During ATC, I gained a lot of things like new friends, sand fly bites, a team, teamwork, caring for one another during the 3 days. I told this to my group during the final debrief we had together as Group 9, “I didn’t really like or camps but because of this group, I liked ATC a little.” I really meant what I said to my awesome group that they were very special in a way that they managed to make me like something, furthermore a camp! Also, my Sir-in-charge from Nan Hua, Sir Jovan was very kind to us, even buying us rollercoaster to reward us……..
On Friday, 30th of July, I woke up feeling super depressed that I had to leave for the “stupid” camp. So I prepared to go to school in a very slow manner, just to spend more time with my family. Even before the camp, I was seriously homesick. I really hated that feeling.
In the blink of an eye, I was in school already. I carried my super duper gigantic camping bag which could store around fifteen 1.5 litre bottles. I thought that my squad mates would bring even more ridiculous bags, but to my horror, their bags were even smaller than their usual school bags!
In another blink of an eye, we were already walking to our campsite. We walked for around 15-20 minutes before reaching the NPCC campsite. We bid farewell to our seniors before heading to our own campsite.
We were then divided into our 9 groups. I was eagerly waiting for my name to be called followed by at least one of my squad mates who was going to endure the 3 days with me. But to my misfortune, my fellow squad mate who was going to join me was a PONER!!!!! I was totally dumbfounded and depressed. My fellow squad mates consoled me. I was on the edge of crying, literally crying. The huge sensation of homesickness enveloped me.
We then went to pitch our tents. My group had problems pitching out tents because the ground was too hard for us to peg. So we shifted, then when we were about to finish pegging, our last peg could not be pegged in because there were rocks on the floor. So we un-peg everything and shifted once again, finally being able to finish pegging.
We then made our way down the “hill” to the assembly point. We were then given a box of ration and packets of food for our group for dinner! Everyone was a total stranger. Luckily, my ex-tuition mate Gabriel, was in my group. It was rather comforting in a way. Then we ate dinner in the quickest time ever, 5 minutes! I had no idea why we were in such a hurry.
After dinner, we had debrief by our Sir-in-charge, Sir Jovan. He told us what we should expect tomorrow. Also, we came up with a group name, the Great Barrier Reef. We were also given yellow wrist bands. So we came up with a group cheer, with the tune of Flea Fly. We also played quite a few bonding games.
Soon, it was time for bed. We were made to sleep in a tent with 6 group mates. To be honest, the sleeping part was one of the worst things that happen in the entire camp! We firstly had fire drills. Next, the tent was super duper humid and stuffy and hot. Next, I could hear the flies right next to my ear; they were like making buzzing noises but without the “u” in buzzing. It was super disturbing.
The next day, we went down to wash up for the next day. I met my squad mates, and we had a “meeting” discussing about the nights, and the number of bites they got. Almost everyone was infested with bites, except me and Yong Hwee.
Next, we had morning PT, it was super slack, and all we did were 15 pumping and 15 jumping jacks and a jog around the entire campsite. Next, was breakfast. We were given our pack of rations. They were totally like ITC’s. So I took the dry rations.
Soon, we started our first of the 3 activities, land expedition. It was totally boring, furthermore we took the wrong path that we need to walk way more than the other groups. So we only completed 1 station only. There were a total of 3 stations. But something unfortunate happen they only group 9 experienced. One of our group mates suddenly stop and just started to cry. Everyone got shocked by what happened. Sir Jovan immediately when to him to ask what had happened. We then found out he had dislocated one of his toe. Sir Jovan immediately passed his things to me and another group mate and carried him back to the camp.
On the way back, two of my group mates ran back to inform the CIs about the incident. Then Sir Jovan asked us a question, whether to proceed to the next station or return to the campsite. We immediately told him that we wanted to return to the campsite without much thinking. After he was successfully brought back to the campsite, we went for lunch, worrying about his safety.
Next was the low rope challenge. We did not actually did low rope but we did the maze and rock-climbing. For the maze, we were supposed to go in a totally pitch dark room and find our way out. We were to go in 4 by 4. So when it was my groups turn, I decided to be the third to go in. When we were in the room, we held each other hands in case we got separated. Firstly, we had to feel the wall to move. Next, we felt a dead end with nowhere to go but eventually, we found out that we had to crawl under the wall as there was a hole. The crawling part was quite long and tiring as we still had to keep our hand together. Next we had to open some sort was wall and climb through. It was rather simple. Finally, we were out of the maze! Next, was rock-climbing. At first, I thought that it was very easy. But when I did it, it took me great pains to climb up, furthermore having a time limit.
Finally, it was kayaking. I was luckily paired up with one of my group mates. We were quite synchronized so were pretty fast. We were the unlucky batch of groups as we had to do the kayak cleaning! It was rather tiring after the kayaking furthermore the cleaning of it. So we were given extra time to wash up and eat. Then, it was soon the all awaited campfire! We gathered and cheered together and the environment was rather “high”.
Fast forward. It was finally the day we can go home! But the area cleaning thing was not that fun. My group had to un-pitch the tents and to wash it. It was rather fun to clean the tents as we were just practically whipping the tent. Yes, whipping.
That was about all we did for ATC.
