Written by Jaydon Tay On 18 February 2023, the Troop gathered for our annual Investiture, excited and hopeful for opportunities to challenge and prove themselves as Scouts. 升旗 was led by the SPL of 2022, Joshua Lee, the final one before the Secondary 4s would step down from their leading roles within the Troop or be promoted into Venture Scouts. Shortly thereafter, the Investiture ceremony began. The Investiture ceremony is an important occasion to recognise and reward the strong efforts and commitments made by Scouts in the past year towards the Troop as well as scouting. It also heralds the beginning of a new chapter as the seniors pass their responsibilities on to the juniors of the Troop, entrusting them with its well-being and future. Celebrating 2022 Closing out the previous year, we first held the prize presentation. Congratulations to Cayden Ng of Tiger Patrol, Josiah Chia of Tiger Patrol, and Bryan Quan of Cobra Patrol for winning the awards for Best Secondary One, Two, and Three Scout respectively. As for the Best Patrol of 2022, it is Rhino Patrol! An acknowledgement of the awardees’ outstanding performance throughout the year, the awards also serve to motivate the Scouts to improve themselves and their Patrol to become the best version of themselves. Investiture Ceremony Next, led by their PLs, the Secondary 2 Scouts marched up to receive their Troop scarves, given by our Group Scout Leader (GSL) Mr Andrew Chua. They placed one hand on the Troop’s flagpole while raising their other hand in a Scout salute to recite the Scout Promise. As a show of unity and brotherhood, the rest of the Troop followed suit and raised their hands in salute, reciting the Scout Promise not only in English, but also in Chinese. By putting on the Troop scarf, the newly invested Scouts were recognised as Catholic High Scouts. It symbolised the trust put in them to put the Troop before themselves as well as the expectation of achieving the high standards of a Catholic High Scout. For the new Patrol Leaders’ Council (PLC), this investiture embodied the faith placed in them that they will lead the Troop to success for the coming year. Their promotion, not only an honour and a responsibility, also recognise their potential to achieve excellence for themselves and in turn, the Troop. The promotion of 9 new Venture Scouts now brings the total strength of the Venture unit to a formidable 24. Working behind the scenes to help plan and execute activities for the Scouts, the Ventures not only ensure a steady progression for the Scouts, but will also continue to develop themselves as they gain new experiences in helping to run the Troop and through their own training. After the ceremony, the Patrols took photos to commemorate this wonderful occasion and the continuation of their scouting journey as a Patrol. To end off the day, the new SPL of 2023, Josiah Chia, led 降旗 for the Troop, his first of many in the coming year. The Road Ahead The Investiture ceremony is an important event that holds a special meaning for everyone in the Troop. A time to let everyone reflect on the past year, Investiture is when we will assess ourselves and our scouting journey, finding out where we should improve to push our limits in the coming year further. Looking forward, the arrival of the new year comes with new challenges and obstacles, ones that will be met head-on to ensure that the Troop comes out on top.

Written by Josiah Chia and Alvis Lim, Edited by Chey Jedd “A week of camp life is worth six months of theoretical teaching in the meeting room.” ~Robert Baden-Powell The Scouting Movement has been touching hearts and educating youths since its creation by our founder Lord Robert Baden-Powell in 1907. Through the rigorous yet rich scouting activities, Scouts got the opportunity to develop their character and learn skills beyond the classroom. Today on 22 February 2023, Scouts across the globe are celebrating World Scout Day, taking this as an opportunity to reflect on their passion for scouting, reflect on what scouting has done for them, and reflect on their vision for scouting in the future. As we recently held our annual Investiture ceremony, promoting promising candidates and strengthening our Troop, we hope to take this World Scout Day as an opportunity for our Scouts to reflect on their journey so far and think about 'How scouting has changed their lives for the better'. To share with us today would be our newly appointed Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Scout Leader. Josiah Chia, Scout, 2023 Senior Patrol Leader 'Scouting has changed my life by giving me the opportunity to develop important life skills, such as adaptability and leadership. Without Scouts, I would not have had the opportunity to experience many different activities that have shaped me into the person I am today. During the Scout Leadership Camp (SLC) last year, when my Patrol was constructing a clothesline, we realise that it was not stable. Despite almost running out of time, we did not panic. I quickly identified the root of the problem and lead my Patrol to make the necessary adjustments that were not part of the original design so that its functionality is still kept without having to redo the entire gadget. If we were not able to stay calm and adapt to the situation or if my ability to lead my Patrol was not effective, I doubt that we would have been able to finish the clothesline with such little time left. It is through experiences like the one illustrated above that I am able to learn many skills that are very applicable both in my scouting life and everyday life. For example, being able to think calmly and quickly adapt to any situation has been beneficial to me when dealing with unintended circumstances. During the recent PTM, we had to usher the parents to the seats in the hall. However, on the day itself, we discovered that we had underestimated the number of parents who came and the space we previously allocated for seating was not large enough. Despite the rushed situation, I stayed calm and quickly came up with a solution. I then directed some ushers to grab more chairs and rearrange the seating arrangement to create more space. At the same time, the remaining ushers were tasked to escort the parents to their seats to ensure that we do not accidentally bump into them when moving the chairs. In conclusion, scouting has given me priceless opportunities where I could develop myself to become a better me. As the newly appointed SPL, I aim to both improve myself and the Troop by ensuring the smooth running of our training so that we are able to learn and practise our skills effectively, which will eventually lead ourselves and the Troop to greater heights.' Alvis Lim, Venture, Assistant Scout Leader 'Be prepared, the motto of scouting is a mantra that I apply consistently in my daily life. I personally feel that being prepared is achieving a state of mental readiness, allowing one to remain steadfast in the face of difficulties. During our daily lives when we encounter difficulties, we would be left with 2 choices; to give up or to face the problem. I would always choose the latter, knowing that despite not being able to achieve success in one attempt, it would still allow me to get somewhere, eventually reaching my goal if I keep trying. As a student, the fear of facing failures is extremely common amongst the majority, yet by being prepared to face it and not letting it affect me negatively, it allows me to learn from it and work harder instead of dwelling on it and letting it affect my mental health and motivation. This mindset is built through the rigorous training of scouting, such as Venture Obstacle Journeys (VOJs) and Situational Response Initiative Tests (SRIT), where one would be forced to overcome unique scenarios while working under immense pressure. This allows Scouts to learn skills such as swift and decisive decision-making while challenging and fortifying one's mind so as to never give up in times of crisis. The scouting values that are inculcated in me since the start of my scouting journey have allowed me to emerge stronger after conquering the difficulties encountered, enabling me to be prepared to face the incoming obstacles thrown at me in life.'

Written by Bryan Quan, Tan Jen Yih and Josiah Chia, Edited by Jaydon Tay As the saying goes, “New Year, New Me”. But for Catholic High Scout Group, it would be “New Year, New Scouts”. With the arrival of the new school year, a fresh wave of Secondary One students entered the school, some of whom will eventually lead the Troop in the coming future. To showcase to the Secondary Ones what scouting could offer them, we prepared and came up with a diverse range of stations. This ranges from campcraft, to first aid, and even bushcraft. Moreover, we also elaborated on the soft skills they can develop under the Troop like leadership and adaptability. The size constraint of the location and general safety concerns prevented us from fully showcasing certain activities like pioneering. However, we still did our utmost to retell our own experiences and learnings from past activities to give them a better understanding of what they can achieve under the Troop, using photos and props to supplement what cannot be physically shown. Of course, scouting is beyond just learning about how to tie a knot or build a tower. There is much to learn from our Troop Values as well as the Scout Law and Promise. This is very difficult to express through talk, but we hope that we were able to explain clearly and effectively to the Secondary Ones how scouting could develop them holistically through our sharings as well as the expectations and responsibilities of a Scout. Below are some reflections from Scouts who had helped out during the showcase: Jen Yih, Rhino PL: 'Before the CCA showcase, we had to prepare some items to showcase to the L1s such as our mini pioneering structures and bushcraft equipment. We even built a bench and table. We enthusiastically shared our Troop’s unique history and training modules with the L1s who were naturally curious about what we did in Scouts. We patiently explained to them using our own past experiences, with the support of some Ventures who came down. I am proud of everyone as even though we had to rush down from class with some having to be excused as early as 12 to ensure we could give the L1s a most memorable experience, nobody lamented or showed fatigue. Instead, everyone gave their very best to actively showcase our CCA to the L1s to spark interest in them. All of us shared a common goal which was to excite and leave a strong impression on the L1s and we worked towards it in unity.' Josiah Chia, Tiger APL: 'I found that this CCA showcase was a meaningful opportunity for us to share our scouting experiences with the Sec 1s. I was in charge of the campcraft and pioneering station, and had the opportunity to showcase the mini pioneering structures, as well as a clothesline and shoe rack. While sharing about our previous pioneering projects, such as our 七层旗杆(18m tall) from last year, the L1s were very amazed that we could build such large structures. When I told them about my personal experiences using the gadgets in camp, they were amazed that the gadgets were able to stand up to the weather and wanted to learn more. This made me realise how incredible my time learning under the Troop has been. I was pleased to see that in the end, many of the L1s wanted to sign up for Scouts, and am glad that I was able to spark a small fire within them through stories of my scouting journey, one which some of them will experience in the years to come.'

Written by Siauw Yu Chuan On 10 and 17 December 2022, our Rovers held our very first pioneering course, inviting Rovers and Ventures from all across Singapore to participate. What is pioneering? The origins of pioneering date back to WWI when military engineers (pioneers) went ahead of armies to overcome obstacles and fortify deployment sites. This involves the construction of towers and bridges, shaping the battlefield in war. It embodies the fortitude to pave the way to advance and overcome any obstacle in the path of Troops. Similarly, pioneering today embodies this spirit of fortitude. To be brave enough to scale the heights and courageous enough to go the distance. We build the tallest towers and longest bridges to challenge our limits and capabilities. As part of the pioneering course for 2022, we aimed to build the foundations to challenge the height and distance. It requires heightened awareness of the ground, strong technical skills and well-maintained equipment to successfully build any structures. MASTERY OF FUNDAMENTALS During this course, we heavily emphasised on fundamentals, spending half a day on lashings. Ropes and spars are the bread and butter of any structure. Scouts need to master their basic lashes in order to assure the safety and integrity of their pioneering projects. What is mastery of a lash? It means being able to tie the lash under the most unforgiving circumstances through of muscle memory. Lashing should be trained till it becomes second nature. Being able to tie a square lash blindfolded under a minute is the ultimate test of one's mastery of their lashings. OVERCOMING FEAR The second obstacle our participants faced was overcoming fear. It was the first time they will ever raise a 1-1-1 Flagstaff that is 3-storeys tall. How do we overcome fear? With good technical skills and a good selection of equipment. Good selection of spars and rope will ensure the stability of the flagstaff. Technical skills of raising the flagstaff train effective communication between members. It is important to ensure that Scouts control the flagpole and not let the flagpole control them. This builds an awareness that they are in control of their situation. LEARNING BY DOING The last obstacle for our participants was the construction of a tower and bridge. This involved many technical skills such as rigging up a block and tackle as well as achieving symmetry of a tower. There is a purpose in building different structures as there is always something new to learn. The more exposure one gets in construction, the more experience and awareness one would obtain which will aid in the design of new pioneering projects. This course is a basic course. There are much more skills and grandeur in pioneering. Achieving excellence in pioneering all fall back to the 3 aspects covered in this course; 1. Mastery of fundamentals. 2. Courage to overcome fear. 3. The spirit of learning by doing. We hope that all our participants enjoyed the course, established new and everlasting friendships, and were able to bring back meaningful insights which they can pass on to their own units and fellow Scouts. Do keep a look out for more upcoming courses in the future!

Written by Avern Tan, Edited by Chey Jedd On 7 December 2022, two of our Venture Scouts have been conferred the President’s Scout Award at the Istana. Our two awardees are Avern Tan and Foo Ming Han. The President’s Scout Award is the pinnacle award that Venture Scouts can attain, and is awarded to Venture Scouts who have displayed a strong commitment to the Scout movement and the community, exceptional leadership and proficient skills. Below is a short reflection by one of our recipients Avern Tan: 'The President's Scout Award is not just a simple award. To me, it is the closing of a 10-year journey as a follower and the start of a new one as a leader. The award is also about perseverance and the people I met along the way. I have experienced failure but did not give up because my fellow Scouts and leaders showed me their unending support and encouragement. Scouting has made me into the person I am today and I am glad to have been able to contribute to the movement's growth. The award is a reaffirmation of the scouting Promise and Laws that we, whether as a Scout or as a person, should always persevere in the face of adversity and do our daily turn of good to leave our community a little brighter. I want to thank my Scout Leaders for all that they have done for me and their unmatched dedication, as well as my fellow Scouts for their constant support and love for me in everything that I do.' Congratulations to our recipients and those from all across Singapore for their outstanding achievement! May they continue to find success and continue to spread their knowledge as role models to their juniors as they follow the Scouts' Method.

Written by Bryan Quan, Edited by Kaden Teo and Chey Jedd From 18 to 20 November 2022, Catholic High Scout Group conducted our Scout Leadership Camp. This was the first in-person overnight camp that the Troop has had since the pandemic started, and we were determined to do the best we could. For the Level 1 and 2 Scouts, the camp aimed to test their scouting skills and inculcate leadership skills, while also preparing them for future leadership appointments. For the Level 3 Scouts, the camp was an evaluative camp, to seek out potential candidates for ventureship to lead the Troop to greater heights. Scout Leadership Camp The camp itself was packed, always keeping us busy and on our toes. Day 1 started with an inspection to ensure all Patrols had prepared their equipment. Then we proceeded with camp development before plotting our routes in preparation for our hike on Day 2. After lunch, it was Wide Games where we explored the Bishan community while accomplishing a variety of tasks. Then, after dinner, we listened to a ventureship talk by the Rovers and played Night Games like Murder Mystery and 追踪. On Day 2, we embarked on our hike at 9.20 a.m., following the routes that we had plotted beforehand. The distance differ based on Patrols; around 25km for Level 1s and 2s, and at least 35km for Level 3s. After returning to school and consuming dinner, we had our campfire. During which, each Patrol performed their own Patrol skits based on the theme “looking wide, 深谋远虑”. Everyone had fun, especially the juniors who finally got to experience a real Scout campfire. On Day 3, we were suddenly woken up at 5.30 a.m. for an evacuation drill. This meant clearing out the campsite in preparation to move out within a very short duration. The purpose of this exercise was to evaluate how we would react in unexpected high-pressure situations, and the Troop did not disappoint. Despite waking up to tear down the whole campsite, facing the ground, and running around the track in the dark with our rucksacks on, we refused to let fatigue take over, and more importantly, refused to give up. Following our final inspection to ensure all logistics have been cleaned and accounted for, we went through a series of SRIT stations, each testing our leadership, reactions and a range of scouting skills. To end off the camp, we had a Troop debrief, learning what we did right, what we did poorly, and what we must continue to work towards to ensure that we are ready for the upcoming year. The Best Patrol of SLC 2022 was also announced and I would like to congratulate Patrol 2 for achieving this remarkable title! Below is the list of Scouts in Patrol 2 during the camp: Patrol 2: Raphael Tham, Cobra Sec 2 Jonas Lok, Cobra Sec 2 Caleb Ng, Cobra Sec 2 Caleb Tan, Rhino Sec 2 Zachary Lau, Rhino Sec 2 Beldan Sng, Cobra Sec 1 Kaiden Chan, Cobra Sec 1 Kang Yi Hun, Rhino Sec 1 Li Jia Yang, Rhino Sec 1 In no time at all, 3 days had passed, not only testing us on scouting skills, but at the same time allowing us to improve our leadership and decision-making skills while fostering stronger inter-Troop bonds. Although the camp was not easy, it was definitely a rewarding one for all of us, one where we can all say that we walked away as better people than before. Below are some of the reflections written by the Scouts who had participated in the camp. Kang Yi Hun, Rhino Patrol, Sec 1 'SLC camp was a tiring yet meaningful experience. It has trained me to be more resilient both physically and mentally in order to face challenges. The games organised taught me the importance of teamwork in a Patrol. Although I made mistakes throughout the camp, I learnt from my mistakes and moved on. During gadget building, I learnt that holding the bamboo still while my Patrol members are tying it might sound like something trivial but it actually has more significance, ensuring that the bamboo is tied at the correct position and that the structure is stable, allowing us to hang our clothes dry for a more comfortable camping life. The hike has also taught me the importance of high-quality work in our map sketches and route maps, such as the accuracy of the size of buildings drawn in a map sketch. When dismantling the gadgets, we kept exceeding the time limit as we worked too slowly, resulting in us getting scolded. This lesson has taught me to have a sense of urgency and prioritise my actions appropriately to the situation. I also learnt that inspections must be standardised and neat in order to easily identify missing equipment. Overall, the camp has strengthened me physically and mentally. It has also taught me important values and lessons such as teamwork and having a sense of urgency. I felt that the whole experience was tiring but purposeful.' Josiah Chia, Tiger Assistant Patrol Leader, Sec 2 'I found this year’s SLC a great lesson on leadership. It allowed me to learn 2 key lessons: the importance of clear communication and the importance of stepping back. On the first day of SLC, when I was the standing SPL, I was unable to communicate instructions clearly during the inspection, as my instructions were vague. For example, I would tell the Troop to move something to the left, but they would not know which left they had to move the item to. As a result, a Scout Leader advised me to use landmarks to make my instructions more clear. So, I started telling the Troop to move something towards the fitness corner instead of just saying "left." During camp development, I also learnt the importance of stepping back to see the big picture. When we were building pounders, I thought that all the pounders were aligned. However, a Rover got me to step back (both literally and figuratively) and brought me to the staircase beside the den. From there, I could see that the pounders were not aligned perfectly, which allowed me to make amendments. Overall, I found this SLC experience an extremely enriching lesson on leadership, as it helped me greatly in becoming a better leader.' Bryan Quan, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Sec 3 'This SLC is one where for some of us Level 3s, we will call our first and last overnight Scout camp. Although some of us will take up ventureship in 2023, some of us will also decide to step down from Scouts, hence this would be our last camp as a batch. Throughout the camp, although we were constantly being pushed to the limit, we displayed excellent brotherhood, camaraderie and teamwork as a batch, something that I am truly proud of. Despite being split into 3 Patrols, we were always looking out for one another which can be seen through us working together as a single unit instead of 3 separate Patrols in our camp development and more to make sure that no Patrol was left behind. I am also proud that before we stepped down, we were able to show the Troop the true meaning of brotherhood and camaraderie, something that we managed to develop through our 3 years together. From pushing through during punishments when all of us were ready to give up, and always giving a resounding “No Sir!” to our seniors asking if we were tired, or wanted to drop out; to proudly shouting our Troop cheer at the top of our lungs, these are the special moments that might seem insignificant to others, but will be etched in our minds for years to come. This brotherhood is also the reason that we were able to pull through the camp, as I am sure that none of us would have been able to complete a 35km hike without encouragement from one another. All things considered, I am extremely proud of my batch’s performance throughout this SLC, and I would not have wanted to experience this with anyone else.'

Written by Kaleb Phoon, Edited by Chey Jedd On 12 November 2022 at 8 a.m., 180 scouts across Singapore attended the Chief Commissioner’s Award Ceremony at Yuan Ching Secondary School. The Chief Commissioner’s Award is conferred to Singapore Scout Association’s most outstanding and distinctive Scouts in recognition of their exemplary performance, dedication, as well as their service to scouting. It is the pinnacle of achievement and 12 of our Level 4 Scouts were proudly presented with the Chief Commissioner’s Award. Below are the words of the 2021 Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, current Venture Chairperson and recipient of the Chief Commissioner's Award Kaleb Phoon. Our Journey As the batch that has gone through and is still currently going through the COVID-19 pandemic, many may think that our experiences are dulled down, with us missing out on countless physical camps and training. However, I beg to differ. In fact, our experiences are unique as compared to other batches. In true Catholic High Scouting spirit, we continued on with our training, just that it was online, refusing to allow the pandemic to dampen our spirits and dictate what we can learn and do as a Troop, hence allowing us to continue moving forward in our pursuit of improvement. We even held an online version of our annual June Camp in the form of a “June Challenge” which lasted throughout the month of June. These unique experiences played a crucial role in shaping our years of scouting, leaving us with memories etched in our minds, despite the situations we faced. Despite the different experiences we faced as a batch, one thing remains constant: Our Scouting Spirit. This Scouting Spirit, along with our Troop values, are ingrained in each one of us and will serve to push us forward in our different aspects of life. With our spirits high and wanting to bring honour to the Troop that gave us plenty, we applied for the Chief Commissioner's Award. And I am proud to say that Law Jia Jun, Kaleb Joshua Phoon, Lucas Kong Yue Yang, Wyatt Ooi Exuan, Tay Wei Jie Jaydon, Chen Bo Jin, Kaden Teo Kai Jun, Javier Loo Qi Wen, Sim Hon Jui, Gan Chee Kae, Isaac Lam Wee An, and Fang Xuhui, have all successfully attained the Chief Commissioner's Award. I will forever express my gratitude towards my family, peers and mentors who guided and supported us on our journeys. Photo by Dylan Gregory Tan De Attaining the Award To me, attaining the award is merely the fruit of our labour for these past 4 years, simply reinforcing all the effort we had put into scouting. Instead, the more important aspects would be the process in which we had worked hard for not only this award, but also through the different scouting activities. That in itself would be my word of advice to all future awardees. An award may look good on your shelf, in your portfolio, etc., but never let the award consume you, instead focus on the things that really count; the joy when you learn a new skill, the bonds you build alongside your fellow brother-in-arms, the hearts that you have touched through your service, etc. The journey that you have gone through which led to you attaining the award, that is what truly matters. With that, I congratulate all 12 awardees from Catholic High Scout Group and also the awardees from all Scout Troops, for putting in the work and working hard to attain this award. Note: Some awardees were unavailable during photoshoot

Written by Bryan Quan, Edited by Chey Jedd On 27 August 2022, our Cub Scouts, Scouts and Ventures participated in the South Area Orienteering Competition at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. This was the first Area Competition since the pandemic struck and they were determined to come in with a bang. With 400 youths taking part from across the Cub Scout, Scout, and Venture Scout Units, it was certainly not easy, but our teams did not disappoint. Achievements Our Cub Scouts came in with one gold, two silvers, and three bronzes; CHS Cub Scout Team 6 (Gold) came in first for Cub Scouts! Our Scouts also did not disappoint, with four golds and one silver; Scout Team 4 (Gold) came in 3rd for Scout. Our Ventures came in with one silver and two bronzes; CHS Venture Team 1 (Silver) and Team 3 (Bronze) clinched 2nd and 3rd place for the Ventures respectively. Congratulations to all our members, they had brought glory to our Troop! We would also like to thank the organisers for hosting this exciting event. Below is the list of our teams with their respective award: Cub Scouts Team 6- Gold Team 1- Silver Team 5- Silver Team 4- Bronze Team 2- Bronze Team 3- Bronze Scouts Team 1- Gold Team 2- Gold Team 4- Gold Team 5- Gold Team 3- Silver Ventures Team 1- Silver Team 2- Bronze Team 3- Bronze Be Prepared Of course, this did not happen because of luck. Preparations started weeks earlier, beginning with Scouts familiarising themselves with the main roads that could bring them around the park in the shortest time possible, to recces done by our Scouts and even our own orienteering training at the Botanic Gardens the week before to allow them to familiarise themselves with the competition site. They were also fortunate enough to have our Rovers' expertise come in, helping them improve their orienteering skills as well as organising the orienteering training. However, this did not guarantee a straightforward win. Of course, our teams faced their own set of problems. As said in this short reflection by our ASPL Bryan Quan: 'My team had unknowingly gone to the wrong area in the park in search of checkpoints, and we only realized it after 15 minutes. This pretty much took our win away, but the only people we could blame were ourselves. We had been overconfident and did not bother to check the map. However, we did not let this mistake hinder us, pushing on and still managing to clinch the gold award. There was a lesson for us to learn: no matter how confident or prepared we are, it doesn't hurt to be cautious and double-check. I would certainly take this lesson to heart and use it in the future to prevent such avoidable mistakes from occurring again' This competition was an interesting one for our Troop as it was the first actual scouting competition we took part in since the pandemic. Some mistakes were made in the process, but they will help our members grow and improve. We are proud of our Cub Scouts, Scouts and Ventures for their hard work and the success that they have brought back. However, our thirst to clinch 1st place will never falter, and our Troop will train harder to perform even better in future competitions.

Written by Javier Lim, Edited by Chey Jedd and Kaden Teo On 6 and 13 August 2022, the Troop held two 集合 on stove cooking, the first since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Through these 集合, the Scouts learnt basic cooking techniques. Not only is cooking an important skill to have when camping, it is also a practical skill that can inculcate a sense of independence and self-sufficiency. It also instils discipline and organisation in the Scouts as both are required to ensure safety and hygiene. During the first 集合, the focus was on teaching the Scouts basic knife and stovetop cooking skills. Sec 1s were taught scrambled eggs, the Sec 2s sambal kangkong, and the Sec 3s stir-fried chicken. Above: Photo by Venture Scout Chey Jedd The Scouts got to test out the skills they learnt during the second 集合 in an Inter-Patrol Cook-Off. Each Patrol was to prepare 4 dishes: 1 rice, 1 egg, 1 chicken and 1 vegetable. The Scouts were assessed based on presentation, taste, knife safety, and hygiene. Each Patrol did a fantastic job, creating mouth-watering dishes which they got to enjoy afterwards. In the end, the winner of the Inter-Patrol Cook-Off by a slight margin was Eagle Patrol. Congratulations to Eagle! Below is a short reflection by our 2022 Wolf Patrol Leader, Javier Lim: "As a Secondary 3 Scout, my scouting life in Sec 1 and 2 had been disrupted by the circuit breaker and I, unfortunately, did not get to experience as varied of activities as previous batches. Before this 集合, the only cooking experience I had was during backwoodsman training and when I was attaining the Cook Proficiency Badge. Both of which were primarily individual, so cooking together as a Patrol was a new experience for me. As the PL and the only person who had knowledge about cooking outside of Scouts, I had to teach the rest of my Patrol who were not as experienced. Thankfully, I was with Patrol members who were eager to learn, and they picked up the skills rather quickly. Cooking was not without setbacks though, as there were times when someone made a mistake like adding too much soya sauce and we had to find a way to rectify it. However, I had foreseen such situations due to the relative inexperience of my Patrol and was quick to adapt. It is through learning from our mistakes and failure that my Patrol learnt how to cook better and improve upon ourselves. Above: Photo by Venture Scout Chey Jedd The Cook-Off was very fun since the ingredients provided were somewhat limited, therefore to make our dishes stand out amongst the rest we had to stretch our creativity and ensure that the taste is on-point. It also tested my skill as a Patrol Leader because I had to act like a "head chef", giving clear and precise instructions to each of my members to ensure that we can cook everything in a systematic order within the duration; a challenge since we had to create 4 different dishes while only having 1 gas stovetop to use. Although my Patrol did not win the Inter-Patrol Cook-Off, it was still a great opportunity for us to bond together and work on our teamwork as a Patrol. I am happy that my Patrol did their utmost during the competition as the product we got to eat afterwards was delicious. I felt that these stove cooking 集合 were a great opportunity for everyone to learn new cooking skills as it is an important life skill that we can apply in our lives. After the 集合, I noticed that some Scouts who initially had no cooking experience became more interested in cooking, few even stated that they are interested in taking courses outside. I am also excited to share what I had learnt today with my family as a small sign of gratitude to them. I hope that since we are finally moving towards a new normal where proper scouting training can resume and restrictions are eased, there would be more opportunities during 集合 to learn new interesting skills beyond the standard ones."

Written by Joshua Lee, Edited by Chey Jedd On 9 August 2022, the Troop enthusiastically celebrated Singapore's 57th Birthday, National Day. The day of celebration was a good opportunity to reflect on how scouting can benefit the development of our nation and remind us all to continue giving back to our community through service. This year was the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic that Catholic High School held a live National Day Observance Parade. Our Secondary 2 and 3 Scouts got the great honour of representing the Troop and displaying their patriotism towards Singapore as part of this year's contingent. Marching to our goal Unsurprisingly for such a significant occasion, the Troop wished to show proper respect to our nation as well as display our discipline and determination through the clean execution of foot drills. Thus to achieve this, the Scouts trained themselves intensively and tirelessly with regard to foot drills for a little over a month. Other than the scheduled joint training sessions with the other Uniform Groups, the Scouts that were part of the contingent would also take some time during 集合 to train under the watchful guidance of the Scout Leaders. Salute to our Nation On 8 August, it was finally the day of the Observance Parade. Despite being nervous about performing in front of a live audience, the Scouts steeled themselves and were prepared to present themselves as well as possible. The Troop is proud that this year, our Senior Patrol Leader Joshua Lee was a Contingent Commander, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Bryan Quan was part of the Flag Party, and Sec 3 Alvis Lim and Rhino Patrol Leader Jen Yih were the Flag Raisers. Of course, having a special role does not dictate the pride we feel towards all our Scouts who put in the effort and time to prepare for the parade. Once the marching music started, the Scouts confidently marched alongside their UG brothers. With heads held high, swelling with pride towards their country, they sang the national anthem and recited the national pledge. Afterwards ending the parade with a march past; ultimately achieving a great performance. Below is a short reflection by Senior Patrol Leader and Contingent Commander for the parade, Joshua Lee: "I remember watching the parade when I was in Primary 5, and being in awe of my older brothers marching with such precision, coordination and discipline. I hoped to one day join their ranks, and to represent my CCA in such events to do my nation proud. I would have never thought that a few years down the road, I would get the opportunity to represent Scouts in this year's Observance Ceremony! Although the training was tough, I believe that it was very fruitful and worthwhile; I felt that I have become more familiar with the common drills and had improved my own execution. As a whole, I felt more united with my contingent after the training sessions. As a Uniform Group, we should be able to go above and beyond the standards expected of ourselves as drills can be considered a form of expressing one's character. Moreover, the training also benefits us in the long run as the improvements to our drills can also be observed during our scouting ceremonies like 升旗. As the Contingent Commander, I will do my best and give it my all; I really hope that the audience are able to see the blood, sweat and tears we put into all the rehearsals leading up to this momentous occasion. Happy Birthday Singapore!"

Written by Daniel Ong, Edited by Chey Jedd 所谓 “饮水思源”; We must remember our roots and our beginning; to not only thank those who have brought us to where we are today, but to reflect on our identity and who we are. On 9 July 2022, the Troop embarked on an unforgettable hike. This hike did not bring us through any reservoirs or nature reserves. Instead, this hike served as a hike down memory lane, allowing us to rediscover the old sites used by Catholic High Scout Group and the old Catholic High School campuses. The Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral at Queen Street was the first home of Catholic High Scout Group in 1948, with its use of a small wooden hut opposite the cathedral as its first Scout Den. After some time, the Den eventually shifted to Gentle Road in 1980, where the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore stands today. Finally, the Den moved to Bishan Street 12 in 1990, right beside Guang Yang Secondary School before officially settling at Bishan Street 22 in 1993, the current home of Catholic High School. This hike not only acts as a build up to the Troop’s 75th anniversary in 2023, but also coincides with the 30th year that Catholic High School has been at our current campus at Bishan Street 22. This hike has allowed us to remember the legacies left behind by those that came before us; legacies of living a life of morality, compassion, benevolence, courage and so much more. We were also reminded about our role in society as Scouts; to have the hunger to shape a better society by serving the vulnerable and exemplifying values and morals. Even during the hike itself, the attitude of benevolence could be seen in the way the senior Scouts supported their juniors. Take for example, the Sec 3s of Cobra Patrol, who decided to help take the bags of their juniors who were struggling to complete the journey. This willingness to sacrifice and voluntarily increase one’s burden for another is a simple but impactful way to showcase this benevolence and brotherly love. Such acts would further inspire new generations of Scouts to continue this cycle of care and uplift the next generations of Scouts. Below is a reflection by Fabian, a Secondary 1 Scout from Cobra Patrol: "This hike was a wonderful experience for me as I got to bond with my Patrol while exploring Singapore on foot, allowing me to view Singapore from a new perspective as we travel through the different neighbourhoods. What was an eye opener for me was learning more about my school and my Troop's history, visiting the many sites we once reside while listening to snippets of information shared scattered throughout the hike. This made me realise how far we had come from our humble wooden shack in Queen Street to the model Troop of today. Towards the end of the hike, my Patrol was getting increasingly exhausted and every step was starting to hurt more and more. Despite also having the additional task of reading the map and guiding us to our destination, my senior Scouts did not hesitate to offer to carry my bag for me to lessen my pain, this warmed my heart knowing that I have a kind senior I can rely on. Furthermore, knowing that my Patrol was with me the entire journey, encouraging me to push on and vice-versa, gave me the strength to continue at a good pace to reach our old campus with time to rest. This showed me how important Patrol spirit truly is, and made the hike one of the most memorable experiences I will ever have as a Sec 1 Scout." All in all, this hike allowed us to learn more about the history of Catholic High Scout Group. Such connections with our roots allow us to re-establish our mission, goal and identity as Catholic High Scouts - to serve those around us. I truly hope to see the next generation of Scouts continue this burning passion to live a life of morals and impact those around them.

Written by Tan Jen Yih, Edited by Kaden Teo From 28 to 31 May 2022, the Troop held our annual June Camp in Catholic High School. This June Camp, being the first physical camp held since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, is a significant milestone for the Scouts as they were once again able to have a more authentic scouting experience. For the Troop as a whole, it was a testament to our ability to overcome any difficulties while upholding a high standard. Since it was the first time this batch of Scouts got to attend a physical camp, to ensure safety and better ease them back to the mindset of a proper camp, it was held in school. Over the course of 4 days, the Scouts got to experience many different aspects of scouting; camp development, backwoodsman, orienteering and exploration, etc; aimed at honing their leadership and critical thinking skills while fostering teamwork. For each activity, the Patrols would be competing to earn points which would contribute to crowning the Best Patrol of June Camp 2022. The Scouts were pushed to their limits, both physically and mentally. Their competitive spirits were reignited in the bid to win the title of Best Patrol. They had also developed their sense of camaraderie and teamwork, uniting themselves as one Catholic High Scout Troop. Through the different activities, the Scouts grew more aware of themselves and their surroundings. After the rigorous competition, the results had been tallied. Below are the Scouts and Patrol who, with extra effort and grit, emerged at the top: Best Sec 1: Caden Ng(Eagle) Best Sec 2: David Wong(Pigeon) Best Sec 3: Bryan Quan(Cobra) Best Patrol of June Camp 2022: Rhino Patrol Photos by Venture Scout Chey Jedd Congratulations to all the winners of June Camp 2022! Afterwards, the Troop did the Troop cheer, led by the Ventures and the Best Patrol, Rhino Patrol. We interviewed Tan Jen Yih, the 2022 Patrol Leader for Rhino Patrol. He will be sharing his thoughts on his Patrol’s journey to becoming the Best Patrol of June Camp 2022. Below is his reflection: Why do you think your Patrol performed as well as they did? "I think that my Patrol performed well as we were prepared for every activity. We would discuss our action plans for each activity during our Patrol-In-Council meetings so that everyone would know what to do at all times. This allowed us to be one step ahead, ready for any challenges that we might face. Furthermore, we were coordinated in everything that we did and actively communicated with each other throughout the Camp, enabling us to complete tasks quickly yet with high standards. We were also constantly encouraging each other to keep everyone motivated and morale high, allowing the Patrol to work with 110% efficiency." What motivated you and your Patrol during June Camp, and how did you and your Patrol remain motivated? "We had the singular goal of achieving Best Patrol to follow the legacy of previous batches who achieved this elusive title. By focusing on our goal, we could remain motivated as everyone in the Patrol wanted to achieve it. Since we set our Patrol goal, we worked together and encouraged one another to keep everyone motivated and morale high. When we notice other Patrols also encouraging one another, we would feel even more motivated and determined to win Best Patrol knowing that if we win, we truly overcame a great challenge. At the same time, we also allowed ourselves to have fun when appropriate, especially during the games and scavenger hunt, reducing our stress levels so that we do not burn out and creating fond memories with the Patrol and Troop." Which activity do you think your Patrol did best in? Why? "I think that my Patrol did the best in backwoodsman cooking as everyone contributed to preparing each dish. By assigning roles and responsibilities to each Patrol member, we were well organised and could work together effectively as we knew what to do and who was doing what. We also helped one another so that we could work more efficiently and ensure everything was done properly on time. Since different Scouts have their own strengths and weaknesses, we delegated tasks based on who was most confident and skilful in that particular area. Hence, we were able to perform our best, completing the dishes on time, while ensuring safety, taste and hygiene." What activity had the greatest impact on you and your Patrol? Why? "The activity that had the greatest impact on me and my Patrol was camp development. It was the first day of the camp and a new experience for me leading my Patrol in a training camp environment. Firstly, we had our first equipment inspection. Through this inspection, we learnt that every little detail is significant; not only as a sign of discipline, but also as a display of our preparations before the start of the camp. Next, we had to build our tents, gadgets and gateway. Although the activity was something we had done before, the scale was much bigger compared to training and the duration given was significantly lesser. Through this activity, we learnt the importance of perseverance; not letting ourselves feel daunted by the task or lose focus as we rush to complete our campsite while maintaining the quality we expected from ourselves. After looking at our completed campsite, everyone felt a sense of accomplishment as we had successfully completed our campsite which was designed by us." What was your biggest takeaway from June Camp? "Troop before Unit. Unit before Patrol. Patrol before Self. My biggest takeaway is that although there was competition between the different Patrols, there were moments where we had to act as a Troop, and look out for every single person no matter the Patrol as before we are 8 separate Patrols, we are one Troop. Throughout the entire camp, this was emphasised in many different areas, most prominently during inspections, where everything ranging from the arrangements of equipment to the directions of the tents had to be standardised throughout the Troop. Patrols had to communicate amongst one another to ensure everything was the same while sometimes those who were free would help fix up the tents of their neighbours; if one Patrol failed, the whole Troop failed. When we work as a Troop, we can achieve greater things together and ensure no one is left behind. Every little thing such as making sure every Patrol’s equipment is facing the right way during inspection can show that our Troop is united and cultivate such unity among us Scouts. Another area would be keeping tabs on our fellow Scouts no matter the Patrol. Throughout the camp, everyone looked out for one another. It does not matter which Patrol or Level one came from, everyone was responsible for each other's safety. This proved useful as it allowed us to help those who were unused to the physical stress of camp and were feeling unwell early and reduce injuries during more dangerous activities." Do you have any final thoughts about the camp? "I am grateful and happy to have the experience of attending a (physical) Scout camp and the values fostered and skills reinforced during it was very valuable to me. Winning Best Patrol was only possible due to the blood and sweat of my fellow Patrol mates and I hope to be able to continue to lead them to greater achievements. I hope to continue to improve with my Patrol as we forge stronger bonds with one another. I wish that I would have an opportunity to experience the full Ubin camp experience in the future while I am still under the Troop as I am very interested due to stories I heard from my seniors who attended before."