78th Anniversary Campfire

Written by Matthew Lee, Edited by Kang Yihun

On the 4th of July, Catholic High Scout Group celebrated its 78th Anniversary Campfire, bringing together Scouts, Ventures, alumni, leaders and distinguished guests in a vibrant celebration of fellowship, tradition and Scout spirit. The evening was made even more memorable by the presence of fellow Scouts from Maris Stella High School, Raffles Institution (RI02), St. Joseph's Institution, St. Andrew's School, Peirce Secondary School, Hwa Chong Institution, Beatty Secondary School and Gan Eng Seng School, reflecting the enduring friendships and strong bonds shared across the Scouting community.

Preparations for the campfire began more than a month in advance. Behind the scenes, our Scout troop devoted countless hours to planning the programme, designing the campfire layout, and perfecting the opening drumming performance. At the same time, the pioneering team meticulously experimented with different gateway designs over several sessions before bringing the final structure to life on the 3rd of July. Working late into the night, they transformed ropes, spars and lashings into a striking gateway that stood as a proud symbol of teamwork, resilience and craftsmanship.

This year's campfire also carried a deeper layer of meaning, as the troop honoured the memory of our late Group Scout Leader, Mr Andrew Chua. Several of his close friends joined us for the evening to pay their respects, reflecting on his unwavering dedication and the lasting legacy he left in Catholic High Scout Group. His passion for Scouting continues to inspire generations of Scouts to lead with integrity and serve with purpose.

With our Scout Troop's determination, the majestic "Gateway to Heaven" bridge was constructed, stretching across the entire grand staircase. As the name suggests, it served as the awe-inspiring gateway and main entrance to our campfire that attendees traversed. As dusk settled, the atmosphere came alive with the arrival of the Guest of Honour, CHS Principal Mdm Yvonne Teo, followed by the spectacular launch of a fireball into the fire pit, igniting the campfire and officially opening the evening's celebrations. Our Scout troop then delivered a powerful drumming performance that mimicked the rhythmic beats of “男儿当自强”, before rallying the audience with spirited troop cheers.

The excitement continued with a lively dance performance by Maris Stella Scout Troop, followed by an energetic dance challenge and interactive games that kept the audience engaged throughout the evening. As the night unfolded, every Scout troop came together in an enthusiastic sing-along featuring a selection of contemporary favourites, filling the campsite with laughter, energy and a strong sense of camaraderie. The celebrations concluded with the Scout Hymn, bringing the evening to a meaningful and memorable close.

As we look ahead to our 80th Anniversary, the 78th Anniversary Campfire serves as a reminder that the true legacy of our troop lies not only in its history, but in the experiences of every Scout who carries its spirit forward. Here are the reflections of two Scouts on what made this year's campfire a truly memorable occasion:

Lucas Foo, Cobra Patrol Leader

For this campfire, the most important value I learnt was teamwork. Although it was already heavily emphasised in our normal Scouts sessions, it was usually smaller projects which required less manpower, so I usually try to do most work myself. However, with the scale and importance of this project, I learnt that teamwork is vital to being able to accomplish large projects such as this campfire gateway.

Gareth Yang, Wolf Assistant Patrol Leader

My most memorable experience was standing near the campfire itself, drumming away to the beat of the song playing in the background. This moment really resonated with me as it marked the conclusion of 1 month of drumming training throughout the school holidays. As I was drumming, I was also reminded of Mr Chua and imagined how he would want to be at this campfire, but unfortunately could not make it. I wanted this to be a conclusion to his incredible journey as well, and allow him to watch our performance with pride, through his family seated there at the campfire.