The Five-Point Programme constitutes the basis for the Guiding experience in Nanyang. Guides will learn knowledge and skills in the following five aspects: Personal and Social Development, Home, Outdoors, Community and International.ย
Naturally, in every CCA session, Guides will interact with fellow Guides and Guiders, allowing them to work on their social skills and personal growth. Additionally, Patrol Corner, an avenue for Guides to share ideas with their patrol members, is frequently held.
However, there are indeed sessions that specifically target this area of development, namely bonding sessions. These are usually held at the start of each term to welcome Guides back to CCA, and aim to further strengthen the bonds between Guides through interactive games and competitions.
Guides learn about household-related skills through badge work.ย
For example, there is the Accident Prevention Badge, which educates Guides on the special precautions to take households with children or elderly. Another badge would be the Homemaker Badge, which not only tests Guides on their ability to complete household chores, but also encourages them to be more helpful at home.ย
This point consists of three distinct aspects: knowledge of community, emergency preparedness and service to others.ย
Guides learn about the first two aspectsย mainly through badge work. For knowledge of community, the most common badge Guides complete is the National Heritage Badge. It can only be earned after completing a heritage project specified by the National Heritage Board (NHB). Guides are given plenty of creative freedom: they can choose to create a heritage trail, share about a related topic through art, or even work with Voluntary Welfare Organisations in the heritage industry. This badge raises Guides' awareness of their society and teaches them to better appreciate the beauty of Singaporean heritage.
Next, Guides train their emergency preparedness with the First Aid Badge. As the name suggests, Guides learn how to administer first aid in the event of an emergency.ย
Finally, service to others. Throughout the year, Guides have countless opportunities to give back to Nanyang and society. We often help out with school events, such as being ushers during Parent-Teacher Meetings, or first aiders during the annual Cross-Country Run. Additionally, before Chinese New Year, Guides help to make hampers for beneficiaries, so that they too can have a happy Chinese New Year. These occasions enable Guides to make a tangible difference not only within the four walls of the school, but also in the broader community.
Outdoor experiences are an integral part of the Guiding experience in Nanyang. Pioneering and axemanship, gadgets, and of course, every Guide's favourite outdoor cooking (ODC) are all held outdoors. Though we do have fun destroying blocks of wood and roasting marshmallows, we also learn valuable skills in the process. At the end of the academic year, these skills are put to the test at Camp Christine during the Annual Training Camp (ATC).ย
Guides learn more about the world, or more specifically, Commonwealth countries through the Commonwealth Knowledge Badge. One of the tasks Guides need to complete is to keep a record of three weeks of whatever they find specially interesting in Commonwealth countries overseas. Such badges enlighten Guides on the happenings in other countries, widening their worldview and perhaps even sparking their interest in international affairs.ย
When it comes to learning about other countries, however, Guides are not restricted to just resources on the Internet. The GGS International Camp is an excellent platform for our Guides to interact with peers from other countries, gifting Guides with countless chances to learn more.