Rock Climbing & Scout HQ visit on 26 April 2025

By Kookaburra Sixer Bai Letian

Today was one of the most exciting and enriching days of my life. We set off on an adventure planned by our leaders. It was a day meant for bonding, learning, and challenging ourselves in new ways. None of us quite expected how much we would discover—not just about the world, but about ourselves. 

Our day began bright and early at an outdoor rock climbing venue. As we approached the towering climbing walls, a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbled inside me. Some walls stretched higher than the roof of a three-story building! Our instructor, a cheerful woman, taught us the basics of climbing—how to fasten our harnesses, tie safety knots, and the commands. 

I remember standing at the base of the beginner wall, staring upwards and feeling a lump form in my throat. What if I slipped? What if I couldn’t make it to the top? However, I was confident and took a deep breath and began to climb. With every movement bringing me closer to my goal, I felt a little stronger, a little braver. Halfway up, my legs turned into jelly and trembled, and I nearly gave up, but I heard my friends Dinesh and Yi Chen cheering below. I pushed on, hand over hand, until finally, I slapped the top hold and looked down. I had done it! A wave of pride washed over me as I rappelled back down, beaming from cheek to cheek. 

After an energetic morning of climbing and a quick snack break, we made our way to the Scout Heritage Gallery. At first, I couldn’t understand why a visit to a gallery was part of our adventure day. I thought it would be boring compared to climbing that made my heart palpitate and adrenaline coursed through my veins. However, the moment we stepped inside, I realized how wrong I had been. The gallery was filled with stunning badges, pictures of leaders, and even old photographs that told stories from long ago. 

We were tasked to explore and find out history of scouting. We split into 2 groups and headed off. My group was tasked with the scouting history, while my assistant sixer was tasked with the badges. After 2 hours, we finished! Beads of perspiration trickled down our heads as our legs kept aching. Then, we played games like ‘Ice Breakers’ and ‘Concentration’ with one of our senior sixer, Zeqi. 

As we left the gallery, I felt different from when the day began. Climbing had taught me about trusting myself and facing fear. The gallery showed me that adventure can inspire beauty and creativity. Learning about Scout history reminded me that we are part of something much larger than ourselves, a legacy of courage and service stretching back over a hundred years.

After that memorable experience, I made a silent promise to keep challenging myself, to appreciate the beauty around me, and to honor the Scouts who came before me by living bravely and kindly. It had truly been a day to remember and would be etched in my head!