Scout Meeting 4th Sept 2010

By Scribe Jeremy Tan Scout Meeting on 4 Sept 2010 The highlight of the Scout meeting on 4th September 2010 had two extreme activities conducted for HPPS cubs. We were asked to be Maori Warriors and had a face off with our opponents, staring hard at their faces and into their eyes to instill fear and intimidate the opponents into submission. Some of us wanted to perform the "Haka" (Maori Warrior war cry and dance) but restrained ourselves. After the fierce stand off, tension was eased and HPPS cubs were quickly domesticated and did home economics, doing oven baking. Akela was not pleased with the fidgeting of many Cubs during the Colour Party. As this was showing disrespect for the solemn Colour Party, Akela decided to "punish" constructively the whole HPPS Cubs by conducting a staring competition. Sixes were paired and Cubs had to face an opponent and stared hard at his opponent. Cubs were to "freeze" and not move even an eyelid or twitch. Cubs who were caught fidgeting were ruled out of the competition by sitting down. To make the competition more interesting, Baloo was on hand to make funny faces and said funny things to distract the Cubs to make them lose their focus and concentration. Although the Cubs tried, one by one Cubs and Sixers ruled themselves out of the competition. However Platypus managed not to move and emerged the winners. Well done Platypus! The lesson Akela wanted us to learn is to stay focus and concentrate on achieving our goals. We need to practise to be good at it. Before the 4th Sept meeting, HPPS Notice Board reminded Cubs to bring wet tissues as the planned activity was clay modeling of Scout Pelican fridge magnets. The thought of getting myself dirty playing with clay (thus wet tissues) and the complicated steps involved (so I thought) sent shivers to my spine. However I was wrong. It was not only fun but clean, interesting and simple. Many cubs became proficient at making clay models after that. After the staring incident, Aklea told us that we had to go to the canteen to make clay pelicans. The "home economics" (oven baking) lesson was conducted by Mrs Cynthia Yong, Mrs Lynn Cheow, Aunty June, Aunty Christine and Charmaine. The Sixes were divided and assigned to each instructor. We were each given a small quantity of white, orange, green and yellow clay strips, each colour strip wrapped in cellophane paper. All the strips and accessories were pre-packed in small plastic bags. The material of the clay was FIMO SOFT (Oven-Hardening Polymer Clay). As the clay strips were hard, we had to soften it. This involved rolling the clay between our palms (using heat from our palms) into a snake shape. Thereafter we rolled the snake in a circular motion to compress the snake back into a ball. We had to repeat these steps several times. Next we were taught how to model the pelican. 1. The Body (white strips). We gently smoothened the surface by rubbing from the centre to the edge. We flattened the beak area to make room for the beak. 2. The BeaK (orange strips). Before we did anything, we wiped our hands with wet tissue. We then softened the orange clay. After softening, we broke it into two pieces. Then we rolled each piece into a ball and then into a cylinder. We then curved each cylinder into a half moon and paste them together and stick them on to the pelican's body. 3. The Feet (yellow strips). After softening, we shaped two pieces of clay like a human nose and pasted it onto the bottom of the pelican to form its feet. 4. The Cap (green strips). After softening, we squeezed the edge of the ball to make the shape of the cap. Then, we used three pieces of yellow clay strips to put on the top. 5. We then had to bake the modelled pelican for 15 min at 120 degrees Celsius, using the mirco-oven. There were 3 micro-oven available for use. 6. We then used the glue gun to put in place the eyes. We were also taught to customise our pelican parts in anyway we want. After everyone finished baking their clay models, we cleaned up the canteen. Then we went back to the Kid Zone and Baloo chose the top ten pelicans and gave a prize to the Cubs whose pelican were chosen. We say a big thank you to the 4 parent volunteer and Che Che Charmaine for sponsoring the material, their time, their skills and their micro-wave ovens and enlightening us on oven baking clay modelling. Earlier at the meeting, Akela gave a Silver Arrow Badge to Evan Lee. The top 3 scout logs were selected and the Sixs were named. Well done all. We formed the horse shoe for flag breaking and this time, Cubs did not fidget so much as they did during the Colour Party. We remembered the "punishment". I am very proud of my ability as I did not expect to be able to make a fridge pelican. My pelican now sticks firmly on my fridge. Perhaps we can use magnets and stick the pelican on our uniform. I learn that "Can Do" attitude helps to increase the chance of turning impossibilities to possibilities.