Hike at MacRitchie Tree Top Walk 6th February 2010
Saturday, 6th February 2010
Some 100 Cubs, including 33 recruits gathered at the koi pond at 7 am for the start of an exciting outing, a Tree Top Walk at MacRitchie Park.
Amidst excited chatter, Akela went through the list of all who had submitted the consent form. Cubs without a consent form could not participate as it was mandatory to submit a consent form. There were a handful who had failed to drop their consent form by the due date. Akela made an exception and accepted their completed forms, but gave a stern warning that forms were to be submitted by the due date in future!
Akela checking the consent forms
Assembling at Venus Car Park, MacRitchie Park
It was a challenge to get everone's attention as they were eager to get on with the hike, not realising what lay ahead!
Sharing a private chatter while Akela was giving final instructions!
A sign to welcome the unsuspecting
Each Six took turns to lead the pack, with following groups separated by about 5 minutes behind.
The lead Six moving behind the pack
Akela carrying a recruit's water container. Cubs were to carry water bottles in their backpacks!
Akela, with the water container!
Which way to go????
Monkeys ahead!
Cubs were expected to observe and listen to the sounds of the jungle. In our case, jungle residents could hear them 5 miles away. Cubs were more interested in chatting away rather than observing.
A beautiful spider web up in the trees
Almost there
Recruits waiting to experience the Tree Top Walk
Welcoming committee at the Tree Top Walk.
Relatives????
Bagheera and Grey Wolf with the recruits
Monkey Alert!
Bagheera on the Tree Top Walk
A great view of the reservoir from the Tree Top Walk
On the board walk
Bagheera and Cubs on the board walk
The girls taking abreak after the hike
Some 100 Cubs, including 33 recruits gathered at the koi pond at 7 am for the start of an exciting outing, a Tree Top Walk at MacRitchie Park.
Amidst excited chatter, Akela went through the list of all who had submitted the consent form. Cubs without a consent form could not participate as it was mandatory to submit a consent form. There were a handful who had failed to drop their consent form by the due date. Akela made an exception and accepted their completed forms, but gave a stern warning that forms were to be submitted by the due date in future!
Akela checking the consent forms
Sixers collecting snacks of sausage bun and banana muffin for their Six
Cubs were told to keep their snack packs in their backpacks
3 buses brought the pack to the Venus Car Park at MacRitchie Park. Cubs disembarked and assembled nearby for a head count and a final instruction from Akela before setting off.
Assembling at Venus Car Park, MacRitchie Park
It was a challenge to get everone's attention as they were eager to get on with the hike, not realising what lay ahead!
Sharing a private chatter while Akela was giving final instructions!
Akela briefed the VALs, teachers-in-charge and parent volunteer on their assigned groups. Grey Wolf, Chil, Kaa, and Mr. Yum were assigned to oversee 2 Sixes while Haathi and Mdm. Kerina took charge of the girls. They were assisted by our 2 able ex-Pelicans, Abram and Hao Wei. We also had a new parent volunteer, Mr. Alfred Ng, who was given one Six to oversee.
A sign to welcome the unsuspecting
Each Six took turns to lead the pack, with following groups separated by about 5 minutes behind.
The lead Six moving behind the pack
Akela carrying a recruit's water container. Cubs were to carry water bottles in their backpacks!
Akela, with the water container!
Which way to go????
Monkeys ahead!
Cubs were expected to observe and listen to the sounds of the jungle. In our case, jungle residents could hear them 5 miles away. Cubs were more interested in chatting away rather than observing.
A beautiful spider web up in the trees
Almost there
Recruits waiting to experience the Tree Top Walk
Welcoming committee at the Tree Top Walk.
Relatives????
Bagheera and Grey Wolf with the recruits
Monkey Alert!
Bagheera on the Tree Top Walk
A great view of the reservoir from the Tree Top Walk
On the board walk
Bagheera and Cubs on the board walk
Looking for pond skaters on the stream below
Oops! need to re-tie shoe laces, but needed help
The hike to the Ranger Station was about 2.6 km, and to the Tree Top Walk was another 1.1 km, making a total of about 3.7 km one way. With the return leg, Cubs had hiked more that 7.4 km.
It was obvious that many recruits were ill-prepared for the distance. Some were lagging behind, while some were panting away. But for their first hike, covering almost 8 km was a great achievement for all of them. Well done!
The girls taking abreak after the hike
Now we know who the water container belongs to!!
Cubs boarded the buses for the ride back to school, where they were dismissed into the waiting arms of their parents at 12 noon.
Comments
Post a Comment