Filmed and edited by Seah Zhang Qi, Loh Feng Ryan and Siauw Yu Hern Catholic High Scout Group faced many challenges throughout the year of 2021. However, we were resilient and adapted to these changes, not allowing ourselves to falter under the pressure. Each Scout did their utmost to learn and better themselves during each training session, developing their skillsets and leadership. Below are the words from the Venture unit to close off Patrol League 2021.

Written by Jason Zhang and Kaleb Phoon, Edited by Chey Jedd Over the course of the November and December school holidays, the Secondary 3 Scouts worked on various batch projects involving pioneering, one of which was to design and construct a bridge. Each Scout was excited to proceed with the bridge project as it would be a symbol of their three years of scouting. Preparing to reach new ground Before the Scouts even came down to begin construction of the bridge, they first had to plan out a feasible and new bridge design that they could construct. After multiple brainstorming sessions and drafts, they came up with a practical yet aesthetically interesting design which they named 十五米吊桥. A suspension system supports the whole bridge, carrying the load of the bridge on its own and the load of any person walking on the bridge. From there, it was a matter of expanding the bridge. To extend the length of the whole platform, 4 poles were sheared together instead of 3 for a normal suspension bridge. To accommodate the new load of the extended bridge, 2 new supporting frames were added. These two frames consist of 1 M-frame and 1-W frame which helped to support the weight of the whole bridge. These frames were also strategically positioned to help add to the aesthetic of the bridge. In the first session, the Sec 3 Scouts started by preparing all the resources and equipment needed for the bridge. Although it was constantly raining, the Scouts persevered and did not give up, managing to prepare the resources ahead of time and completing a significant portion of the bridge. They managed to complete the mainframe which the whole structure would revolve around and also prepared some of the necessary parts for the structure. Going the distance Over the next two sessions, the Scouts built and raised up the other supporting frames which included the M-frames and the W-frames. The whole span of the structure simply grew in length as they raised these frames and added in the platforms. This meant that when they had anchored everything down and finished the suspension system, the whole bridge had a total estimated length of 15 metres. Being the longest bridge that the Troop had built for the past few years, it instilled a sense of pride and accomplishment into the Scouts as they took a photo in front of the massive structure that they had completed. Overcoming challenges However, throughout the construction of the bridge, there were also some problems that the Scouts were required to solve. For example, the whole bridge started to lean towards a certain direction because of its weight and the slight gradient of the ground that it was built on. To solve this, a rope was tied onto the bridge before being pulled and anchored down into the ground to help the bridge stay perpendicularly upright. Nevertheless, such issues were resolved quickly on the spot by the Scouts with the guidance of the Rovers. Reaching further Over the course of these few weeks, the Sec 3 Scouts had the opportunity to bond together as a batch. Despite the fact that they were often working under the rain or underneath the hot sun, their spirits never wavered and they continued to push on. The whole project proved its worth by letting the Scouts see what they could achieve after three years in Catholic High Scout Group. This allowed them to set new boundaries as they strive to do even better.

By Alex Chien and Lucas Loh As part of the troop's aim to establish well-rounded scouts, the scouts gathered to participate in the Venture Obstacle Journey (VOJ) conducted by the Ventures on the 29th of February. The VOJ would put a scout's skills to the test, ranging from knotting skills to teamwork and agility. There were 8 stations in total, each offering a unique obstacle for the patrols to overcome. The main focus of this VOJ was to inculcate a strong sense of self and perseverance in the Scouts. Through these obstacles, the scouts got to know themselves through their own abilities and learned the importance of perseverance, working together to put the troop at the top. First, the Rope Traverse obstacle. The Scouts were tasked with crossing a river using a single rope. The main method the scouts learned to use was the Monkey Climb, with advanced climbers learning the Commando Crawl method. This obstacle demanded both skill and grit, as the scouts learned how to coordinate their body best to climb the rope in the shortest possible time, becoming more aware of their physical capabilities. They also had to endure rope burn and the physical strain of having to climb upside down, much like the determination needed to put the troop at the top. Second, the Sotong Station was another rope course that demanded Scouts ascend a thick rope (Sotong) with their bare hands and legs. The Scouts quickly learned the proper technique of ascending this rope, using the feet to anchor the rope, then proceeding to use the legs to push one's body upward. Although it seemed like an easy task, it proved to be a difficult one, again requiring both grit and skill to master their body and ascend the rope. Through this experience, the Scouts saw that with the proper guidance and training, they were able to surmount any task the troop prepared them for. Third, Sourgrapes. Sourgrapes is a traditional scouting game that involves climbing a wooden pole and hanging one's scarf at the tip of the pole. This station requires good grip strength of not only the hands but the knees. It also required a great level of skill in balance and self-control, not intimidated by the sheer height of the wood, in order to place their scarfs at the top of the pole with the support of their patrols. However, the person climbing can only get as far as his patrol mates supporting him, with the whole patrol supporting and keeping the pole steady. The Patrol got to know itself better, what they can achieve together, and, the Scouts literally put the troop at the top of the pole by striving and trying their hardest to hang their scarf up on top. Fourth, the Commando Crawl station required the scouts to crawl from one end to the other without touching any strings that were tied across the entire obstacle course. Scouts had to exercise full awareness of their bodies, to control and restrict each movement below the wire, something achieved only through self-awareness. Other than flexibility and agility, this station also required teamwork and planning - one had to plan the route he was to take before attempting to overcome the obstacle. Subsequently, the patrol members had to guide the scout, ensuring he was taking the right path while attempting the course. Through the course of the obstacle, the Scouts learned to work together to achieve success for the Patrol, putting the troop at the top. Fifth, the Electric fence puts a scout's flexibility to the test. Scouts had to jump from one end to the other, without touching any rope that was across them. Scouts again had to exercise full awareness of their bodies, to control and restrict each movement between the wires, something achieved only through self-awareness. Timed jumps were essential for scouts to complete this obstacle without touching the rope. Not every hole was sized the same and Scouts had to collectively decide who should use which hole, allocating the smaller holes to smaller sized Scouts, thereby reaching a consensus to collectively share the load so as to achieve success for everyone, much like the process of putting the troop at top. Sixth, the CASEVAC relay put the First Aid skills of scouts to the test. In a real first aid scenario, time is vital. This course emphasized speed when evacuating casualties from a dangerous zone. Scouts were required to evacuate casualties using proper first aid techniques, under record time. Often, Scouts underestimate what it is like to carry a casualty weighing 80kg for 100m, let alone a few kilometers if they are in the wilderness seeking help. Through this experience, the Scouts learned exactly this, working together to move casualties and knowing the limits of their physical abilities. Seventh, the chariot race involved having scouts to design and make a platform that would allow someone to rest on it. Subsequently, someone would be placed on the platform and had to be carried from one end to the other. This involved scouts using their creativity and pioneering skills to tie safe and innovative 'vehicles'. This allowed the patrol to get to better know each other, especially in their knotting skills as the PL had to delegate the various roles to their patrol members. Last but not least, Archery. The Scouts were also given the opportunity to learn how to use a bow in the Cane Archery station. It was of utmost importance the Scouts were briefed clearly on the handling of the bow, in order to minimize injuries. Usage of a bow required the highest level of self-awareness as it was not only the body firing the arrow but also the heart. One had to master every muscle in their body to keep their shots consistent and arrows flying straight. Hence, as much as this was a thriller for first-timers, it was also calibration of one own's mentality. This station was the ultimate display of self-control and awareness. Through these obstacles, the Scouts became better versions of themselves as knowing oneself is the first step to success. They also tried their best in every station, putting the troop at the top.

Written by Tristan Chua and Law Jia Jun, Edited by Chey Jedd Starting November 2021, the Secondary 3 Scouts embarked on their batch projects, one of which was designing and constructing a tower. This pioneering project was the culmination of their three years of scouting, testing their skills in planning, coordinating and lashing. Planning to reach the clouds To start off, all of the Sec 3 Scouts came together and used their ingenuity to brainstorm some possible tower designs. After much thought and consideration, the Scouts settled on the final tower design that was the perfect balance between aesthetics and practicality. They named this tower 三层四正塔. The tower’s base was made up of four three-storey-tall tripods which stood at a height of 10.5 metres tall. Tripods were used as they allowed for the most flexibility in the design and can sustain a lot of weight while still being stable. This is also the reason why most of the Troop’s pioneering projects consist of a tripod or triangular bases. Reaching the impossible The tower took three sessions to construct, one of which was used to prepare the equipment needed and to test the durability of the tripods. This required a lot of time as the team had to pick out the best wood available in the QM. This was imperative as cracked or hollowed wood could compromise the safety of the tower. The Scouts also made sure to pick the most suitable wood for each section of the tower to ensure appropriate weight distribution. For example, the heavier wooden bases were at the bottom of the structure as a top-heavy structure would be too unstable. During the following 2 sessions, the Scouts constructed the 4 tripods, raised them up, and built the rungs and platforms to stand on. Though the construction was carefully planned and went relatively smooth sailing, the Scouts still faced some issues and had to think quickly on the spot to resolve them. For example, the tower shifted a little as the platforms were being built due to its sheer height. To solve this, the Scouts quickly recalled what they had learnt before and built X-shapes onto the tower to reduce its movement during construction. They then added more supports near the base of the tower to secure all the wood together and shift the centre of gravity downwards. With the Sec 3 Scouts’ quick thinking and adaptability, any other issues faced while constructing the tower were resolved easily. Setting new heights When the tower was finally completed, the Sec 3 Scouts felt a sense of satisfaction, proud of their new accomplishment of building a grand tower that they designed. The tower was a testament to their abilities and skills learnt over three years. It was a new milestone accomplished together as a batch as they continue to strive for the best in everything that they do. They were also certain that the tower would be worthy of a challenge to be passed down to following batches of Scouts to attempt, setting a new bar for future batches of Scouts to aim for.

By Alex Chien and Lucas Loh Today's training activity was the Venture Obstacle Journey for Scouts. VOJ is one of the hallmarks of scouting as it involves a series of stations designed to test and challenge scouts holistically. The first type of stations were awareness stations. Awareness is a very important quality for scouts to possess as it is the basis for good judgement in both scout and non-scout contexts. One station included moving in the direction of the sound, where scouts had to listen attentively and work as a patrol to minimise noise. Another involved replicating a drawing in under unsound mind. Scouts were told to spin around until they were dizzy, then made to memorise a picture. Afterwards, they needed to recreate the picture on the seperate pieces of paper. Next, there were intellectual stations. Knowing how to work smart and think on your feet is especially vital to scouts as it helps them make the best decision. One such station included the river-crossing puzzle, which although known by many, still posed as an extremely hard challenge, with only one out of seven patrols able to solve the puzzle in the given time. Anotehr station was the unscrambling of caeser ciphers. Even though these ciphers are arguably the easiest amongst all ciphers, it takes true ingenuity in scouts to decipher the entire message, with only one out of the seven patrol creating an enigma machine to decipher the code. Another cipher was in Han Yu Pin Yin, which was very demanding as scouts needed to have a good grasp of the text structure in order to identify which language the cipher was in. As the scout motto goes, "Be Prepared". At Catholic High Scouts, our training is not centred on just tangible skills, but also focused on bringing out unmeasurable desirable qualities in scouts, such as awareness and intellect. This will ensure that our scouts will not only know how to solve a problem in theory, but also be able to do so in practice.

By Lim Ni Ler and Lucas Loh On 28 November last year, we sent several scouts to the National Partol Challenge (NPC), obtaining the Best Patrol title in this pinnacle scouting competition. This was our 5th victory in the 10 editions of NPC. 8 months on, on the 26th of July, we were finally presented the Challenge Plaque at Catholic High School. The NPC team consisted of: Jann Lim, Joash Cheng, Damien Kang, Wong Zheng Tat, Lim Ni Ler, Ryan Loh, Siauw Yu Hern, and Seah Zhang Qi. Looking back, the team had fought very hard to put the troop at the top, to earned this well-deserved glory. Countless of hours were spent training ourselves to hone our awareness and discipline. The trainings varied each time, ranging from the more significant campsite development, down to the details of every design, every knot, and every piece of decoration. We even acquired the skill of countering the rain, conquering the opponents' psychology, reading the weather and the terrain. During the competition, the Team demonstrated altruistic sportsmanship, giving our best for our troop. While certain events did not go as planned and we had to adapt to the situation. We managed to stay on top of our game and help others along the way, sending our manpower to other units that needed help. We were so far ahead of our competition that our PL and APL were selected to lead in the design and completion of the Area Gateway, showing that we are the true leading of South area. Not only that, we were so professional that we were selected to help clean the Area toilets, so that the other units did not have to delegate manpower to do so given that they were behind time. Nevertheless, my team coped remarkably with the extra tasks being bombarded at us, maintaining our excellent standards. Facing it with confidence and determination, we knew we were well trained for all unforeseen circumstances to fight any unfair battles. At long last, 8 months since NPC, our troop was finally presented its long-awaited well-deserved glory, by our Chief Commissioner, Mr Antong Shahrudin, to our principal, Ms Soh Lai Leng Magdalen. We were also graced by the presences of our Camp Chief, Happy Dolphin, and our GSL, Mr Andrew Chua. We are proud to have brought glory to our troop, to put it at the top and show the world the excellence of Catholic High scouting. 日行一善，智仁勇！

By Damien Kang Above: Badge designed by Siauw Yu Hern. Catholic High Scout Group is a Scout Troop with a long history and numerous successes in its name. However, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is a challenge to strive for success when so many of us are restricted indoors. However, our Scouts have never given up and have exemplified the spirit of Scouting by putting in their best effort in their activities, to bring glory and put the troop at the top. We are proud to announce that 2 of our Scouts have brought glory to the troop. The Scouts and events are: 1. Joshua Low of Tiger Patrol, winning the Scouting from Home Challenge by the Singapore Scout Association. 2. Siauw Yu Hern of Eagle Patrol, winning the Trek Badge Design Competition by South Area The Scouting from Home Challenge is a challenge that was organized by the Singapore Scout Association (SSA) to promote continuous Scouting during COVID-19. The whole process was no mean feat, with our Scouts worked tirelessly to juggle their studies with alongside completing their badges and reports. However, despite the amount of time and effort required by everybody, the Scouts and Ventures always worked with the aim of putting the Troop at the top. After 1 month and a tremendous effort by the Scouts to complete the report, and the Venture Unit to vet the numerous reports, we submitted the reports to the SSA. In total, 13 Scouts were awarded certificates signed by the National Communications Commissioner, with Joshua Low going above and beyond to attain the National Top 10, having his certificate signed by the Chief Commissioner. Below are the names of the scouts who have excelled in the #scoutingfromhome proficiency badge programme: Audric TT Tan Teng Han Gareth Tan Law Jia Jun Joshua Lee Kaden Teo Loh Feng Ryan (*with 2 certificates of commendation) Low Shao Jie Joshua Ng Chen Fong Ong Sheng Yang Daniel Seah Zhang Qi Siauw Yu Hern Sim Hon Jui Below is Joshua Low’s reflection on his achievement. “In the beginning, I was intimidated as I did not fully understand the amount of effort and research that I would have to put in. The Naturalist Badge was a badge that I was unfamiliar with, but I had to write a detailed report on the uses of mangrove trees, as well as man's impact on Pulau Ubin. As I continued with the report, I was struggling to cope with the amount of research and time I had to invest in the badge on top of managing my schoolwork. It became exhausting, with the number of hours I had to put into filtering relevant data online. However, the united strength of the troop came to play as Ventures and Scouts worked together. Without the help of Ventures who helped to check the reports, it would have been impossible to produce a high-quality report for the competition. It truly showed how the success of the troop could be attributed to the Ventures who continue supporting the troop, providing invaluable advice and areas for improvements for my reports. With both Scouts and Ventures aiming to put the troop at the top, we put in our 100% effort to ensure Catholic High Scout Group continues standing head and shoulder above other troops. Working with the reputation of the troop in mind, I managed to complete the report. Despite being seemingly irrelevant for a Scout to study plants and human impact on ecosystems, I soon realized how valuable it was to me as a Scout. As scouts, we should be prepared for any environment, hence by studying about different wildlife, it can be beneficial to learn how to fully utilize natural materials in nature for our survival. For example, the mangrove is an odourless wood and hence ideal as a fuel source for fires. Furthermore, our motto being "Leave the area cleaner than before" can be brought to the next level as we learn how to reduce our harmful impacts on the environment around us. Months later, it was announced that my report had achieved top 10 among other scouts. I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment as my hard work bore fruit and I brought glory to the troop.” The Trek Badge Design Competition is a competition to design a badge based on Scout’s favorite landmark in South Area. It was held due to the annual Founder’s Day hikes being postponed. Yu Hern was very motivated to get his badge done, working to design the badge that best showed his vision and has done well to bring glory to the troop. Below is Yu Hern’s reflection on his achievement. “My inspiration for the badge design stamped from the last SLC 2019 when our patrol hiked to Kent Ridge Park. The beautiful sight when we were at the top of Kent Ridge Hill was breathtaking, witnessing the rising of the morning sun, the busy PSA port and far view of Sentosa. The view spans across the ridges and the waters. In my badge design, I have used the iconic landmarks along The Southern Ridges. These landmarks include Henderson Waves, Reflections by the Bay, Tanjong Belayer Point, Labrador Battery and Singapore Cable Car. The Henderson Waves relate to scouting pioneering projects. As scouts, we design grand bridges and tall towers, the Henderson Waves is the tallest folded three-dimensional bridge that blends seamlessly into nature. Conceptually, both follow the same principles that allow the bridge to stand tall and be stable across the span. The Tanjong Belayer Point is a point of a compass for orienteering. From the historical perspective, Tanjong Belayer Point means "Land’s End" in Malay and indicated where the southernmost tip of the Asian Continent was. It was used as a navigational beacon for boats approaching Keppel Harbor in the mid-20th century. Ships entering the harbor used the bright red Berlayer Beacon as a visual marker to navigate themselves towards the harbor. It is like our map and compasses. It is an instrument that points us in a direction and lets us identify our location. The Reflections by the Bay is a gateway and was built as a large-scale replica of the Dragon Tooth Gate that was blown up by the British to widen the Keppel Straits. The Dragon Tooth Gate was marked by famous historical maritime annals and was believed to be the navigational marker for the great Chinese explorer Admiral Zheng He. It was a gateway to welcome traders from far and wide to enter Singapore. A gateway to a Singapore Camp. To sum up, many tunnels and bunkers during World War 2 were our last line of defense then. Now along the Southern Ridges are NUS, NUH and Research Science Parks. To signify the importance of the Southern Singapore with its deep waters and ridges terrain in the development of Singapore economy in the past and present, elements of historical stories of maritime trade and turmoil of 2nd World War in contrast with the present tranquil waterfront living. These relics of the past are placed right next to Singapore's most iconic building “The Reflections by the Bay”. Reflections The waves at the forefront, the growing leaves and ongoing cable cars serve to remind us of the struggles Singapore had gone through. The fall of the colony, the rise of independence and the Singapore Spirit to strive together for a Stronger Singapore in line with our national day theme. I am also happy that I have managed to clinch the spot for having the best design for this Trek Badge Design Competition, putting the troop at the top. However, on top of just getting the first place, I am humbled that I have managed to do my part for the community. My design will be used for fundraising for charity purposes and would be a design for the area trek badge next year.” Congratulations to Joshua and Yu Hern for their achievements bringing glory to Catholic High Scout Group!

By Lucas Loh Left to right: Tan Jen Kai, Ryan Lim, Siauw Yu Chuan, Ian Chien, and Lucas Loh. The President's Scout Award represents the pinnacle of achievement for Venture Scouts and indicates their preparedness for a lifetime of service to God, nation and all mankind. It is the highest rank in the Singapore Scouts Association. This year, 5 Venture Scouts from Catholic High Scout Group achieved the pinnacle award, boasting one of the largest intakes of President’s Scouts and continuing the long history of President Scouts from the scout troop. They are: Ian Chien Jun Rong Loh Zheng Lucas Ryan Lim Yi Xuan Siauw Yu Chuan Tan Jen Kai Despite the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the PSA ceremony was held safely in the Istana on the 9th of December. Leaders, family members and friends joined the 5 Ventures online, via a live stream set up by SSA. They received their award from President Halimah Yacob and were able to share their experiences later on during the interaction session. These Venture Scouts will continue to set role models for their juniors and remain committed to the troop beyond this award. Moving ahead, they will be inducted into the troop's Rovers Unit in 2021 and continue bringing glory to the troop.

By Joash Cheng, Jann Lim and Lucas Loh The troop gathered on 17 January 2020 to celebrate our 72nd 团庆 our GSL's, Mr Chua's, 90th Birthday. As with every year, it was a day full of fun, celebration and fulfillment. All of us had been looking forward to this day and we were in high spirits, ready to do our best and celebrate through the rite of passage of Challenging ourselves, Celebrating the year past and Confidence in the year ahead. Challenging Ourselves As a testament to the strength of our Troop, we began the day with the annual challenge of raising the 五层旗杆. A 5-storey flagpole requiring 6 guy lines and 2 A-frames to raise, it is a challenge befitting of the Best troop in Singapore. As the cumulation of our training in the past year, the 五层旗杆 was a test of our awareness and determination to put the troop at the top. The scouts bravely overcame the task of raising the 五层旗杆. Everyone had a role to play, from the scouts who assisted with the A-frames to the Ventures on the guy lines, it was certainly a true display of our troop’s effort coming to fruition. Celebrating the year past Next, to celebrate our achievements for the year, we moved on to the Prize Presentation segment in the hall. After a long year of inter-patrol competitions, everyone was excited to find out who would be crowned champion. The best Secondary 1, 2 and 3 scouts of 2019 were Law Jia Jun, Seah Zhang Qi, and Lim Ni Ler respectively. As for the best patrol of 2019, it was Junior Patrol 2, winning both the Overall Best Patrol as well as this year’s top-earning patrol for Job Week 2019. Confidence in the year ahead After the prize presentation, we built strength for the troop and invested the Secondary 2 scouts as they finally received their troop scarves, symbolising the trop entrusting them to carry it forward into the new year. As each patrol stepped up to receive their troop scarves, the troop renewed our Scout Law and Promise. We then proceeded with the investiture of the new appointment holders and ventures. It was a very important day for the incoming batch of appointment holders as they would take on the mantle to lead the troop to greater heights, always seeking to put the troop at the top. After a quick lunch break, we proceeded with a short games session planned by the level 4 scouts. We played Mother Hen & Eagle as well as Keep The Ball Afloat together with our cub scout brothers from the Primary section. It was all smiles as the troop united as one. However, the highlight of the day was definitely the lion dance performance! Two lions roared as we ushered in yet another new year of excellence and achievements for Catholic High Scout Group. We ended the day with a cake-cutting session as well as the presentation of the Long-Service Awards (LSA) to our cub-scout and scout leaders from the Primary and Secondary section respectively. Our GSL Mr Andrew Chua presented the awards much to the applause and gratitude for our leaders from the scouts and ventures. The awardees for the LSA were Ms Lim Ong Hong (Cub Scout Unit, 5 years), Mr Cai Wenchuan (Scouts Unit, 5 years), Mrs Sonia Ang (Scouts Unit, 5 years), and Mr Steven Quay (Scouts Unit, 10 years) Last but not least, the troop gathered for a time of 降旗 where the new SPL of 2020, Zhang Qi, led the ceremony. We finished off strong with a troop cheer and welcomed the year of Scouting excellence ahead.

This is article is part of the Undisrupted series, a series of articles detailing our troop's response to the current COVID-19 situation, allowing training to continue even when physical CCA sessions have been postponed showing that our troop is truly prepared and unwavered even in the face of the pandemic. By Jann Lim and Koh Jia Ler The COVID-19 situation provided our scouts with new opportunities to come up and brainstorm ingenious ways to attain proficiency badges. In this edition of the Undisrupted series, the spotlight is on the Collector and Craftsman badges, two seemingly easy badges to attain by many but in order to stand out from the rest, the Catholic High Scout has to go above and beyond set expectations, to put the troop at the top. For the collector badge, Badge hopefuls during normal circumstances are just supposed to showcase their collection of items live, coming up with a short presentation and sharing with their patrol mates and examiner. Due to the COVID-19 situation, this form of assessment is not applicable anymore due to the temporary suspension of CCAs in line with the Governments Circuit Breaker measures. Unfazed, Ventures have shifted offline presentations online. Now, scouts are expected to come up with a short PowerPoint presentation and present their collection virtually, on a zoom call with the other badge applicants and the respective examiner. The COVID-19 situation also gave collectors a chance to explore new ways of completing their collection. Many of our scouts vying for the collector badge usually present rather mainstream collections of soccer trading cards, books etc. One avid collector of stamps, however, managed to continue his collecting online. He shared with the ventures that due to the current situation, many local stamp collectors have moved their discussions and trading online. This enabled him to continue to upkeep and maintain the progress of his collection. Apart from buying and trading online, he has also managed to print them out from online sources. Though they may not be the real deal, they can temporarily serve as a substitute for stamps. They are also free to print, and thus low-cost using the home printer and printer paper to print the stamps out. For those in the craftsman badge elective, the experience has inculcated in the scouts several life lessons such as resilience when met with difficulties and an innovative spirit to overcome any difficulty placed in their way. For example, some scouts did not have any fabric suitable for the mull of the book. To overcome this problem, they have used their creativity and made use of thin cardboard pieces as a substitute for the fabric. With this new skill as well as the values learnt, it is indeed an enriching experience for our scouts to go through during the COVID-19 outbreak. Scouting is indeed not just about picking up skills, rather it is the skills that provide the medium for which important values are instilled in the lives of scouts, grooming them to become men of principle and skills. In conclusion, this COVID-19 situation has brought a major change in the lifestyle and activities in Singapore. As Catholic High Scout Group, we have always embraced change and will always remain hopeful even in times of crisis. This virus is just a small hindrance in our current lives but it is only temporary, and will soon be eradicated. Scouting must still go on no matter the situation, as it provides a sense of solidarity and hope in our members, as well as being an avenue to release stress amidst the busy online school schedule. Catholic High Scout group will always be prepared.

This is article is part of the Undisrupted series, a series of articles detailing our troop's response to the current COVID-19 situation, allowing training to continue even when physical CCA sessions have been postponed showing that our troop is truly prepared and unwavered even in the face of the pandemic. By Wong Zheng Tat As a fitting closure to the month of May, Catholic High’s Scout Troop successfully completed the most ambitious scout’s training in the Undisrupted series – a mass online zoom call for the entire scout troop. Consisting of ventures and leaders, a grand total of 85 scouts attended the meeting, which was organised with the intent of providing a platform for inter patrol bonding. In the 150-minute meeting assembly, scouts were able to undergo a scavenger hunt as well as a survival-based expedition activity. The scavenger hunt saw scouts searching for items on a list around their houses under the direction of the patrol leader. The survival-based expedition is a post-plane-crash scenario where scouts have to evaluate the 5 most valuable items to carry along. It gives scouts the opportunity to share their views with the patrol and learn how to support their points. Scouts were also given a post- training activity to create a skit within their patrols. Patrols were given 2 weeks and free reign to express their creativity. To achieve such a feat, the scout facilitators made full use of zoom features such as breakout rooms for scouts to engage and discuss within patrols. With the guidance of the patrol leaders, the scouts displayed extraordinary teamwork and ingenuity, completing the task while learning more about each other. Online CCA training normally focuses on teaching skills. Catholic High Scout Troop recognises that this would bring about a distance within the patrol, and more importantly the troop due to the lack of collaborative training. The distance present will pose an issue to the development of leadership skills within the scouts, especially the patrol leaders. Thus, these activities not only develop the patrol leader’s leadership capabilities in managing the patrols but also gives them opportunities to earn the respect of their members. With 72 years of history, Catholic High Scout Troop has always placed an emphasis on crafting a premier training standard to produce the best of the best scouts. Even in unpredictable times like this, Catholic High Scout Troop continues to hold true to its mission and will continue to do so in the future.

This article is part of the Undisrupted series, a series of articles detailing our troop's response to the current COVID-19 situation, allowing training to continue even when physical CCA sessions have been postponed showing that our troop is truly prepared and unwavered even in the face of the pandemic. By Joash Cheng and Alex Chien Throughout the month of July, the Ventures have been hard at work crafting a series of tests that could accurately evaluate the proficiency of the Scouts’ skills amidst this period of online training. For this month, in particular, the areas of focus were Pioneering and First Aid, skills that our Troop excels and takes pride in. First Aid is an essential skill that every Scout should possess, to be proficient and ready to meet every need. Here in Catholic High Scout Group, the Scouts have undergone 3 months of rigorous first aid training and in order to reinforce and consolidate the learning that has occurred, the Ventures designed a First Aid Quiz. In the lead up to the quiz, the different patrols met up over online Zoom meetings to revisit First Aid concepts together, as well as resolving queries they had about First Aid through a Google Form feedback system curated by the Ventures. This truly is the manifestation of the attitudes and values inculcated here in Catholic High Scout Group, to do one’s very best, even for a seemingly mundane task such as First Aid Testwork, to put the troop at the top. Although the COVID situation has hindered physical activities, it did not stop the Scouts from honing their Pioneering Skills. Albeit a little harder to learn about Pioneering from home, the Scouts displayed a high degree of autonomy and discipline, learning about the rudiments of pioneering through slides. These slides were created by the Ventures, thoroughly tailored to suit the COVID situation. Given that there was no access to the QM, the Scouts were unable to build the pioneering structures. Knowing that this might hinder the learning of the Scouts, the Ventures came up with a Pioneering Quiz that enabled the Scouts to verify their knowledge and put their skills to the test through scenario-based questions and theory questions. With this in mind, the Scouts will be confident when building their pioneering structures, despite a long period of unforeseen interruption. All in all, as we enter into the fifth month of online training, Catholic High Scout Group strives to always maintain a high standard of discipline, standards, and moral values even in the midst of this unprecedented crisis. Many can be prepared to face a crisis, but here at Catholic High Scout Group, we go above and beyond just being prepared to act, but having the wisdom to strategise, benevolence to empathise and courage to persevere - 智仁勇.