Monday, November 12, 2007 Y 2:53 PM
On the 19th-21st of June, our school, together with Nanyang Girls High, St Joseph's Institution, Anglo-Chinese School(Barker), Ghim Moh Secondary School, St Margaret's Secondary School and Hwa Chong Institution had our annual Area15 ATC(Adventure Training Camp) for the Sec2s and Sec3s.As soon as we reached Bahru campsite (sec2s), we were randomly separated into 8 groups T-E-A-M-W-O-R-K, each group with a mixed number of cadets from the various schools. We then had our icebreaker games within our groups and got to know our group-mates better. Immediately after, groups Titans, Eagles, Absolute Ace and Majestic went for kayaking while groups Wonderful Wings, Oreos, Revolution and Knights were doing the tent pitching and campsite familiarization which, by the way, Group Revolution (MY group) completed the fastest and when we were finished, roles were switched.
Camp Familiarization was fun, it was basically running around the Bahru and Noordin Campsites, trying to "save our lives from the evil witch and getting the treasure" (Right...). We had to piece puzzle pieces together to form as maps and get clues to the password. The group, which got the password first, was supposed to get the "treasure" which the CIs made no mention of when Revolution completed the race (Hmmm...). Kayaking was cool too, first time for many. We had our wash-ups, dinner and designed our group flags.Later then, we had our mock campfire. The whole canteen of us singing together at the same time and learning new cheers, plus it was really entertaining listening to our highly respected CIs sing out of tune. Then it was lights off, and sentry duty started for Groups- Titans, Eagles, Absolute Ace and Majestic.Day 2 started with PT (Bleh.), but a must in NPCC camps. After, the rain did not prevent the CI committee etc. from giving us a fun, memorable "ATF". We went through, a dark maze and had to feel our way out of it. It was not just dark, but pitch black, which gave everyone, especially the girls, some time to bond and learn how to work together and trust each other.
After everyone had tried going through the maze, two girls and two boys went through it again, this time, competitively. And we managed to complete it faster than the two boys did, even though Shi Wei Sir was throwing muddy balls at us in the darkness the whole time. (And I got so scared thinking it was the work of "something" else.)We were supposed to rock-climbing but the rain did not just obediently stop after the maze; still, we got to wear a harness and climb down a few steps down from the canteen which was just as cool. Ubin Familiarization was really fun; it was extremely tiring, but at the end of the 2 hour walk, you would really feel like it was a big achievement you managed to walk that distance without cracking. During, we even saw a cute wild boar and our Miss Leow (TO Carolyn) made us practise hornet drill on the muddy trail (So evil...). The mud was really cooling though, I have to admit. The soreness of our leg muscles helped us sleep that night too.
Next, we had our war games where we were separated into four clans- The Shi Clan, Wei Clan, Xiao Clan and Wen Clan. No one really won or lost but everyone was definitely unsparingly wet.Then came the highlight of the camp- the combined campfire (sec2s and sec3s), and it was the highlight of the camp indeed. Cheers and group performances, by both the sec2s and 3s, and not to forget dancing. We also got to sabotage our very own Cyril Sir into performing the romantic classic "I Ask My Love" with Kumar Sir and he left the center stage with a sweet kiss. We ended the campfire with a "Goodnight Campers" and a soft "whoosh" and retired into our own campsites.
After Area Cleaning during Day3, we got to meet up with our beloved Sec3 seniors again for our closing ceremony at Noordin. We then hiked back to Ubin Jetty and took a bumboat ride back to Singapore. ATC was extremely tiring but still we felt so attached to Ubin. When I was finally home on my bed looking at my insect bites and pruney, wrinkly feet (soaked shoes), I could not help but reminisce and wish I were still in Ubin even though itwas a "little" tough.
Written by: Hermes Lu
Thursday, 9th November 2006
