2023 Secondary 1 Outdoor Adventure Learning Camp

Kallang Activities 

After eating lunch at Kallang, we completed activities such as Mad Max and Trekkers' Challenge. The objective of Mad Max was to squeeze in the hoop with your group members and sing a song given by the trainer. It was interesting and yet hard at the same time as we had to squeeze 16 people in only 3 hula hoops and sing a song within 3 seconds, ensuring that we held the pose throughout that duration, training our coordination and teamwork. The other category of Mad Max was an activity which required all of us to be assigned a number. We would then proceed to step on a pad that was printed with the corresponding number, but only one person could do so at any time. The objective was for everyone to finish their turn in the least time possible as there was a competition among the classes. We spent some time discussing the best strategy, for example lining up in a line, sending multiple people at once, or calling out our numbers whenever we stepped on our pad. This required us to listen to the suggestions and opinions of our classmates instead of focusing only on what we wanted to do as it might not have been the best solution. 

The objective of Trekkers' Challenge was to run through the rope while the trainers were swinging it. At first, it was just one person. Then after everyone completed it, we had to find a partner and go through the rope again. Each time everyone completed it, we had to add one more member until four people passed it at the same time then the game ended. It was terrifying. On my first try, I stumbled but luckily managed to pass through without the rope hitting me. On the second turn, I felt slightly less scared as there was someone with me. Gradually, thanks to the encouragement my friends gave me, my friends and I made it through the rope safely. The other category under the Trekkers’ Challenge involved untying a rope that was jumbled into knots. Our groups spent considerable time untangling it, while learning life skills and gaining valuable experiences at the same time. There were minor disagreements on how to solve the problem but in the end, we were able to complete all the challenges presented to us. I am thankful that both of the activities required teamwork as it gave me a chance to bond with my classmates.

Dragon-boating 

When we were at Kallang, we also took part in the dragon boating activity. It was a brand new activity for most of us as we had never taken part in dragon boating before. While it was scary at first as we were terrified of the boat capsizing, we slowly learned how to keep the boat afloat and row together using teamwork and good communication skills. We were also allowed to splash other cohort-mates with water using a bucket when we got near their boat. Although we did end up getting our bodies and hair wet, it was a very fun and enriching experience, a stark contrast from our regular school lessons. Not only did we have fun, but we also learned multiple values. Those included learning how to communicate better with each other so that when we got splashed with water, we could tell the other side which was not affected to row away faster. We also learned the importance of teamwork to get to our destination. Although we left the boats drenched and with sore arms, we were extremely glad to have had this chance to experience something so unique and fun, yet still learning something educational at the same time.

Campfire Night 

The Secondary 1 cohort had a blast on our last night at camp! From Batman to Electro, the superheroes we called ourselves became the inspiration behind our class cheers, complete with unceasing stomping, chanting and cheering. Demonstrating our enthusiasm, we went all out during the presentation of our respective items—an entertaining selection of skits, singing and dancing. Not forgetting the preparation and dedication behind the scenes before the camp, every class put in their best effort in showing their parents and teachers what their class identity was. The dwindling campfire did not put out our high spirits, as cheers of encouragement were expressed after each presentation. Although the campfire was late at night, it was evident that everyone was very excited and greatly valued this experience of sitting around a traditional campfire, cheering one another on. 

Land Expedition

We found a chance to get in touch with nature again during the land expedition, a change of scenery from our usual classrooms. We were tasked to identify different types of leaves, wildlife and various landmarks at Lower Peirce Reservoir or MacRitchie Reservoir. Using the skills we learnt during Outdoor Education, we measured and recorded distance by pacing. Highlights include spotting a wild boar from afar, finding snail eggs, and sighting a green snake camouflaging in between the branches of a tree. Despite the heat, everyone demonstrated active participation. In comparison to the normal lessons in school, this land expedition was certainly a one-of-a-kind experience with our classmates.

Gladiator

The objective of the "Gladiator" challenge was simple: create a catapult based on a given image, using only ten wooden poles and many strings. Our knot-tying skills and patience were tried and tested. We all learned to work well together. The workload had to be split and fairly allocated to each person for maximum speed and effectiveness. All of us had to put in our best effort to see which group could launch a beanbag the furthest. It was fun and incredibly team bonding!

Low Elements

The low elements challenge had two parts. The first part was to have one person walk across an elastic strip above the ground while holding a similar band above our heads for support, all without falling. Everyone else in the group would stand below as “spotters” who would support the one walking across in case they fell off. The other part of the challenge was as follows: half the group had to stand in a straight line on a ledge and then rearrange themselves based on a given criterion without falling off. The rest of the group would stand behind as “spotters” to catch anybody who fell off. In both parts of this challenge, we had to put our safety in the hands of the “spotters", trusting them to catch us if we fell. We learnt many values, including trust and teamwork!

Sleeping Experience

When the day came to an end, we got ready to turn in for the night of the day to come to a close. Half of the cohort slept in tents and the other half in the hall. We alternated so all the classes were fairly given the experience of two different sleeping locations. While some people kept talking in the night, which could have bothered many in the tents around them, it was still a fun and educational experience overall as it allowed us to bond together. “Sleeping was a really fun experience — even though it was quite hot and stuffy at first — I still made many memories as well as grew closer to my friends when we sat as a group at night since we were unable to sleep,” remarked Megan Lian from 1 Unity. Thankfully, when we slept in the hall, it was much cooler as we had large fans over us and slept in an open area, allowing for better air ventilation. It was also quieter as more teachers were walking around to make sure we were sleeping instead of talking. It was certainly an exciting experience to sleep with our friends and we managed to bond closer with each other — an opportunity we are not usually given.

By: Christabelle Lim (1C), Karissa Lee (1D), Tio Chen Yi (1J), Vera Neo (1T)

2023