by Elvin Ong
Tsung Wah, 31st May 2008. It has been close to 10 years ever since I left and this day camp at personal level was special to me in two folds. Firstly, the opportunity to recollect back some of the good old times that I have in the past. Secondly, it maybe a turning point for 38th KK Boy Scout Troop. A turning point from abyss to greater height.
The camp was held in school compounds with some ~30 members participating in it. When I arrived at school I was pleasantly suprised with an hour-glass tower already constructed in the centre of the field. At the east part of the field were scouts busy working on building another tower. I would like to give the current Form 4 office bearers a thumb-up for showing good example in constructing the first hour-glass. Yes, it served rightly as a motivation for the juniors to follow.
As I was walking towards these scouts I was greeted by seniors and scouters that knew me earlier. Yeah, I felt good to be with them in this pleasant morning. It felt even better to see unfamiliar faces who stare at this "old man" wondering who am I. No introduction of me is needed as I am not pursuing any fame out of this activity. I just want the troop to be set-up with system and is capable to sail on its own, with or withou me. Maybe in another 10 years, nobody in the troop will know me any more. But, if I will pass-by the school and notice the troop is oganizing some activity then I would surely feel contented. I just hope that the troop we share today will be running better in tomorrow and continuously shaping younsters of high personal-esteem, morally discipline, selflessly industrious and obedience.
My observation of the camp is the lack of order and system. Boys were not performing the assigned tasks whole-heartedly. OBs are scattered around without a clue of the urgency of constructing the gadjet on time. But truly, I could not blame any one of them. They need to have good model to exemplify. They need a role model. I took any opportunity that I have to show them how to tie a knot and fasten lashings. I want them to learn as much as possible if not at least the basics.
"Boys, knowing your knots and lashings is the fundamental of being a scout. It is this fundamental that enable the troop to once built Eiffel Tower, Cinderella Castle, Sphinx and St Basicl Church out of bamboos and woods. And, I want you all to have this skill to enable you all to do the amazings again..."
In the afternoon, they went into backwood cooking at the motor-cycle parkings. Marinated fish, eggs, flour and rice were prepared. Thanks Kok Wei for showing them how to prepare the bamboo-made cooking utensils earlier. The boys were having fun chopping woods for the fire, making the flour dough for roti lilit, cleaning the inside of the bamboo for nasi lemang. It is true that the cooking technique was not as good as the past. However, at least the boys have good exposure.
"Boys, one thing that few scouters observed is that backwood cooking is not BBQ. We don't cook for ourselve to eat. We cook as a group and eat as a group. I hope to see more unity in you ..."
After backwood cooking, they proceeded to gathering & games. Yup, part of scouting is also knowing how to have fun!!! :) Singings and yellings are what we do. We sing as much as songs as possible and as loud as possible. We know how to clap in style and in rhythm. We know how to dance too. ;) Flee Fly, Ging Gang Goolie, A Ram Sam Sam, Brown-sea Island and other songs filled the school hall. Saturday night was once the favorite dance where scouts and girl guides dance together. Yes, the boys do have good time learning new songs and clapping hands. However, when it came to Saturday Night, most were shy away. Hehe... no worry. I also knew some of them enjoy learning and dancing too. Thumb-up!!!
In the evening, what can be more exciting if not having some simple games on the field. Thailand Ball is the game that I want them to know how to play. Initially, the boys were not zealous because everyone seemed to feel silly being in bear foot with their shoes tied up to kneel level. Yup, these shoes were meant to be used as a swinging club-like hitter. But, when the game started the atmosphere took 180 degree change. They were runnings around trying to hit the volley ball into the opponent's goal. They were shouting and playing in team. Yeah! That is the spirit!!
"When I looked back of the good time that we have in May 2008 Scout Day Camp I saw the glimpse of sun-rise. The rising of 38th KK Boy Scout Troop is in the making.."
"Boys, let's not lose hope in this time of disorder in troop because it is an exciting opportunity we have to turn thing around. Let's not lose focus in what we should do towards our common dream - a better 38th KK. Let's not lose discipline as in the past this is what hit us severely and dragged us to the abyss. Let's not lose faith in the troop as 10 year from now you will be a better person because you were once in this troop. 13 years ago, my Patrol Leader told me this 'Don't ask what the troop can do for you. Ask what you can do for your troop!' So, our vision is big and it is not easy. Really, we should ask ourselves what we can do for the troop now..."
Tsung Wah, 31st May 2008. It has been close to 10 years ever since I left and this day camp at personal level was special to me in two folds. Firstly, the opportunity to recollect back some of the good old times that I have in the past. Secondly, it maybe a turning point for 38th KK Boy Scout Troop. A turning point from abyss to greater height.
The camp was held in school compounds with some ~30 members participating in it. When I arrived at school I was pleasantly suprised with an hour-glass tower already constructed in the centre of the field. At the east part of the field were scouts busy working on building another tower. I would like to give the current Form 4 office bearers a thumb-up for showing good example in constructing the first hour-glass. Yes, it served rightly as a motivation for the juniors to follow.
As I was walking towards these scouts I was greeted by seniors and scouters that knew me earlier. Yeah, I felt good to be with them in this pleasant morning. It felt even better to see unfamiliar faces who stare at this "old man" wondering who am I. No introduction of me is needed as I am not pursuing any fame out of this activity. I just want the troop to be set-up with system and is capable to sail on its own, with or withou me. Maybe in another 10 years, nobody in the troop will know me any more. But, if I will pass-by the school and notice the troop is oganizing some activity then I would surely feel contented. I just hope that the troop we share today will be running better in tomorrow and continuously shaping younsters of high personal-esteem, morally discipline, selflessly industrious and obedience.
My observation of the camp is the lack of order and system. Boys were not performing the assigned tasks whole-heartedly. OBs are scattered around without a clue of the urgency of constructing the gadjet on time. But truly, I could not blame any one of them. They need to have good model to exemplify. They need a role model. I took any opportunity that I have to show them how to tie a knot and fasten lashings. I want them to learn as much as possible if not at least the basics.
"Boys, knowing your knots and lashings is the fundamental of being a scout. It is this fundamental that enable the troop to once built Eiffel Tower, Cinderella Castle, Sphinx and St Basicl Church out of bamboos and woods. And, I want you all to have this skill to enable you all to do the amazings again..."
In the afternoon, they went into backwood cooking at the motor-cycle parkings. Marinated fish, eggs, flour and rice were prepared. Thanks Kok Wei for showing them how to prepare the bamboo-made cooking utensils earlier. The boys were having fun chopping woods for the fire, making the flour dough for roti lilit, cleaning the inside of the bamboo for nasi lemang. It is true that the cooking technique was not as good as the past. However, at least the boys have good exposure.
"Boys, one thing that few scouters observed is that backwood cooking is not BBQ. We don't cook for ourselve to eat. We cook as a group and eat as a group. I hope to see more unity in you ..."
After backwood cooking, they proceeded to gathering & games. Yup, part of scouting is also knowing how to have fun!!! :) Singings and yellings are what we do. We sing as much as songs as possible and as loud as possible. We know how to clap in style and in rhythm. We know how to dance too. ;) Flee Fly, Ging Gang Goolie, A Ram Sam Sam, Brown-sea Island and other songs filled the school hall. Saturday night was once the favorite dance where scouts and girl guides dance together. Yes, the boys do have good time learning new songs and clapping hands. However, when it came to Saturday Night, most were shy away. Hehe... no worry. I also knew some of them enjoy learning and dancing too. Thumb-up!!!
In the evening, what can be more exciting if not having some simple games on the field. Thailand Ball is the game that I want them to know how to play. Initially, the boys were not zealous because everyone seemed to feel silly being in bear foot with their shoes tied up to kneel level. Yup, these shoes were meant to be used as a swinging club-like hitter. But, when the game started the atmosphere took 180 degree change. They were runnings around trying to hit the volley ball into the opponent's goal. They were shouting and playing in team. Yeah! That is the spirit!!
"When I looked back of the good time that we have in May 2008 Scout Day Camp I saw the glimpse of sun-rise. The rising of 38th KK Boy Scout Troop is in the making.."
"Boys, let's not lose hope in this time of disorder in troop because it is an exciting opportunity we have to turn thing around. Let's not lose focus in what we should do towards our common dream - a better 38th KK. Let's not lose discipline as in the past this is what hit us severely and dragged us to the abyss. Let's not lose faith in the troop as 10 year from now you will be a better person because you were once in this troop. 13 years ago, my Patrol Leader told me this 'Don't ask what the troop can do for you. Ask what you can do for your troop!' So, our vision is big and it is not easy. Really, we should ask ourselves what we can do for the troop now..."
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