Written by Jonas Lok and Ryan Ng, Edited by Jaydon Tay Backwoods cooking is a method of cooking without the use of kitchen utensils and it typically takes place over an open fire. Equipment used are typically made with materials found in nature, such as using bamboo to make wooden thongs, hence it can also be considered a form of survival cooking. During this year's North Area Backwoodsman competition, every team competed with each other to cook the given ingredients using various methods and present the food nicely, where the team with the tastiest and most aesthetically pleasing dishes winning. We are proud to announce that our Scouts have won First and Second places in the North Area Backwoodsman competition! Below are some reflections from the Scouts who took part in the competition: “Before the competition, my team and I had trained hard and were well prepared for the competition. During the competition, we were able to work well with each other and cook food such as chicken and fish over an open fire. It was an enriching experience competing against other Scout Troops and having to perform under pressure. I definitely would go again if I had the chance to!” - Jonas Lok, Secondary 3 Scout “Overall, I am very pleased at the progress and results of today’s competition. Our team has successfully cooked all the dishes well with high efficiency and productivity. Everyone knew their roles and adapted from the plan when necessary, allowing us to clinch good results for this competition.” - Ryan Ng, Secondary 3 Scout

Written by Bryan Quan, Edited by Jaydon Tay On 16 September 2023 at 7am, Scouts from across Singapore gathered at Mayflower Secondary School to attend the Chief Commissioner's Award(CCA) Ceremony. The highest award a Scout can achieve, the CCA is given in recognition of one's achievements and commitment to Scouting. This year, 11 of our Level 4 Scouts were proud recipients of this prestigious award. Bryan Quan, the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader of 2022, current Venture Chairperson and recipient of the CCA, reflects on his journey below. From left to right: Lim Jun Sian, Tan Jen Yih, Tan Hong Kiak Jovial, Xavier Tan Jun Eng, Soh Wee Hern Dylan, Quan Jun Hao Bryan, Lim Yi Da Alvis, Javier Lim Jie Wei, Dylan Lim Feng Zheng, Fabian Lim, Goh Ching Yang Josh The Path to Success Attaining the CCA was no easy feat. My batch and I started off our Scouting Journey in the midst of the pandemic, uncertain of the future. However, we adapted and overcame all the challenges we faced and grew stronger. As we progressed, we took on positions of leadership to continue pushing ourselves and the Troop to greater heights, guided by our core values - 智、仁、勇。 I am proud to say that I, and ten other batch mates, have all successfully attained the CCA. We are honoured to have grown and learnt from the Catholic High Scout Troop. I will forever be grateful to those who have guided me and supported me on this journey. The Road Ahead This award, while a recognition of our ability and drive as Scouts, does not signify the end of our Scouting Journey. Rather it is a prelude to the next chapter where we continue to strive for excellence and continuous improvement. With this, I would like to once again congratulate all 11 Scouts from Catholic High Scout Group for attaining this award.

Written by Josiah Chia, Edited by Bryan Quan On the 9 March 2024, the Troop gathered in the school hall to witness the investing of the new Secondary One Scouts into the Scout Troop. This Investiture ceremony signifies the first step in their Scouting journey, one that will have a positive lifelong impact on them. With the parents of the Secondary One Scouts present to show their support for their children, the Level One Scouts stood proudly in their uniform, at their finest. Accompanied by their Level Two and Three seniors in the 马蹄 formation, the Scouts excitedly awaited the commencement of the ceremony. When the ceremony started, the Level One Scouts were called upon from their individual Patrols. Led by their Patrol Leader, they stepped forward with pride and marched smartly to the front of the 马蹄. Our Group Scout Leader (GSL) Mr Andrew Chua and Scout Leader (SL) Mr Cai Wenchuan then layed the National Scarf on the Level One Scouts. This signified that the Level 1 Scouts now had the responsibility to uphold the Scout Promise and Law wherever they went, and that it was their duty exemplify it in their lives. Following that, our GSL Mr Chua officiated their induction. The Level 1 Scouts placed their left hand on the Troop flag, and raised their right hand to form a Scout salute. In unison with the rest of the Troop, they recited the Scout Promise, enforcing their everlasting commitment to do their best to fulfil their duties as a Scout to the Troop and to their Country. When the ceremony ended, the Level One Scouts were given the opportunity to celebrate this important milestone in their lives with their parents and Partrols. This Investiture marks the beginning of a transformative journey in their lives, where they will join a Patrol and journey with them for the coming years. We wish our newly inducted Level One Scouts all the best in their Scouting journey!

Written by Lim Zhu Zheng, Edited by Bryan Quan 9 March 2024 marked the start of the Troops' 3-Day-2-Night March Camp, where the Scouts were faced with obstacles and challenges which pushed them to new limits as individuals and as a Patrol. DAY 1 The camp started off with inspection, to ensure that the Scouts had all their equipment for camp as well as to set the proper tone for the rest of the camp. Next, the Scouts built their campsite which consisted of Basha tents, a clothesline, shoe rack, and QM rack. After lunch, the Scouts had Patrol-bonding activities to help build their Patrol spirit, especially as it was the first time the Secondary 1 Scouts were joining their Patrols. To end off the day, the Scouts had a leadership lesson conducted by the Scout Leaders and Rovers. DAY 2 To instil discipline and to enforce a standard of physical fitness fitting for Catholic High Scouts, the Scouts started their day with Physical Training (PT). Following this, the Scouts were split into their batches to train their core Scouting skills which included First Aid, Orienteering, and Lashings. The Scouts were then given time to prepare their Patrol skits for Campfire later at night, as well as to touch up their campsite. After this was the Inter-Patrol Stove Cooking Competition (IPSCC) where the Patrols had a cook off with the ingredients provided, with each Patrol needing to cook up 1 fish dish, 1 vegetable dish, and 1 egg dish each. These were then graded as part of the Best Patrol Challenge. As night fell, the Ventures organised a Campfire where the Scouts sang various campfire songs such as "Gako the Frog" and "Flea Fly Mosquito" and performed their respective Patrol skits. It was a time for everyone to relax and enjoy each other's company after an arduous camp. DAY 3 The Scouts began the day by tearing down their campsite. After that, they participated in a series of Situational Response Initiative Test (SRIT) stations which challenged the leadership, critical thinking, skills, and teamwork of each Patrol. To end off the camp, the Troop had a debrief and the Best Patrol for March Camp 2024 was also announced. Congratulations to Eagle Patrol! Below is a reflection from Eagle Patrol Leader, Lim Zhu Zheng: “I am proud of my patrol for winning best patrol in this year's march camp. It was not an easy task going into this camp with new Secondary 1 Scouts and also being a new Patrol Leader. However, we managed to pull through and clinched the win by a small margin. I hope to be able to maintain our lead for the rest of the year.”

After a successful year in 2023, the Ventures and Scout Leaders had a Lo Hei on 17 February to celebrate all our successes. 2023 has been a fruitful year for Catholic High Scout Group. We started the year with our 75th Anniversary celebrations by organising a High Tea for our alumni. We organised our first June Camp in Pulau Ubin since the pandemic. We also won 1st and 2nd place in the North Area Backwoodsman competition. As we approached the end of the year, we had our 75th Anniversary campfire where we celebrated 75 years of excellence. In 2023, an impressive number of Catholic High Scouts and Ventures attained the most prestigious award of their respective levels. Eleven of our Level 4 Scouts achieved the Chief Commissioner’s Award and seven of our JC 2 Ventures achieved the President’s Scout Award. As the Ventures and Leaders added each ingredient, they said the various auspicious wishes which accompanied them. As it is a belief that the height of the toss reflects the height of the diners' fortunes in the year ahead, everyone tossed as high as they could, wishing all the best to the Troop in 2024 and beyond.

Written by Chian Fon Jay and Yoee Tay, Edited by Jaydon Tay “The spirit is there in every boy; it has to be discovered and brought to light.” ~Robert Baden-Powell Founded by Lord Robert Baden-Powell in 1907, Scouting is a global youth Movement that builds friendships, experiences, and skills for life, shaping young people's futures as active citizens. Here in Catholic High Scouting Group (CHSG), Scouts get to develop their character and leadership skills through experiences outside the classroom. Today, 22 February 2024, Scouts across the world celebrate World Scout Day, taking it as an opportunity to reflect on their how far they have come on their Scouting journey, as well as considering their vision for Scouting in the future. Following our annual Investiture ceremony just earlier this month, our newly appointed Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Scout Leader reflect on their Scouting experience. Chian Fon Jay, Scout, 2024 Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) 'Scouting has been transformative for me as I have learned so much. Scouting is not just about learning how to tie knots and outdoor survival skills, it has also allowed me to develop important skills like leadership and adaptability. As SPL, I must lead the entire Troop and it is too many people for me to micromanage. I have learnt to take a step back to get a clearer picture of what is happening and, from there, delegate tasks and manpower to effectively complete our given objective, be it setting up basha tents or building structures. Looking back to where I was when I first joined Scouts, I can confidently say Scouting has shaped me into who I am today.' Yoee Tay, Venture, Assistant Scout Leader (ASL) 'In Secondary 1, when I first joined Scouts, the rigorous trainings showed me the importance of trustworthy and dependable friends to help and encourage me through tough times. When I became Assistant Patrol Leader in Secondary 2, I learned how crucial discipline was and how it only mattered if I also applied it to my life outside of Scouting, especially as a student. I was then given the role of Patrol Leader in Secondary 3. Confidence was key as other junior Scouts would look up to me and follow my leadership. Now as a Secondary 4 student, I have been recently promoted to the rank of Venture as an ASL and I look forward to further improving myself and helping to guide the Troop to greatness. As we celebrate World Scout Day, I am sure all Scouts throughout the world will think back to their humble beginnings when they initially joined Scouts and remember how far they have come as a Scout and as an individual or society.'

Written by Bryan Quan The Investiture ceremony is an annual tradition for Catholic High Scouts, where Scouts are recognised for their hard work and dedication over the past year. It is also when seniors pass down their responsibilities to their juniors, entrusting them with total confidence to continue leading the Troop towards greater success. On 3 February 2024, the Troop gathered for our annual investiture, with the last 升旗 led by the SPL of 2023, Josiah Chia. Shortly thereafter, we commenced with the Investiture ceremony. Celebrating 2023 With the beginning of a new year, we started off with our prize presentation, consisting of the awards Best Secondary One, Two, and Three, as well as Best Patrol. We have Elvis Too of Tiger Patrol, Chian Fon Jay of Shark Patrol, and Raphael Tham of Cobra Patrol for Best Secondary One, Two, and Three respectively. As for the Best Patrol of 2023, Shark Patrol managed to clinch the title! Not only are these awards a testament to the awardees' hard work and effort put in over the past year, it also serves to motivate every individual Scout in the Troop to strive for excellence, to put in 110% effort in every training to become the best that they can be. Investiture Ceremony Next, led by their APLs, the Secondary 2 Scouts marched up to the front of the 马蹄 to receive their Troop scarves from our Group Scout Leader (GSL) Mr Andrew Chua. Placing their left hand on the Troop’s flagpole and their right hand in a Scout salute, every Secondary 2 Scout recited the Scout Promise, reinforcing their loyalty to the Troop and to Scouting. With the donning of the Troop scarf, the Secondary 2 Scouts were officially invested as Catholic High Scouts, symbolising the trust that the Troop has in them to do us proud as Catholic High Scouts. For the new SPL, ASPL , and the rest of the Patrol Leaders’ Council (PLC), this investiture is a recognition of their hard work and effort over the last year. With their new appointments, the Troop has bestowed upon them the opportunity to bring us to greater heights. With the promotion of 7 new Ventures, the Venture unit now stands at a daunting 18 Ventures. Not only do the Ventures play critical roles in the smooth operation of Scouts trainings, but they also continue to learn and develop themselves through these opportunities as well as their own trainings, preparing them to achieve excellence in life. We ended the ceremony with our tradition of the Troop Cheer along with a Troop photo. We then gathered for the first 降旗 led by our new SPL of 2024, Chian Fon Jay. The Road Ahead A milestone for Catholic High Scouts, Investiture is when every member of the Troop reflects on the past year, to figure out how they can become an even better version of themselves in the year to come. With the arrival of a new year of Scouting comes new challenges, new obstacles, but more importantly new areas for Catholic High Scout Group to conquer and excel in.

Written by Josiah Chia, Edited by Jaydon Tay On 27 January 2024, the Troop gathered to celebrate 团庆. This year, we celebrated our 76th anniversary, marking the many achievements and glorious legacy left behind by 75 generations of Catholic High Scouts. Celebrating 2023 In 2023, our troop has done extremely well. We successfully held a majestic campfire and a grand reunion high tea to commemorate our 75th Anniversary. We also had the opportunity to resume the tradition of holding our annual June camp on Pulau Ubin, an experience we have not had for many years due to the pandemic. Eleven of our Scouts achieved the Chief Commissioner's Award and Seven of our Ventures the President's Scout Award, the pinnacle achievement in their Scouting and Venturing journeys respectively. In addition, our Rovers and Ventures unit summited Mount Ophir in March, our first summit in over 20 years. Troop Spirit To celebrate our 76th anniversary, we started the day by raising the 五层旗杆. Raising the 五层旗杆 requires strategic planning and good communication, which we were able to execute effectively. Following that, we were joined by the Cub Scouts for the celebration where we then cut the cake together as one brotherhood. We hosted games so that the Cub Scouts and Scouts could have fun and bond together. The games included Dog and Bone, as well as charades. To end the celebrations, we held 降旗. With the resounding shout of “公教” during BERSURAI, we concluded our scouting journey in 2023, and welcomed a new year of excellence in 2024.

Written By Daniel Ong, Edited by Chey Jedd and Joshua Low On 3 September 2022, 18 Scouts and 4 Ventures challenged their backwoodsman skills in the North Area Backwoodsman Competition. Preparations Despite the short runway of the competition and the lack of backwoodsman experience as we cautiously emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scouts trained quickly and effectively and strived to do their best. Furthermore, the recently completed and well-timed Stove Cooking Module served to give the Scouts the basic foundation of food preparation, bolstering their competency. The Scouts quickly began practising: training their turfing, fire lighting and food preparation skills. The Scouts also familiarised themselves with common vegetation used in backwoodsman cooking, such as coconuts, bamboo as well as banana, pandan and lotus leaves. Competition After this short week of preparation and training, the competition team finally entered Sarimbun Scout Camp, excited to participate in their first backwoodsman competition. However, upon reaching the site, the Scouts were surprised to see the competition ground - it was much dirtier, muddier and overgrown than the ground used in school. Nonetheless, the Scouts pressed on unfazed, determined to do their best in this competition. After a safety briefing as well as the distribution of ingredients, the competition began. Each team split themselves into 2 small groups, with one in charge of food preparation and another in charge of turfing and fire lighting. The latter had to work quickly due to the time limit of the competition while the former also needed to act swiftly before all the firewood burns out. The Scouts worked hard, adapting to the new environment and psychological pressure and remained tenacious. During judging, each team presented their delicious creations to the judges, receiving good remarks on their dishes. Catholic High Team 1 obtained 3rd place, Catholic High Team 3 obtained 2nd place and Catholic High Venture Team clinched 1st. Good job to the teams for your hard work and success! Above: Photos taken by Venture Scout Chey Jedd Below is the list of teams from our Troop that participated: Scout Team 1 Xavier Tan (Sec 3) (PL) Bryan Quan (Sec 3) Josiah (Sec 2) Kiefer (Sec 2) Kieran Tan (Sec 2) Scout Team 2 Javier Lim (Sec 3) (PL) Tan Jen Yih (Sec 3) Yoee Tay (Sec 2) Jonas Lok (Sec 2) Kaji Takehiro (Sec 1) Scout Team 3 Josh Goh (Sec 3) (PL) Dylan Soh (Sec 3) Isaac Wong (Sec 2) Ryan Ng (Sec 2) Fabian Ng (Sec 1) Venture Team Seah Zhang Qi (J1) Daniel Ong (J1) Siauw Yu Hern (J1) Joshua Low (J1) A True Scout However, the greatest value gained from this competition was not the trophies, but the demonstrations of the values and morals of a true Scout. During the competition, some of the rival school’s teams ran out of firewood and other cooking materials. Without hesitation, we willingly gave away our excess materials. Furthermore, the Venture team, who finished early, allowed our competitors to use our fire pit due to fire problems in their own pit. We even guided them and taught them how to use the fire pit effectively. This act of self-sacrifice and care for our competition emphasises the scouting values of compassion and harmonious relations with others. Lord Baden-Powell once said that “No one can pass through life, any more than he can pass through a bit of country, without leaving tracks behind, and those tracks may often be helpful to those coming after him in finding their way”. As the leading Troop in Singapore, we must display the highest level of character and values - graciously supporting our competitors rather than kicking them while they are down. We hope that these Scouts will remember the actions and events and continue this cycle of leadership and scouting to the next generation of Scouts. Below is a reflection by Venture Secretary Daniel Ong of the Venture Team: 'This competition was an eye-opening one as it tested our backwoodsman skills in a completely foreign environment with added competitive pressure. Being in charge of food preparation, my adaptability skills were tested as the produce given by the competition organisers was different than expected. Thus, I had to think on my feet and come up with new cooking methods and even new recipes to accommodate this change in plans. Nonetheless, this competition allowed me to improve my backwoodsman skills and interact with different schools to learn about their training procedures. All in all, this was an enriching experience that I truly enjoyed and am proud to have displayed true scouting values of chivalry to my competitors.'

Written by Zhang Qi, Edited by Dylan Lim The President’s Scout Award is the pinnacle achievement for Ventures in Singapore, a distinction earned by only a chosen few each year. It recognises not just a high level of proficiency in scouting skills but also serves as a resounding testament to the unwavering moral values of its recipient. The journey to this award is marked by rigorous challenges and assessments, putting the individual's abilities and character to the test at every turn. From the PEA hike, which was one of the toughest mental challenges throughout the PSA journey, to the Venture Challenge Course, which put both our scouting and leadership skills to the test, to the fulfilling Venture Scouts Service Project, which tested our planning skills and gave us an opportunity to give back to the community around us, all these experiences culminated in the singular experience of stepping onto the stage at the Istana and receiving the award from His Excellency, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam. I am both extremely proud and honoured to announce that 7 of our JC2 Ventures have achieved this award through their unwavering commitment to pushing for continuous improvement in their scouting journey. As a recipient of the PSA award myself, I speak on the behalf of all the recipients when I say that although the journey to reaching this point was certainly challenging, it was also profoundly enriching, eye-opening and above all, rewarding. It is the amalgamation of all the hours, blood, sweat and tears we had put into scouting. In the end, we emerge not just as award recipients, but as better, stronger versions of ourselves—transformed by the journey we undertook together.

Written by Josiah Chia and Law Jia Jun, Edited by Jaydon Tay On 8 August 2023, Catholic High School celebrated Singapore's 58th Birthday on National Day. The Troop is proud of our Scouts for being an essential part of our school's National Day Observance Parade's marching contingent. Our Scouts trained rigorously for over a month, enduring the hot sun and learning challenging drills. They gave their best in each training session, pushing themselves to their limits to get every step, arm swing, and turn right. The training was tough, but it would ensure that our marching displayed our deep respect for our Nation. Below is a reflection from Josiah Chia, our 2023 Senior Patrol Leader and Contingent Commander for this year's parade: "Last year, I had the privilege of participating in our school's National Day Observance Parade. It was a special moment as we emerged from the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic. I felt honoured this year when I was chosen to lead the parade as the commander. However, I knew it would not be easy as I had to make sure the parade was as flawless as possible. The preparations before the parade were tiring, but they were also rewarding. Teaching my fellow juniors how to improve their marching not only helped me become a better teacher, but also made me work on my own skills. Leading by example was important. I hope that the lessons learnt during our preparations will stay with our Troop even after the parade is over. Happy Birthday, Singapore!"

Written by Kiefer Yew, Edited by Jaydon Tay From 27 to 29 May 2023, the Troop held our annual June Training Camp at Pulau Ubin's Jelutong Campsite. The first physical camp held outside of school in 3 years, it was another new experience for the Scouts, especially in the rural environment of Pulau Ubin. A stark contrast to the urbanised surroundings of the mainland, the Scouts were able to truly engage with nature. They became more aware of their surroundings and its potential hazards and learned to be disciplined as a collective group to ensure the safety of the Scout Troop at Ubin. Skills such as bushcraft and navigation were taught to let the Scouts get used to the rugged environment. The unfamiliar environment also made them rely on each other more, fostering teamwork and strengthening their bonds. The Scouts were pushed to their physical and mental limits to not only adapt to living in the rural environment, but also thrive and win the title of Best Patrol. After intense competition, the results were tallied below: *Based on overall evaluation Best Secondary 1: Alden Lee (Rhino) Best Secondary 2: Kaiden Chan (Cobra) Best Secondary 3: Josiah Chia (SPL) *Based on performance in specific areas Outstanding Secondary 1: Elvis Too (Tiger) Outstanding Secondary 2: Zhu Zheng (Eagle) Outstanding Secondary 3: Kieran Tan (Eagle) & Raphael Tham (Cobra) Best Patrol of June Camp 2023: Shark Patrol Congratulations to all awardees of June Camp 2023! We also interviewed Kiefer Yew, the 2023 Patrol Leader for Shark Patrol, to share his thoughts on June Camp below: 1. Why do you think your Patrol performed well for this camp? "I think my Patrol performed well for this camp as we were well prepared and also established great teamwork during the camp. My Patrol members were familiar with what their roles were during each activity, which allowed us to work together efficiently." 2. What made this camp at Ubin a unique experience for you? "This camp allowed me to have a greater understanding of nature and its biodiversity. During the activities, I was able to explore Ubin and observe the wildlife. This was a great experience as it allowed me to have a chance to connect with nature more." 3. What was a key takeaway from this camp? "Resilience was key for me as when we encountered challenges like weather conditions, I kept going and pushed my Patrol on. Flexibility was a key takeaway as well, as when met with difficulties, my Patrol was able to think outside the box, adapting to and overcoming the obstacles in our way."