7th National Patrol Challenge 2011

The highly intense and competitive 7th National Patrol Camp held once every three years had just been concluded at Sarimbun Scout Camp. This 5 Days 4 Nights camping competition has been billed the Mother of All Scouting Competitions since the first camp of this latest edition started in 1997. To the glory of Beatty Beaver Scout Group, our 8 boys - 4 Sec 3 Scouts, 2 Sec 2 Scouts and 2 Sec 1 Scouts as per competition minimum requirements - have returned home yesterday evening on 28 November 2011 triumphant exceeding expectations - they were awarded the SILVER AWARD for this 2011 Camp.

To put this in perspective, their Senior Beavers - the old boys / the alumni in the 6th National Patrol Camp got Bronze in the year 2008 whereas in the year 2005, Beatty Secondary School did not participate. Furthermore in the year 2003 and the year 2001, the Scout Group only got Certificates of Participation. It is often said that the past laid the foundation for the present to build on for a better future. As such, this 7^th NPC had drawn its motivation from the past Beaver participation in NPCs and Beatty Beavers will strive to use this accomplishment to aim and plan for the future 8^th National Patrol Camp tentatively scheduled for 2014.

Our winning Beavers are as followed:

1. Goh Jing Lun – Patrol Leader (Sec 3)
2. Terence Chew – Asst. Patrol Leader (Sec 3)
3. Loh Chuanjian – Camp Cook (Sec 3)
4. Lee Jun Xian – Asst. Camp Cook (Sec 3)
5. Pak Jun Wei – First Aider (Sec 2)
6. Md. Shafiq – Asst. First Aider (Sec 1)
7. Ang Chun Yang – Quartermaster (Sec 2)
8. Low Yong Lin – Asst. Quartermaster (Sec 1)

During this 5 Days 4 Nights competition camp, our school's Scouts were pitted against 49 other school's Scout Groups to compete in the following categories (with weightage for scoring):

 1. Camping Standard (15%)

2. Campsite Development (15%) – here Beatty Beavers have probably hit on a potentially successful campsite model that could be wholly Beaver to carry on the successes of its predecessor patrols.

3. Gateway (5%) – here we are reminded of the importance of having some basic design elements when constructing the gateway such as form, function and colours.

4. Pioneering (12.5%) – the theme for this section was Play and our Beaver Scouts had constructed a slide for the general public to view during the Open House.

5. Backwoodsman Cooking (10%) - here we are at 20th position out of 50 Scout Groups and one of the judges complimented the Scouts on its maintenance of hygiene while preparing food for this competition components. Personally the Beavers have the TPY District Camp Cooking Competition to thank, for helping lay the foundations for this success.

6. First Aid (7.5%) – scenario was given to the participants and they had to explain as they demonstrated to the judges why they chose and applied certain correct First Aid techniques.

7. Fire-Setting (2.5%)

8 Campfire Skit (2.5%) - here we are the 1st position in our Sub-Camp D and selected to perform at the Campfire-cum-Award Presentation Ceremony on the last night of the NPC together with the other three 1st in their respective Sub Camps (Yuan Ching Sec for Sub-Camp A, Catholic High for Sub-Camp B and Anglican High for Sub-Camp C). Our Scouts were very enthusiastic in performing this item in front of Chief Dragonheart, our Chief Commissioner Tan Cheng Kiong.

9. Orienteering (7.5%) - here we are in 8th position out of 50.

10 Scoutlore Quiz (7.5%) – here is where the knowledge of the Scout Movement is tested

11. Camp Cook (5%) – Patrols are tested on their daily meal cooking, in the outdoors, with pre-determined ingredients handed out by the Organizers. They are judged on their creativity in using all the ingredients to cook a wholesome and delicious meal for 8 person. The Scouts have learnt well, not only to cook at home, but also in the outdoors, less the comfort and luxury of home setting.

12. Scouting Elements (10%) – here is where team spirit and patrol unity done in the spirit of the Scout Law and Promise played a very important part in scoring points with the judges. 

Beatty Beaver Scout Group had two preparatory camps for this National Patrol Camp. Both camps took place after our school’s End of Year Examinations ended. The Beavers were both relieved that the examinations were over and all of them had passed and got promoted to the next level. They were also happy that their fellow Sec 2 brother Scouts in the 7^th NPC Patrol largely got streamed into the Sec 3 classes of their choices. This was a stirring testimony to the fact that Beaver Scouts should always work hard first before playing hard.

About the two camps, the main aim was largely to prepare us for this major Scout camp which is held once-every three years. The first camp was held on the weekend of 4 November – 5 November 2011 while the second camp was longer and it was held on 11 November to 14 November 2011. The camping ground for these two camps was in our school compounds, using the little green courtyard surrounding the classroom blocks and the Food Labs. Participating in these two camps had seriously strained and tested as well as stretched and challenged our physical, emotional and mental limits of our physical selves as well as reminding us of the importance of being enthusiastic and active in taking part in the Beaver Scouts’ weekly Scout training in notching up incremental levels of Scouting skills; to be ready for any challenges that come their way.

To end it off, as our volunteer Scout Leader always says, “Scouting is not about what you do, it’s about who you are, and what you become to be”. This National Patrol Camp, has certainly impacted our Scouts, in the way they look at their own lives, and how they should set their target high, so as to achieve their full potential. 

Reported by, 

Mr. Alexander Choy (Teacher in Charge)