SECONDARY 1 CAMP

The Secondary One cohort camp took place on 27 March at the Ministry of Education (MOE) Dairy Farm Campsite and was exciting as the whole Secondary One cohort and the teachers were involved. It promised to be a fun-filled experience for everyone.

One of the memorable activities we had during the camp on our second day was abseiling. After we had our lunch,we walked over to what looked like a ten-meter tower. Our instructors taught us how to wear the harness and proper gear for the abseiling activity.The harness and carabiners were colour coded; the left was black and the right side was orange to tell us which hole our leg would go in. As I reached the top of the tower, my heart started to palpitate as a million thoughts like "what if I fall and die?" started to rush through my head. Then, I made a silly decision to look down and anxiety rushed through my veins. Suddenly, I started to rethink doing abseiling. Everyone cajoled me and through their encouraging words, I gained the courage to finally jump. After that activity, I was proud of myself as I remembered how I overcame my fear of heights.

The outdoor hike from Dairy Farm to an observation tower in Chestnut Nature Park was enjoyable for me too. After we had eaten our breakfast in the morning of the third day, we started to plan our hike which meant planning which routes we could take. We also had to pack about four large water bottles so that we could refill them if we needed to. While trekking through the many forests with their emerald green leaves,we heard several birds chirping melodiously. Soon, the terrain started to become uneven causing a few of us to almost trip and the sun radiated heat that was unbearably hot but we made it to the observation tower. We climbed the many flights of steps and it was exhausting but once we reached the top, the scenery was breathtaking and picturesque. We then decided to make our way back to the campsite. In retrospect,  I think that what we did was exciting but at the same time very arduous. Back inside the cabin, we felt relieved as all that was finally over and we took a short nap before continuing with the next activity, which happened to be outdoor cooking.

The outdoor cooking was another amazing activity. It took place after the exhausting hike on the third day of camp. We had the opportunity to decide what to cook. We then went grocery shopping for the ingredients. One group would start the fire so that when the other group came back with the ingredients,   the group in-charge of cooking could start. Another group would help to prepare the ingredients on a table. Our group decided to make mashed potatoes as well as spaghetti. Once everything was done, the food looked and smelled appetizing. The mashed potatoes had a very golden-brown colour and it looked soft and delicious. The smell of cheese and bolognese sauce were very aromatic. That night, we were stuffed after that well-deserved dinner and felt proud of ourselves for making such a tasty dinner. We felt very satisfied with it as the food turned out to be edible and enjoyable.   

All in all, the camp was an enjoyable event and will never be forgotten as we got to spend four days straight with each other. It also helped us overcome our fears and step out of our comfort zone. In the camp, I learnt how to be more independent and responsible. The camp was memorable as it was my first time experiencing something like this and it will always be etched in my mind.