sCAMPering Around Hong Kong
Spencer Chan S4S
Three days of adventures and activities, a lifetime of friendships and memories…
From 24-26 October 2018, the Secondary 4 cohort participated in a camp planned and organised entirely by a committee of S4 students – led by Tyrus Yeo (S4S), Chloe Long (S4R), and our Year Head, Ms Louisa Or.
Although the three days and two nights was a brief escape from the grim reality of our looming IGCSEs, the time we spent scampering around Hong Kong, cooking and washing up at the canteen, and staying at the Secondary campus Sports Hall was filled with fun, laughter and joy. We knew it was going to be one of the last few chances the entire cohort of S4s could get to interact and forge new memories so getting to bond with our peers and strengthening our friendships were undeniably our key highlights. On a more important note, we displayed our school values 3RICH and learnt to work better as a team.
Kowloon and Hong Kong Island City Adventure
On our first day of camp, 5 groups went on a Hong Kong Island Adventure and the remaining 5 embarked on the Kowloon City Adventure, and the groups switched locations the following day. The Kowloon City Adventure comprises a total of 13 pit stops marked with several designated tasks at each pit stop which are worth a certain number of points. For the Hong Kong Island Adventure, there were a total of nine pit stops.
To attain the Champion title, we had to gain as many points as possible by covering many pit stops and successfully completing the activities. To challenge ourselves further, we could only travel on foot or by public transport without the help of phone applications and GPS or maps. Time was of the essence and we had to plan a route that was most efficient yet can garner as many points as possible. Each group was also allocated a starting location.
As we listened to the instructions given by the Planning Committee, we were filled with excitement for and anticipation of this upcoming adventure. Some of our groups, including us, rashly decided to do route planning along the way and little did we know how important it was to plan. Throughout the day, I discovered that we were the so-called “relaxed” group, unlike the other groups who ran at lightning speed to all the pit stops, completed every activity and even dashed back, panting heavily with faces flushed red. Meanwhile in stark contrast, my group took our time as we covered the locations, and we even had a long (and delicious) lunch at Genki Sushi!
At the end of the day, all the groups conducted a reflection session. My group unanimously agreed that we should have planned our route before we embarked on our journey, be more aware of our surroundings, and have a much shorter lunch this time. So the next day, for our Kowloon City Adventure, we followed through our plan well and managed to cover most of the activities at the pit stops. While we still had a long lunch, we felt quite elated at having accomplished much more than the previous day.
Despite not getting the Champion title, I dare say that every member of my group really enjoyed ourselves as we had great chemistry and bonded together extremely well over the three days. This might have been the best, most fun group I have ever been in and the moments I have shared with this group will be eternally etched in my brain.
Besides exploring Hong Kong through our city adventures, there were also other highlights such as preparation of dinner and the night activities, and to say that the camp was just enjoyable would be a severe understatement. For the first night, Groups 1-5 prepared curry stew with rice and for the second night, Groups 6-10 whipped up spaghetti Bolognese as well as brownies with ice-cream as a bonus dessert serving to satisfy the sweet tooth in us. Although most of us were inexperienced, incompetent first-time cooks, we pulled through to produce relatively edible dishes to feed our hungry stomachs. Of course, it was not without the much required adept leadership from Ms. Ang Ling See and Mrs. Shirley Khader that we did so, and for that we are extremely grateful.
After dinner came the most entertaining part of camp. We played Jeopardy on the first night, and had lots of fun guessing what our friend does in a funny video, the identity of a student in a cropped photo, etc. On the second night, we played Write and Draw in which all of us were divided into 5 groups, each organised in a line behind a whiteboard. As each round began, a person at the beginning of the line was timed to draw on the whiteboard based on a starting word presented on the board. After the timer stopped, the starting word was subsequently erased, and next person in line was timed in guessing the starting word through interpreting the drawing only. The objective of the game was to get as close an answer as possible to the given word through drawing and guessing. The rounds ended as the last person of each group provided their guesses. As we witnessed how different our starting and final words were at the end of each round when the starting word was revealed, the hall engulfed in intermittent peals of raucous, sheepish laughter. When the game ended, I was reduced to tears of joy as I couldn’t stop laughing! Even my belly hurt.
3RICH Learning Points
Besides deepening our knowledge of Hong Kong’s various landmarks by exposing ourselves to their cultural and historical significance, we learnt how to work better as a team to achieve our goals as we scampered around the city to complete the tasks. Although we were out of school, we were mindful of our behaviour and we ensured that we upheld our school values at all times.
We also learnt how to respect the strengths and weaknesses of each individual, appreciating everyone’s contribution, and participating proactively. All in all, it was really the feeling of unity and spirit that was the most unforgettable and most heartwarming part of the camp for me. So a huge thank you to all the camp organisers, group leaders and group teachers for making this camp an immensely 3RICH, fun-filled and well-rounded experience in so many ways!
