to get to know our patrol mates better, bond together and forge new friendships with not only Guides but also Scouts.

Reflection from a Year 3 in P5:

For station 1, we were required to do pioneering. To start, two patrols were given 7 minutes to compete and see which patrol could tie the most number of square and diagonal lashes. I feel that my patrol could have 报时-ed more during that activity so that we could have worked faster and had a better sense of urgency. Furthermore, some of the 麻绳 were quite long, therefore, some lashes took longer than others because of the 绕. After the 7 minutes, the seniors checked all the lashes and allocated the points - each acceptable square lash counted as 2 points while each acceptable diagonal lash counted as 3 points. Although the exact number of points that each patrol obtained was not revealed to us, my patrol unfortunately lost, and the other patrol got to choose their structure for the next activity first. However, my patrol was still motivated to do our best and give it our all in the next segment. For the next activity, a year 3 from my patrol went to look at the structure that we were tasked to build. He first gave us the instruction to tie a tripod using 3 红木. While one person was tying the tripod, the others tied timber hitches on each 脚 of the tripod. We also cheered and 报时-ed constantly, which helped to boost the patrol morale. Although we took a very long time to finish tying the tripod, we still tried our best to complete as much as we could during the time given. However, we had very little time left, and we only managed to complete the 定脚s, which was slightly disappointing. I believe that we could have worked faster during this part as we should have been able to finish the tripod in a shorter amount of time. Nevertheless, this station allowed us to work on our pioneering skills as well as learn to work together with new people, and thus I think that it was a memorable experience.

Reflection from a Year 3 in P3:

During last Friday’s combined 集合, we did a range of activities from gadgeting to pioneering and even 升桥. We were grouped into 12 patrols of Guides and Scouts, then headed off to our respective order of stations. Station 2 was my patrol’s second station. First, we had a competition with the other patrol to see who could tie more lashes within a specified amount of time. 2 points were awarded for every Square Lash and 3 points for every Diagonal Lash. Eventually, our patrol won, though we could have worked faster and improved our communication. Since we won the first part of the station, we got to choose the Pioneering structure for part 2. I chose the second structure on behalf of my patrol, as that could be tied simultaneously, which would reduce the number of people not doing anything while the main tripod was being tied. However, our patrol made a mistake when tying, as two of the 青木s were supposed to form an “X”, but by the time we realised, it was too late. This served as a reminder to pay better attention to details, as even small differences could change the entire structure. Overall, the entire combined 集合 was enjoyable and enriching, and it was clear how much effort the seniors had put into it. 

Stations 3 and 4: Gadgeting and Inspection

For the first part of this station, Guides and Scouts were to work together and build a shelter in their combined patrols that could fit at least 1 member. After building and 拆掉ing the structure, they were then to complete an inspection layout as a patrol.

Reflection from a Year 1 in P6:

For the gadgeting station during combined 集合 on Friday, we were tasked to build a shelter. At first, my patrol had different ideas on how to build the shelter. After a while of discussion, we decided to start by tying two A-架s. Then, we tied 顶脚s on the A-架s and connected the A-架s. After that, we tied two diagonals at the base of the structure and covered the structure with two ponchos to make it a shelter. When the Year 4 asked me to try to get into the shelter, I realised that it was hard to get in as the shelter was very small. During the debrief, we were told that our structure was good but we could have made the structure look neater by 收ing the 鸟绳. We could also have 报时ed more frequently in order to have a stronger sense of urgency. After building the shelter, we had a round of inspection. As a Year 1, this was my second time, so I was confused about what to do. While the Year 3s sorted out most of the things during the inspection, I feel that we should have tried helping the Year 3s more, instead of just watching them. From this inspection, I learnt that the 麻绳 has to be put in a 5 by 3 format. Overall, I am more familiar with the things in our 配备 after this inspection.

Reflection from a Year 1 in P5:

Last Friday, we had combined 集合 with the Scouts. As a Year 1, it was my first time having combined 集合. In our combined patrols, we had to go to different stations to complete different tasks. They required different skills, such as gadgeting, pioneering and most importantly, teamwork! I enjoyed the station where we had to build a shelter the most. The Year 4s thought that it would be a good idea to have a friendly competition with Patrol 1. As a patrol, we had to brainstorm ideas on how to build the shelter. In addition, we had to work fast as we were only given 30 minutes to build the structure. We decided to build two A-架s and used 2 木s to connect the structure. Next, we tied a diagonal lash at the bottom of the shelter. Finally, we put the canvas sheet on top of the structure. Building the shelter was a good way to practise my lashes. Both patrols finished building the shelter on time and did not 过时. Both patrols did very well in building the shelter, and most of the lashes were tight. I think we can apply this sense of urgency in normal 集合 and continue striving to work within the time given. After building the shelter, we had to do a round of inspection. The seniors gave us a layout that we had to follow. As this was only my second time doing inspection, I was still unsure of the different names of the equipment. Hence, I watched my seniors lay out the equipment neatly while trying my best to memorise all the names of the equipment. We had to work extremely fast as we were only given 4 minutes to complete the layout. Fortunately, my patrol did not 过时. Both patrols did inspection accurately. All in all, combined 集合 was a new and enriching experience for me.

Reflection from a Year 2 in P6:

Last Friday, we had combined 集合 for CCA. We were tasked to build a shelter that was waterproof and could fit at least one of our patrol mates. My patrol came up with a structure quickly as we only had 20 minutes for this activity. We built two tripods, then the 顶脚s. Originally we were supposed to connect the two tripods with a 中短木 and cover it with a poncho but we ended up not having enough time to complete our structure. The lashes on our structure also were not up to standard as we took a much longer time for each lash compared to the standard timing, and some of the lashes were also quite loose. I feel like we could have had a greater sense of urgency and 报时 more as we were reminded to do so several times by the Year 4s. We could have also cheered more to keep the morale high. For inspection, my patrol was able to complete the layout with time left. We also had fewer than 2 mistakes, so we did not have to do forfeit. All in all, I think that we could have improved significantly for our shelter, but we did well in our inspection.

Reflection from a Year 2 in P5:

During combined 集合 with the scouts, one station was a gadgeting and inspection station. First, we had to build a shelter out of gadgeting 木 and a poncho, which had to fit at least one member of our patrol. My patrol decided to build a simple quadpod and attach the poncho to the 顶脚. This was one of the first few times I have tied a quadpod lash, so while it was slightly stressful and not ideally tight, we managed to complete the structure without any time extension. Personally, one of my main takeaways from this is that sometimes the solution might be simpler than you think and there is no need to overcomplicate things. The second part of this station was inspection. Usually, inspection layouts are rectangular, but this time, the layout was circular. This was quite an interesting layout but we still managed to complete it within the time we were given. In hindsight, we could have packed the 配备 neater after the inspection for the sake of the patrol after us, so that’s something to improve on. Ultimately, this year’s combined 集合 may not have been incredibly exciting, but it was certainly a very fruitful experience as I got to know the scouts in my batch better.

Reflection from a Year 3 in P6:

In station 3, we did Pioneering and Gadgeting. We were tasked to build an emergency shelter that could fit 1 patrol member. We decided to build a Tripod and open it the widest, such that we could still tie 中木s as the 定脚s. After building the Tripod, we took a poncho for the 配备 and tied it on top of the Tripod. I definitely think that we should have tied a bigger structure so that it will be more convenient for the person to hide under the structure during an emergency and also for the person to have complete protection. We also had extra time which we should have made use of to 重抽 loose lashes as we had a lot of them. For our timing, we took 15 minutes to tie one Tripod, which definitely could have been faster.  After Gadgeting, we proceeded to do Inspection, where there were 2 ICs, one from each group. Even though we were able to complete the layout, we till 过时ed by 1 minute, which was unacceptable. During both activities, we should have 报时 more and asked for time extension before the time was up. We also should have made sure that our lashes were tight and should have a better sense of urgency.

Reflection from a Year 3 in P1:

For station 4, we were tasked to build a gadgeting structure that could provide shelter for at least one member in the patrol. Originally, we were planning to do 2 tripods but decided against it for fear of time constraints. In hindsight, we should have went with tripods instead of A-架s as A-架s needed internal diagonals, thus crippling the practicality of the structure. The structure also ended up shearing, which could have been prevented by having tighter lashes and ensuring that the 2 A-架s were upright when tying the horizontals. Nevertheless, I think we did rather well as our lashes were mostly tight, and everyone was involved in the building of the structure. For inspection, we were rather stunned when first given the layout as it was circular, instead of the conventional rectangle. This led us to take a minute or so to come up with a big enough circular shape. Afterwards, it was rather smooth sailing, some of us were passing items, and some of us were arranging them in the correct position. In the end, we had a perfect inspection with 0 mistakes. All in all, this station was fun and also tested our adaptability and creativity. Though there were certainly areas for improvement, I think we did quite well at working together and keeping within the time limit.

Stations 5 and 6: 绳桥 and First Aid

For this station, Guides and Scouts took turns between 顶ing the 绳桥 and having a try at the 绳桥. This allowed them to learn the importance of trust and teamwork. Some patrols also had a segment of First Aid after the 绳桥, allowing them to brush up or learn new First Aid knowledge. 

Reflection from a Year 1 in P3:

Among all of the station games we participated in for our CCA session on Friday, the 绳桥 station stood out to me the most. At first glance, I thought the 绳桥 structure looked really cool. However, prior to that day, I had never heard of 绳桥 before. As the Year 4s in charge of the station introduced 绳桥 to us, the curiosity and excitement I felt turned into fear and nervousness. The fact that I was the third person in line to climb the 绳桥 made me even more scared! When my turn came, I could feel everyone staring at me. It was terrifying. As I followed the guidance of the Year 4 senior, Shannon, I found that being able to swing my legs up at the start and cling onto the rope actually required a lot of strength. As I slowly tried my best to make my way to the end, I suddenly heard one of my patrol mates start cheering for me! I felt really touched by all the support I received. Even though I could not climb to the end of the 绳桥, I honestly thought this station game was really fun, and I also feel really grateful to the seniors who helped and encouraged me when I felt afraid. After everyone in my patrol finished climbing the 绳桥, we had to 顶角 for the structure when the next two patrols had their turn. I felt so much pressure as the structure kept on moving bit by bit even though I had tried my best to 顶角 and keep it in place. After this station, I felt a burning feeling in my sore legs, and I was really exhausted. Even though it was quite a tough experience, I am glad to have been given the opportunity to try out 绳桥 for the first time! I was able to learn so much from this station game and I really hope we have this again one day!

Reflection from a Year 1 in P4:

On Friday, we had our first combined 集合 with the Scouts and it was a great experience! We got to try out many activities, such as 绳桥, inspection, and pioneering. To be honest, it went better than I thought it would, and it was one of the most memorable activities we did together was to 绳桥! At the start of 集合, the Year 4s built two A-架s to support both sides of the 绳桥. We had to climb upside down across it and pull ourselves with our legs along the rope so as to move forward. I was supposed to support one of the A-架s first with my other patrol mate, and as easy as it may sound, it is quite difficult. We have to push the A-架 back and I would always have a dreadful feeling that it would fall backwards onto us, but I trust my fellow friends supporting it! With our strong teamwork, the people on both sides managed to support the 绳桥 and keep it together! It is very important to ensure the safety of the person trying to move across the 绳桥 and we were quite nervous too. The 绳桥 was quite high at the time, and it seemed impossible, but there were some enthusiastic people who were excited to try and they managed to do it! They did not give up in the middle and continued to push through. Some of us were asked by our seniors to give it a try and even though some of us were nervous at first, we definitely did not regret trying out this game. It might not seem easy and you need to have a lot of trust in the people supporting you. It was an amazing experience for me, one of the most fun activities we were offered! It is adventurous and also fun for many people. It takes courage and trust and I have learned that teamwork is also fairly important. To sum up, I think 绳桥 is definitely something I would look forward to trying again next time! 

Reflection from a Year 2 in P3:

Last Friday, 绳桥 was the last station game for me. When I arrived outside the Media Resource Library with the rest of my patrol and realised that our third station game was 绳桥, I was so scared and nervous to the point where I felt faint. I had this enormous fear that I would fall and injure myself very badly while climbing the 绳桥. However, I was not the only person with this fear. All my other Guides patrol mates were also terrified, and we were all fervently praying that we would not have to climb the 绳桥. We also happened to be the last patrol (out of the four patrols already there) to climb the 绳桥, so we watched nervously as our fellow Guides and Scouts climbed the 绳桥 before us. However, as we watched them, we surprisingly realised that the 绳桥 actually looked really fun to climb. Although we were still scared that we would get injured, our entire patrol actually grew to be quite excited when it was finally our turn to climb the 绳桥. We all bravely stepped forward, and with the assistance of the Year 4s in charge of this station game, we all managed to climb the 绳桥. However, I believe that the best thing about this station was the team spirit that we all displayed. It was incredibly heartwarming to see how we all cheered super loudly when one of our patrol mates was climbing the 绳桥. Overall, I had a really great time during the 绳桥 station, and I am glad that I have managed to face my fear of climbing a 绳桥. 

Reflection from a Year 2 in P4:

During Combined 集合 on Friday, I had a lot of fun with all the activities planned, but one of the activities I enjoyed the most was 绳桥. I have never really been good at 绳桥 in the way that somehow I always lose my grip halfway through the course and fall. This time was not much different but I did manage to make my way a little closer to the other end of the 绳桥. I hope that in future 集合s or Patrol Activities (PA), I will be able to complete the course. Although I have never been great at 绳桥, it is still one of my favourite activities in Guides as we get to cheer for our patrol mates, batchmates, and fellow Guides and Scouts. This definitely boosts morale! Although the Scouts had some cheers we were unfamiliar with, we were quick to pick them up and cheer alongside them, similar to how they picked up our Guides cheers quickly. During this 集合, as patrols, we had to take turns to pull the 麻绳 from both sides of the 绳桥. For example, when P1 and P2 had their turn on the 绳桥, P3 and P4 would be the ones pulling the 麻绳. I think this trained our sense of teamwork as we knew that we had to work as a team to pull the 麻绳 taut to ensure the safety of our fellow Scouts and Guides. We knew that we could not slack and give up even when it got too tiring and instead had to persevere through until it was time to swap. Overall, 绳桥 is one of my favourite Guides activities and I hope I will be able to experience this activity again!

Reflection from a Year 3 in P1:

On the 30th of June, during the Guides and Scouts combined 集合, the first activity my patrol had was 绳桥. For this activity, some people had to hold the sides of the 绳桥 in place and pull on the ropes on both sides, so that the rope was taut in the middle and could hold a person’s weight. My patrol had to hold the structure in place so the other patrol could get past the 绳桥 first, and then we rotated with them so everyone got to try to get across the 绳桥. From this part of the activity, I learnt how to properly 顶 a 绳桥 so that it can function like it is meant to. I also learnt what to do when things like the 角 of the sides of the 绳桥 are sliding, and how important it is that safety measures like mats are put into place properly to minimise the risk of injury. Fortunately, I was one of the people who got to try to get across the 绳桥. When getting across the 绳桥 there were points when I felt scared and when the rope was grinding on my legs, and I wanted to give up. However, my fellow guides cheered me on and I managed to get to the other side of the 绳桥. This led me to learn the importance of perseverance and the support of others during crucial moments. One thing I think my patrol could have improved on was that we could have encouraged each other to try the 绳桥, instead of waiting for the seniors to do so, because during the activity, many people were too scared to try it, and even though the seniors tried to get more people to participate, many people were unenthusiastic, which led to a lot of time wasted. If we had cheered each other on and encouraged one another more, I think more people could have gotten to try the 绳桥. Overall, this activity was a positive and fun learning experience for me, and I am glad that I got to try the 绳桥.

Reflection from a Year 3 in P4:

The combined 集合 with scouts was very enjoyable, especially this station. It was only my third time doing 绳桥 and I had always enjoyed it as it is not a very common thing we get to do. Two patrols would balance the 绳桥 out first while the other two would go across, and then the roles were swapped so everyone could participate. I felt a sense of unity as I tugged at the 绳 with my patrol mates. We all had to work together to balance out the heavy A-架s. Since it is so difficult to counter the weight of the person, 绳桥 is really about trust between everyone. I am really glad we had that trust because it made the activity more fun, and more people had the chance to try it. Another thing that was encouraging was how some of us cheered for each other while trying the activity, which reinforced our bond together and encouraged each other. I think we could have cheered louder, however, and 报时ed more to keep better track of time although it was a more relaxed activity. While waiting for our turn on the 绳桥, I also got to know some of my seniors and juniors better. Although my patrol did not try the first-aid, it was a fulfilling experience.

While working with the Guides and Scouts in their new combined patrols, we believe that everyone had put in their best effort and had a lot of fun. After completing all the stations, all 12 patrols waited in anticipation for the patrol placings to be read out. P5 was 3rd, P8 was 2nd, and P7 was 1st! Even so, we hope that everyone enjoyed this activity and forged new friendships. 

Published by:

Chin Yan Tong

55届 Secretary