I'm attending the Student Leadership Camp from today to tomorrow evening.
I reached school at 7am. Some leaders from different CCA groups were already present in the Canteen. After a while, I heard that the grouping for the camp was out, so I made a trip to the Student Activity Centre to check it out. The 4 groups were named after ferocious water creatures. Group 1 was named Barracuda, Group 2 Piranha, Group 3 Killer Whale and Group 4 Tiger Shark. I was in Piranha.
7.30am came. We assembled in the Parade Square where I was assigned to take attendance. Once attendance was taken (in their CCA Groups), they were separated into the 4 groups of around 25. Each of the 4 groups was made up of a mix of people from different CCA groups. Once we were in our groups, it was time to board the bus. Barracuda and Piranha tried to squeeze into one bus, but because there were not enough seats, a few Piranhas (including me) came out to board the bus taken by the Killer Whales and the Tiger Sharks. Another third bus carried girls from Softball, who were going to the campsite too. Once all of us were on our buses, we set off for our destination and our home for two days: MOE Jalan Bahtera campsite, located in the northwest of Singapore and close to the Straits of Johor.
Once we arrived at the campsite, we proceed to the Hall. After being briefed by Mrs. Lim, we proceeded to our respective two-storey bunks. The males and females were separated. The males' bunks were near the Dining Hall. The Piranha males got into Bunk 2. The first storey of the bunk was nothing much and the second storey was our sleeping area. We were leaving our stuff in the bunk when I noticed a pile of dog/cat waste in a corner of the bunk that was closest to my belongings. We thought of dealing with it later, but first, I changed into my track pants and we went back to assemble in the Hall.
When we went back to the Hall, we noticed a few new faces. They were members of ESN Asia, who were going to be the facilitators of the groups. The speaker introduced himself as Mr. Ng. Our group's facilitator from ESN Asia was one by the name of Abel. There were other facilitators too. For our group, the ex-Nan Hua student facilitators were Vivian and Wei Yang. Our group's teachers-in-charge were Mrs. B. Lim and Mr. Yeo.
Once the groups were separated to their various places, our group first played an ice-breaking game. We wrote on a piece of paper some stuff which included favourite things. Then we had to go around the group to find other people with the same things written in the categories. At the end of the ice-breaking, we also came up with a Piranha cheer.
After the ice-breaking, we went into the next section: Team Building & Group Dynamics. Our first game was the balance beam. There were 5 pillars which the beams rested its ends on. We first had to cross the balance beam. I went first and stopped at the pillar at the end, where I supported those who were coming across. Strategy immediately formed as Nicholas and Shaun also stayed at the pillars to help the other Piranhas. Once we were done with this, we were separated into two groups, after which both groups must cross the balance beam to the other end. The trick was, each group began at one of the ends, meaning to say the group members will clash somewhere in the course. We used back the strategy with the first one with slight modifications. We clocked a time that was close to our time for the first one.
Our second game was the Caterpillar Walk. We were separated into groups of 5. I grouped with Xing Zong (a Sec 2 NCC boy), Shaun (Sec 2 Councillor) and two other girls whom I forgot. In the first round, where 4 of the 5 groups went, our group emerged tops. In the second round, where my group challenged the 5th group, we came in 1st again. The final challenge was for 10 people to do the Caterpillar Walk together. Co-ordination came in during this game, and it proved that in a team, co-ordination is important.
The third game was to remove a tyre from a 4-metre pole. The boys went first. Xing Zong, the always enthusiastic boy, successfully removed the tyre by standing on the shoulders of two other boys. The girls took a longer time, but Claressa (Sec 3 Councillor) managed to remove the tyre. This game showed that when one person alone cannot do a task, others must help to make it possible.
The fourth game was a little like Tarzan. We had to swing ourselves to the other side of the frame using a rope. The trick was that we had to get the rope from the middle without touching the area between the starting line and the finish line. The idea of using shoelaces and a shoe quickly became reality, and we successfully got the rope. One by one the group crossed to the other side.
The next game was played in the Parade Square. It was a game that was commonly known by all of us: forming a circle and making a hula-hoop go around the circle. Shaun lost the challenge (as 2 hula-hoops met at him) and did a forfeit. After that, Abel showed us magic when we had to form a circle and, using only our two index fingers, support a hula-hoop and lower it until it reaches the ground. The task proved harder than expected as the hula-hoop seemed to be 'floating' all the time and went up instead of down. Of course, we succeeded in the end.
The last game for this session involved a raised platform of about 4 feet by 4 feet. First we had to try and squeeze everybody onto the platform with our hands crossed. Of course, we couldn't fit more than 10 people. Then we were allowed to use our hands. It was extremely difficult, and I kept feeling as if I would fall and hurt myself again. In the end, while we did not manage to squeeze all 25 people onto the platform, we learned how important teamwork was.
By the end of the game, we were told that all the other groups were waiting for us in the Dining Hall for lunch. We quickly went back to our bunks to collect our utensils and rushed to the Dining Hall. We were served by a few Sec 2 Councillors, but at the end, we had to wash our own utensils.
After lunch, there was a Treasure Hunt. Creative Problem Solving was incorporated into the game. We first had to race around the campus to look for 8 cards of our colour. Then we had to run back to the Hall to trade our cards for a crossword-puzzle-like puzzle. My team of 5 (which included Crystal and Cheng Rong, two more school debaters) managed to come in second among the Piranhas. I loved the challenge which was both physical and mental.
After tea-break, there was a short talk on project management skills. These skills seemed very professional, and I had never used some of them before. After the talk, we were given the main assignment for the camp. We were given a scenario set in 1947. As members of the NHS Bridge Builder Pte Ltd, we had to design a bridge across the 'Troubled Waters River'. By noon of the following day, we have to construct the bridge model which is one tenth the actual size and do a presentation on the planning process.
My group consisted of Cheng Rong, Jimmy, Shaun, Xing Zong and I. Once in the Dining Hall, we immediately began planning the project. The aspects were the structure and design of the bridge and the budget. We had to build a bridge model that was at least 1m in length, 25cm from the ground to the centre of the bridge and can hold 70kg of weight within a budget of $2000, which was later slashed to $1800. It was a great challenge, and we settled on a trapezium-shaped bridge. We used up the whole budget for the materials.
A short break later, there was free play organised by the Sports CCA leaders. I played Frisbee with some of the guys in the first 30 minutes and Dog & Bone in the second with Piranhas against the Tiger Sharks. Then it was dinnertime and back to the Hall for a brainstorming session conducted by Mrs. Lim and Ms. Wassan. We had to think about a definition for a leader and also about recognition, assessment, selection of and communication among leaders.
Following that, there was a fun session at the campfire ground. The first game involved trying to burst the balloons, attached to the ankles, of the opponents. The second part was a folkdance session which I did before at a Councillor Camp 2 years ago. The third game was played in darkness. We had to try to burn the ropes at the opponents' stations using candles. We had so much fun, but there can only be 24 hours in a day. We took a quick shower and lights went out at 12.15am the next day.
I reached school at 7am. Some leaders from different CCA groups were already present in the Canteen. After a while, I heard that the grouping for the camp was out, so I made a trip to the Student Activity Centre to check it out. The 4 groups were named after ferocious water creatures. Group 1 was named Barracuda, Group 2 Piranha, Group 3 Killer Whale and Group 4 Tiger Shark. I was in Piranha.
7.30am came. We assembled in the Parade Square where I was assigned to take attendance. Once attendance was taken (in their CCA Groups), they were separated into the 4 groups of around 25. Each of the 4 groups was made up of a mix of people from different CCA groups. Once we were in our groups, it was time to board the bus. Barracuda and Piranha tried to squeeze into one bus, but because there were not enough seats, a few Piranhas (including me) came out to board the bus taken by the Killer Whales and the Tiger Sharks. Another third bus carried girls from Softball, who were going to the campsite too. Once all of us were on our buses, we set off for our destination and our home for two days: MOE Jalan Bahtera campsite, located in the northwest of Singapore and close to the Straits of Johor.
Once we arrived at the campsite, we proceed to the Hall. After being briefed by Mrs. Lim, we proceeded to our respective two-storey bunks. The males and females were separated. The males' bunks were near the Dining Hall. The Piranha males got into Bunk 2. The first storey of the bunk was nothing much and the second storey was our sleeping area. We were leaving our stuff in the bunk when I noticed a pile of dog/cat waste in a corner of the bunk that was closest to my belongings. We thought of dealing with it later, but first, I changed into my track pants and we went back to assemble in the Hall.
When we went back to the Hall, we noticed a few new faces. They were members of ESN Asia, who were going to be the facilitators of the groups. The speaker introduced himself as Mr. Ng. Our group's facilitator from ESN Asia was one by the name of Abel. There were other facilitators too. For our group, the ex-Nan Hua student facilitators were Vivian and Wei Yang. Our group's teachers-in-charge were Mrs. B. Lim and Mr. Yeo.
Once the groups were separated to their various places, our group first played an ice-breaking game. We wrote on a piece of paper some stuff which included favourite things. Then we had to go around the group to find other people with the same things written in the categories. At the end of the ice-breaking, we also came up with a Piranha cheer.
After the ice-breaking, we went into the next section: Team Building & Group Dynamics. Our first game was the balance beam. There were 5 pillars which the beams rested its ends on. We first had to cross the balance beam. I went first and stopped at the pillar at the end, where I supported those who were coming across. Strategy immediately formed as Nicholas and Shaun also stayed at the pillars to help the other Piranhas. Once we were done with this, we were separated into two groups, after which both groups must cross the balance beam to the other end. The trick was, each group began at one of the ends, meaning to say the group members will clash somewhere in the course. We used back the strategy with the first one with slight modifications. We clocked a time that was close to our time for the first one.
Our second game was the Caterpillar Walk. We were separated into groups of 5. I grouped with Xing Zong (a Sec 2 NCC boy), Shaun (Sec 2 Councillor) and two other girls whom I forgot. In the first round, where 4 of the 5 groups went, our group emerged tops. In the second round, where my group challenged the 5th group, we came in 1st again. The final challenge was for 10 people to do the Caterpillar Walk together. Co-ordination came in during this game, and it proved that in a team, co-ordination is important.
The third game was to remove a tyre from a 4-metre pole. The boys went first. Xing Zong, the always enthusiastic boy, successfully removed the tyre by standing on the shoulders of two other boys. The girls took a longer time, but Claressa (Sec 3 Councillor) managed to remove the tyre. This game showed that when one person alone cannot do a task, others must help to make it possible.
The fourth game was a little like Tarzan. We had to swing ourselves to the other side of the frame using a rope. The trick was that we had to get the rope from the middle without touching the area between the starting line and the finish line. The idea of using shoelaces and a shoe quickly became reality, and we successfully got the rope. One by one the group crossed to the other side.
The next game was played in the Parade Square. It was a game that was commonly known by all of us: forming a circle and making a hula-hoop go around the circle. Shaun lost the challenge (as 2 hula-hoops met at him) and did a forfeit. After that, Abel showed us magic when we had to form a circle and, using only our two index fingers, support a hula-hoop and lower it until it reaches the ground. The task proved harder than expected as the hula-hoop seemed to be 'floating' all the time and went up instead of down. Of course, we succeeded in the end.
The last game for this session involved a raised platform of about 4 feet by 4 feet. First we had to try and squeeze everybody onto the platform with our hands crossed. Of course, we couldn't fit more than 10 people. Then we were allowed to use our hands. It was extremely difficult, and I kept feeling as if I would fall and hurt myself again. In the end, while we did not manage to squeeze all 25 people onto the platform, we learned how important teamwork was.
By the end of the game, we were told that all the other groups were waiting for us in the Dining Hall for lunch. We quickly went back to our bunks to collect our utensils and rushed to the Dining Hall. We were served by a few Sec 2 Councillors, but at the end, we had to wash our own utensils.
After lunch, there was a Treasure Hunt. Creative Problem Solving was incorporated into the game. We first had to race around the campus to look for 8 cards of our colour. Then we had to run back to the Hall to trade our cards for a crossword-puzzle-like puzzle. My team of 5 (which included Crystal and Cheng Rong, two more school debaters) managed to come in second among the Piranhas. I loved the challenge which was both physical and mental.
After tea-break, there was a short talk on project management skills. These skills seemed very professional, and I had never used some of them before. After the talk, we were given the main assignment for the camp. We were given a scenario set in 1947. As members of the NHS Bridge Builder Pte Ltd, we had to design a bridge across the 'Troubled Waters River'. By noon of the following day, we have to construct the bridge model which is one tenth the actual size and do a presentation on the planning process.
My group consisted of Cheng Rong, Jimmy, Shaun, Xing Zong and I. Once in the Dining Hall, we immediately began planning the project. The aspects were the structure and design of the bridge and the budget. We had to build a bridge model that was at least 1m in length, 25cm from the ground to the centre of the bridge and can hold 70kg of weight within a budget of $2000, which was later slashed to $1800. It was a great challenge, and we settled on a trapezium-shaped bridge. We used up the whole budget for the materials.
A short break later, there was free play organised by the Sports CCA leaders. I played Frisbee with some of the guys in the first 30 minutes and Dog & Bone in the second with Piranhas against the Tiger Sharks. Then it was dinnertime and back to the Hall for a brainstorming session conducted by Mrs. Lim and Ms. Wassan. We had to think about a definition for a leader and also about recognition, assessment, selection of and communication among leaders.
Following that, there was a fun session at the campfire ground. The first game involved trying to burst the balloons, attached to the ankles, of the opponents. The second part was a folkdance session which I did before at a Councillor Camp 2 years ago. The third game was played in darkness. We had to try to burn the ropes at the opponents' stations using candles. We had so much fun, but there can only be 24 hours in a day. We took a quick shower and lights went out at 12.15am the next day.
yours truly, tobias at 11:59 pm
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