BBSG (Boys Brigade share a gift)

1 packet, 2 packets... 17 packets... 53 packets...

Thus began the arduous task of counting the quantity of packets in each of the boxes. Our department was in charge of sorting out the biscuits. We had to put the packets of biscuits into cardboard boxes, count the number, before reporting it to the primer in charge. This process was similarly carried out for the biscuits in boxes.

This task was both strenuous mentally, and physically. Some boxes could contain up to 60 packets of biscuits. Sweat trickled down our foreheads as we laboured on. Knowing that we were doing this for a good cause, was what kept us going.

The objective of BBSG;

- To bring cheer to the less fortunate during the festive season of Christmas;
- To inculcate the spirit of caring and sharing among members of The Boys' Brigade;
- To promote the spirit of caring and sharing among Singaporeans.

All the goods(canned food, beverages, oil, biscuits, rice, condiments) sorted out by the various departments would be packed into bags, before being given to the needy families, elderly and children whose total monthly household income is less than $1,500.

At first, I had expected it to be tiring, and exhaustive. To my surprise, the 12hr of work was not as bad as I expected. Perhaps it was because our team was efficient, our perhaps our department had the easiest job, but before long, the other five sec ones in our company(the 39th) who were in the same team as I was had finished our job.

After lunch, we had a few hours of break. This was one of the more fun parts of the entire event. Together with other members of our company, we played monopoly deal together. There was even one game which lasted for 2 hrs! Occasionally, the primers in charge would enter the air-conditioned room and call out the departments who were on duty. This was always the most tense moment, as no one wanted to be called out of the room and back to the warm, humid warehouse. The hours raced past, while we were having a whale of a time. Before we knew it, it was in dinner time.

A few vans brought in more goods to sort during the night. Our team worked as a single unit in order for maximum efficiency. Two members collected the biscuit goods, the others passed them to the sorting area, and the remainder packed and counted. This cycle continued for the rest of the night. At the end of the day, I was exhausted, and tired, but had thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Camp Challenger

Day 1

A single, sharp whistle sounded, and I strung my bow, notching an arrow. Stretching it too its maximum capabilities, I pulled, sighted down the target, and fired. The first time I went archery was at this same archery range. I had gone with my CCA- the Boys Brigade, as I was doing now. In the past, hitting the target was very much an obstacle I yet had to overcome; much less hit the bull's eye.

Perhaps I had improved, or perhaps it was through sheer luck, but I hit it. The arrow flew straight and true, whistling through the air at a high speed, before smashing into the yellow section of the target board. A few inches from the bulls eye, I thought to myself, as relief flowed over me.

This was a mini competition, set up to make the archery session more exciting. It certainly did its job! Different groups cheered as their members succeeded in making the requirements.

Although our group did not win a medal- we were not one of the top two groups, I still had a rather enjoyable session. We took a different mode of transport on the way back- our two legs. By the time we reached back to school, we were exhausted.

Day 2

Today was by far the most strenuous yet unique day of the camp. Gearing up, we set off from school at dawn, with our 9kg bags on our shoulders. Setting off with a Sec 2 senior navigating our way with the more primitive equipment- a compass and a topographic map, we headed for our first checkpoint- King Albert Park. As we were fresh after a good night's rest, our group started off at a brisk pace, soon overtaking the first group. However, this was just the beginning. Already, the sun was beginning to peak out from behind the clouds, the morning heat blazing down on us. Sweat trickled down my forehead, and the straps from my bag bit into my skin as we continued on towards our second checkpoint- Gleneagles hospital. The difference in the distance between these two checkpoints was by far the greatest. The route we took- the Ulu Pandan road- was just as torturous. To begin with, the road was beside the main road, thus the view was far from fascinating. Secondly, the road simply stretched out in a straight line, to an end we could not see. Lastly, the route was peppered with hills, making our trek even tougher. We stopped at various bus stops along the way for water breaks. These short respites allowed us to rest our aching muscles, as well as quench our thirst. This part of the journey probably was the greatest obstacle to us.

Our trek to our third checkpoint- Fort Canning probably was the second most enjoyable part of the journey for me. Along the trip, we had to pass through the heart of shopping in Singapore- Orchard Road. We passed through familiar buildings such as Ngee Ann City, and Ion Orchard, before reaching the entrance to Fort Canning park. The walk from Fort Canning park to Mount Fable Park was yet another killer. For easier navigation and due to construction, we could not follow the park connectors, but rather were forced to follow the MRT stations. We were still quite a distance from Mt Fable Park when I started to have an urge to use the toilet. Knowing that the only toilet nearby would be at the peak of Mt Fable Park, I could do nothing but control. At last, after 45 minutes which seemed like a few hours to me, we reached the base of Mt Fable Park. Here, we readied ourselves, to hike up the hill, which was full of spiraled roads. Already pumped with adrenaline, and with a goal at the top of the hill, I raced up to the jewel box, with the rest of my group in hot pursuit.

Well, two rewards were awaiting me at the top of the hill. Firstly, the toilet, and secondly, a breathtaking view. From the top, we could see the distance we had been travelling, and imagine how great our achievement actually was.

The remainder of our journey; from Mount Fable park to Kent Ridge park, to West Coast park was less boring and less tiring, as we were trekking through the park connectors, and thus the view was very scenic.

The trip through the park connectors was more familiar to me, as I had trekked through the trails with my family before. We walked from Mount Fable to the Henderson waves, to Hort park, before Kent Ridge park, our second last checkpoint.

The rest of the journey, we traveled using the West Coast Highway as a guideline, as such it was quite a bore.

Fortunately, we reached our destination and campsite in the evening, and came in third! Tired and weary, we rested on the grass patches before building our make shift tents, called bershars(don't know whether this is the right spelling). We did outdoor cooking and ate maggi noodles for dinner. As there were no shower facilities at West Coast, we had no choice but to have a powder bath, using snake powder.

Day 3

After returning from West Coast using the more direct road(around Pandan Reservoir and through Jurong East), we started preparation for the BBQ dinner with our parents. However, this was not really part of my highlights for the camp, and so I shall skip the details.

Day 4

For this day, I shall skip the details of our punishments and go straight to the fun part- Combat Skirmish.

Combat Skirmish

Game 1

I sighted the enemy through the scope on my Scorpion. I had selected this gun due to its lightness, which enabled me to dart around swiftly, yet unobtrusively. As the cross-hair locked onto his chest, I pulled on the trigger, preparing to fire. All of a sudden, gunfire sounded all around me. I had been spotted! The enemy snipers locked onto me and shot me simultaneously as I sought cover. My heart pumped furiously in my chest as adrenaline coursed through me. The veins in my temple throbbed at a ferocious intensity. I had one heart left, this game would not be in my favour, I thought to myself, feeling disheartened. A lucky shot put me out of the show. Quickly, I raced to our base to respawn...

Game 2

Title: Medic

Rules: Each player can respawn 5 times, apart from the medic, who can do so  20 times. When team members lose a life, they have to call for the medic, and cannot from from their death-point until the medic respawns them.

Objectives: Team who has the medic still alive wins.

It was a stalemate, or so we thought. The hallway was guarded from both teams, neither of which was willing to give in. It was a waiting game. Sir Gabrielle was out in front, with no reinforcements. The opponent was not willing to give us a chance to assist him. Someone had to do something. Sir Gabrielle whispered to me out in front "Caleb, go in front. I'll cover you." At his signal, I charged in front,while he distracted the opponent team. Success. Now, like hurricanes, we destroyed the remnants of the 'rebels' and charged down the staircase together. Empty. The entire block was empty. Rounding the building, we searched for the enemy.

Then we saw them. A group was lumped together at our original starting point! Not knowing that their medic was in their midst, we opened fire. The enemy was caught by surprise. Just as we we had appeared we rushed behind a war to reload our weapons. Changing the gun mode to semi-auto, I rushed in again, spraying bullets through the metal bars separating us from them. Success! The enemy retreated into the shadows.

Trying to ambush them from behind, we rounded the building, spotted them, and pounced. However, fate had  decided that our time was up. Somehow, the enemy had full health again, while we were close to death. Sir Gabrielle was down, while I was surrounded by 4 enemies. Knowing that our battle was lost, we surrendered.

The second level of our school was a melee of boys, shooting at either side. Our medic was up there, seemingly fighting a losing battle... 

Approximately 20 minutes had passed when the battle had to be ended. Both medics were still alive, but as the battle was taking too long, the people in charge had decided to end it earlier. Counting the number of hearts each medic had would determine the winner. 

"And the winner of this game is..." Silence hung around the crowd as we waited impatiently for the results...

"The red team!" We went wild as we realized that we had won the battle. However it was close. We had only won by two hearts.

All in all, I enjoyed the Camp Challenger. The combat skirmish certainly was a brilliant ending to the camp, and certainly a reward for the 50km trek we had to cover throughout the camp.