Sixer Refresher Course (8 Feb to 9 Feb 2025)

By Deputy Senior Sixer Ang Yi Chen

On the 8th of February, we arrived at school for the Tenderfoot Camp and Sixer Refresher Course. As a Primary Six pupil, I was attending the Sixer Refresher Course Camp. The camp emphasized teamwork, leadership and practical skills, ensuring all participants are well-prepared for their roles in the Pelican Scout Unit.

The first task upon arrival was to place our bags in the 1A classroom, which served as our designated storage area for the duration of the camp. Following this, we were given a short briefing on the first aid test. We sat for the written pre-test and none of us passed it. Then, we had a short recap about the essential first aid skills, including how to handle minor injuries, perform CPR and respond to emergency situations before our practical test. During the practical test, we performed arm sling, head bandage, CPR, AED usage, and lots more. Upon passing the practical test, we then sat for the real written test, and all passed it with above 75% marks. This first aid test was designed to assess our knowledge and readiness in dealing with medical emergencies.

After that, we were briefed on outdoor cooking. This session covered the basics of setting up a safe cooking area, fire safety precautions, and different methods of outdoor cooking. We learned how to prepare a simple lunch using minimal resources and practiced teamwork in meal preparation. Following the briefing, we cooked our own lunch over a fire. Working in small groups, we applied the skills we had just learned to prepare and cook our meals. Our lunch consisted of mee hoon, egg, sausage, vegetables and crab stick. This hands-on experience helped us understand fire management, food preparation, and the importance of cooperation in an outdoor setting.

After eating what had been an amazing meal, we went to wash our mess tins. After washing our mess tins, we put them on the canteen tables and I went off with the Primary Six Sixers to prepare props for the night's campfire skit. When the props were ready, we practiced our campfire skit. This activity reinforced the importance of teamwork, creativity and discipline in creating an engaging skit for parents of new recruits, leaders and fellow cubs.

In the evening, we had our Annual Campfire. Everyone enjoyed the skits, songs, campfire and limbo dance. The Brownies were our guests and performed a song called A Thousand Legged Worm. They also gave the Scouts a token of appreciation. Thereafter, we had some refreshments and helped to pack up. We headed back to the Kidzone for reflections and showers. Cub Scouts slept soundly in our sleeping bags on the floor.

The next morning, the P6ers woke up at 5am and were reprimanded for waking up too early. We washed up, had morning exercises and ate breakfast. Then we had foot drills and knot-tying practices. We then watched the tenderfoots play a game. We had a sunset party to close our camp and were dismissed at 11.30am.

As Deputy Senior Sixer, I was put in charge of making sure nothing went wrong. My role included overseeing activities, ensuring safety protocols were followed, participating in the activities and assisting other Cub Scouts whenever necessary. This responsibility helped me develop leadership skills and a sense of accountability. I enjoyed this experience. The camp provided me with valuable lessons in teamwork, leadership, and outdoor survival skills. It was a great opportunity to bond with my fellow Cub Scouts, face challenges together, and grow both personally and as a team. The responsibilities I took on helped build my confidence and ability to handle different situations effectively. Overall, this camp was an enriching and memorable experience.