Campfire Leaders Course

While the rest of the student population were busy basking in the vibrant holiday atmosphere, a group of 52 Secondary 2 NCDCC cadets went against this norm to bask in a different kind of vibrant atmosphere – campfire style. Enter, 2nd Campfire Leaders Course 2010.

Organised by HQ NCDCC, this 3-day course held at Jalan Bahtera Adventure Campsite (JBAC) was aimed not only at equipping cadets with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct campfire, but at the same time enhancing their leadership capabilities. Hence, the theme of this course, “Ignite The Fire Within”, was carefully formulated to literally and metaphorically display the abovementioned aims.

Contrary to last year, this year’s course started off with an inaugural campfire theory lesson held at HTA on 16th March 2010. The mood started off on the low side but thanks to the icebreaker sessions, the camaraderie between the cadets soon grew as they began to open up to each other. This was followed by an afternoon of campfire song sessions, in which cadets learnt the different songs required for setting the atmosphere for an actual campfire. Summing up the first day of the Course, it was enlightenment as the cadets finally realised that planning for a campfire was no easy feat.

The remaining two days of the Course were held at JBAC on 20th and 21st March 2010. Upon reaching the venue, the cadets immediately wasted no time in learning how to assemble a strong and stable campfire structure. They were then separated into their 5 groups where they were tested on coming up with their own staunch group campfire structure in a creative manner. This was the first of two tests, as they next proceeded for a campfire programme organization test in which they had to simulate running a proper campfire with the other groups being the audience.

As a treat to these cadets, a Mass Campfire session was organized specially by the Cadet Lieutenants at night. This campfire served as a form of visually demonstrating to them the proper procedures of running a campfire. It was a night of mixed emotions as what initially started off as happiness and excitement turned to sadness and tears towards the end when it finally dawned upon the cadets that their course was coming to a close in a day’s time. Despite all that, the Mass Campfire ended on a high as everyone indulged in a grand buffet topped up with the accompaniment of groovy pop songs that left everyone brimming with energy. That was certainly a night to remember.

The next day, the cadets went through a mini “Final Exercise” comprising of team building games and campfire related activities to end off the course. Despite the exhaustion setting in from a packed two days, it was very heartening to see them having fun as they went through the entire process together.

Before the Campfire Course came to a close, MAJ (NCDCC) Yasmin gave her closing speech to the cadets. In her speech, she highlighted how the hectic days of planning by the committee could not compare to the immense satisfaction they received seeing the course objectives being met and the elated faces on the cadets.

On behalf of HQ NCDCC, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of this course in one way or another. Our efforts, the days spent together, these memories will certainly linger in all of us for a long time to come. To quote from a popular campfire song,

“And as the years go by, I’ll think of you and sigh. This is goodnight and not goodbye”