Labrador Park Hike, 29th August 2015

Written by: Nicole Yee, Assistant Senior Sixer & Scribe

The day had finally arrived! This week, we were going to Labrador Park to have a little hike. We had some ‘special guests’ to guide us during the hike—the 01 scouts!

After taking attendance, we proceeded to the two buses which would bring us to the park. After about a 30 minutes’ drive, we reached the park, where Chil briefed us about what was going to happen. First, we had to combine sixes into six groups. Then, each group was accompanied by two 01 scouts to learn map reading. I was apprehensive yet excited. Map reading? Sounds fun!  I joined the combined six Wallaby and Wombat as my temporary group for the day. Our group got Justin and Dailon as ‘teachers’. They taught us how to find bearings, how to find checkpoints with some clues, and most importantly, how to plot a route. When we had more or less mastered what they had taught, we were given a booklet with a map. We were supposed to find our 6 different checkpoints using the skills we had learnt, with the help of a few clues. It was tedious work, as we had just learnt how to do it, but in the end, we managed pretty well. We managed to find all the 6 checkpoints and plot a decent route. Then, we set off.

We made it successfully to all the checkpoints and even managed to go to a bonus checkpoint, the Promenade! At each checkpoint, we learned more about each historical landmark, and sharpened our sight by having to spot a certain object in the area for extra points. My favourite checkpoint was the 6-inch gun, where we found this HUGE gun, but the creepy part was the statues situated around it. They were very detailed and lifelike, sort of like a lower caste of the terracotta soldiers. The faces of the soldiers were really really really creepy.

When we trooped back to our meeting point, realization dawned upon us. It was finally picnic time! We looked at Chil for permission to eat, and he gave us the thumbs up. We laid out our multiple groundsheets, took out our food, and started munching away! A feast was of delectable ‘gourmet’ was before us: Our groundsheets was spread with nuggets, chips, chocolate chip cookies, pocky………………you name it, we had it!

After about 30 minutes, it was finally time to go back. But first, we had a debrief session with the 2 01 scouts, where we played wacko.

Then it was when we really headed back. We all piled into the buses. At school, we were quickly dismissed and informed that during the next 2 weeks, there would not be any scout meetings and that the cyclist badge test would be cancelled due to the polling day.

I had looked forward to the hike and I wasn’t disappointed. The day had been an eventful one and I had learnt many useful skills. Hm…………I wonder when our next hike will be?