Scouting: Do more than just Do Well in School

Dear Scouts,

Hope that this blog post finds you well. By that I mean mugging hard and on your way to scoring that string of As for your report book. But by no means should you become a depressed stressed-out boy and ignore everything else in life. So despite being hard at work, remember to find time to relax and destress.

On the other hand, I am not encouraging you to fail your exams. It's true that Baden-Powell was not known to be an exemplary student in Charterhouse: in fact, he developed his outdoors skills by sneaking out to the hills and forests out of school. However, he was always an avid learner from the "school of life" and benefitted a great deal from it. Scouting is a lot about moral character building (e.g.: responsibility, self-discipline, integrity, etc...), but it is also getting about the obstacles we face with some intelligence: initiative, quick adaptive thinking and strategizing your actions are key skills you learn in Scout activities like backwoodsman cooking as well.

To take a leaf from this story, studying hard is good, but studying smart is better!

Know that the leaders are all eager supporters for you guys to do well.

Yours-in-Scouting,
Staunch Owl

23 September 2009

Please note that there will be no CCA until the End-Of-Year exams are over. Thanks (:

YIS,
Darren xD

Reminder

Pls be reminded to prepare all your ingredients and equipment needed for the test. You guys can make improvements on your cooking from the example the PLs shown you on wednesday meeting.

16/9 & 18/9 Meeting

For Wednesday meeting, please fall in outside the auditorium at 3 in your black wichita shirt and for Friday meeting wear full u and bring your red wichita shirt. Please wear PE shirt if you do not have either of the colors. Bring along your Wichita kit and make sure that the things needed for your backwoodsman is ready by the time meeting starts.

Last Week of CCAs! **UPDATED**

Dear Wichita Scouts,

Here's another Long Email from me again. Bear with me as I holler out some important information for this week, as well as post-exam programmes:

1. Top Secret Briefing for Sec 2s

All Sec 2 Scouts will have to attend this short briefing which I will be conducting. Even if you know you've not been attending meetings regularly, you are welcome to come as well (of course there's no option for not coming either). Yu Feng will be the Liaison i/c: if you can't make it please explain to him. Yu Feng will be reminding you guys as well.

The time and date are stated as per below:

Top Secret Briefing for Sec 2s
16th Sept 09 Wednesday
Time: Right after Wed Meeting (est. 1830 - 1915h)
Venue: TBC [means To Be Confirmed]
Bring your Wichita Kit and Writing Materials

2. Outdoor Cooking Test!

Three weeks of finding twigs, breathing in soot and wallowing in the sandy and sad corner of Ngee Ann has led you to this. As your dear PLC has kindly reminded everyone, this will be a Busy Friday. So do your preparations early.

You will need to arrange yourself into groups of 2s and/or 3s. Each group should not have more than 1 Sec 2. Groups are encouraged to stick to your patrols. Each group will have its own pit and need to cook a meal for 3 pax* consisting of 1 main dish (rice, potatoes, spaghetti, etc) and 3 side dishes. At least 1 of the 4 will have to be of Backwoodsman Standard i.e. using no utensils or aluminum foil. You can use mess tins or pots for the others.

NOTE: All groups are to submit their group members' names and their menus to Alexus before the Wednesday Meeting. If you don't have a team, please inform your PLC so that they can arrange you in a group.

Additional Notes:

• No prior marination to be done. All food to be prepared on Friday itself.
• You are allowed to bring sauces and condiments from home. You can mix them at home before coming over.
• HINT: smaller pieces cook faster. So I advise everyone to chop up what you have.
• If you're gonna cook a chicken, do cook the Whole Chicken. Innards (e.g. heart, liver, lungs, etc...) not necessary.
• Keep a receipt of your purchases. We MAY reimburse each group max. $10.
  

An example of a standard meal with all backwoodsman dishes will be:

Pumpkin Rice with Eggs and Veg
Roasted Mud Chicken with poached apple
Vegetarian Kebab
Fruit cocktail in Watermelon Bowl

Some other non-backwoodsman dishes u can consider:

spaghetti with tomato sauce
hot lemon tea cooked in a kettle
vegetable and chicken stew in an indian pot

There are many ideas of what to cook out there: a simple Google search led me to a few from other Scout groups:

http://screamingeagles.forumotion.net/knowledge-and-skills-f35/backwoodsman-cooking-t32.htm --- Detailed advice from Screaming Eagles in Jurong

http://tommytsx.blogspot.com/2008/11/29th-nov-backwoodsman-cooking-disaster.html --- a blogpost of how Malaysian Scouts tried out backwoodsman, look out for the process of cooking

http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache:R6bv1qEs7qAJ:www.photojournalist-tgh.tv/photojournalism/backwoodsman-cooking-dragon-scout-group-camp-3rd-june-2007+backwoodsman+cooking&cd=11&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=sg --- an article about Gan Eng Seng Scouts

Do note that due to the nature of this Friday's meeting, it may stretch until 7.30pm (depends on how fast we clear up, eat up and clean up the place).

3. Post-exam activities!

We are trying to arrange more courses for everyone. We are looking into kayaking, sports climbing and possibly archery for the moment.

In addition, our GSLs are looking into a special treat for those who have achieved good attendance for this year's meetings!

Yours-in-Scouting,

Staunch Owl

Backwoodsman Test

Dear Scouts,
Please be reminded that you all have a backwoodsman test on friday. Gather your own materials and dig your own pit before the meeting starts or else you would not have enought time to complete your cooking and so fail the test.

YIS,
Nigel

Reminder: First Aid Course 2009

Dear Ngee Ann Wichita Scouts Troop,

A REMINDER to all of you. There will be a First Aid Course held during the September Holidays.Below will be the details.

FOR SEC 2s:
Date: 9th - 11th September (Wed-Fri)
Time: 9am - 6pm
Venue: Red Cross Training Centre(RCTC)- 15, Penang Lane, S(238486)
Attire: Round Neck T-shirt or Shirts & Pants or Jeans
Things to bring: A NRIC size photograph (2.5cm by 3.5cm) for Card-size First Aid Certificate and stationery for note taking.

Scouts involved:
Alexus
Ang Yu Feng
Edward Lau
Hoong Lee
Nasir
Sam Liang
Tay Yuan Long


FOR SEC 1s:
Date: 10th - 12th September (Thurs-Sat)
Time: 9am - 6pm
Venue: Ngee Ann Secondary School. (Using 3C1 Classroom)
Attire: PE T-Shirts and PE shorts
Things to bring: A NRIC size photograph (2.5cm by 3.5cm) for Card-size First Aid Certificate and stationery for note taking.

Scouts Involved:
Benedict Chew
Darrel Chia
Chua Wen Wei
Heng Jun Hao
Jan Chong
Jasper Ten
John Ortega
Lee Jung Woo
Muhammad Azamuddin
Sim Qi Xuan
Phong Phon
Zachary Yip


Please be reminded that 100% ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED to sit for the examination. Absenteeism or lateness without valid medical reason will not be accepted. Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me. Do remember to pass down the information to your fellow scout mates.


YIS
Fareeq
Hearty Gorilla

Friday

Dear Scouts,
Please ensure that there is more than sufficient leaves and branches for tomorrow backwoodsman. Minimum it must fill up 3 garbage bags. If there is insufficient, the PLC will not hesitate to ruin the meeting by asking you all to gather the materials and you will have to go through a boring meeting. So please play your part. And, please fall in at 2.30pm with your materials in full uniform and bring your red shirt.

YIS,
Nigel