Frank Cooper Sands Award 2006

I will be submitting our unit's application for FCS Award this week. The award rankings are Bronze (at least 500 points), Silver (600 points) and Gold (800 points). Here is how we performed for 2006.

Membership (37 members) = 98/160

Unit Meetings & Outdoor Activities = 138/160

Unit Administration = 6/15

District/National Events = 150/150

Progress & Proficiency Badges = 220/220

International = 0/30

Jobweek = 8/60

Donation Draw = 21/60

District/National Competition = 0/50

Community Service = 30/30

TOTAL = 671

That means we achieved SILVER award. Congratulations! Special thanks go out to last year's Sixers (Daniel, Feng Yuan and the others) because they contributed a lot to our success. Let's work towards Gold award for 2007!

Welcome New Cubs!

We have 24 new boys signing up this year! This brings our total membership to 48! That's the highest membership in recent years! To the following new boys, welcome to Temasek Cub Scouts!

P6 (1) - Zhi Shen
P5 (8) - Nicholas, Shahris, Ihsan, Leonard, Amierul, Timothy, Rick & Aaron
P4 (5) - Tze Yong, Suhail, Zhi Jie, Daniel & Ali
P3 (10) - Jia Ren, Edward, Rui Le, Douglas, Ahmad Hakim, Bryan, Ryan, Darnell, Benjamin & Ezuandy

This year's Founder's Day Observance Ceremony (on 22nd February) should be an awesome affair with such a big group! Onwards ever in Scouting!

Pioneering Competition

The list of participating schools for the National Pioneering Competition has been released by the organisers from Scout HQ.

There are 25 Cub Scout units taking part. Some units are taking part in all 6 Cub Scout events. We are only taking part in 3 events as this is our first time. But we are not going just to make up the numbers. We aim to do well in our 3 events - Tentage (P4), Roman Cannonball (P5) and Campsite Model (P6). The aim is a Top 3 finish.

What does this mean? Very simply - it's time to practise hard!

a pleasant surprise!

Remember last year's "Fly Our Flag" project in which we went around the neighbourhood to sell the national flags for National Day? Well, our Minister of Defence, Mr Teo Chee Hean, has sent us a certificate of appreciation for our participation. Cool, huh? :)

Pioneering Competition details

I went to Scout HQ this afternoon for briefing on the upcoming National Pioneering Competition. Full competition details will only be finalized and announced next Saturday. Here are some information which I can share with you.

Date: Saturday, 10 February

Time: 12pm to 6pm (Cub Scouts events)

Venue: Bishan Park

* Blindfold Tentage changed to Normal Tent-Pitching. Fastest team wins. But tent must be properly secured. If the lines are loose and the tent is not pulled tightly, the team will be penalized.

* Time given for Roman Cannonball is 1 hour. 3 tries to shoot water bombs. The longest distance will be recorded. Catapult must be sturdy. If it breaks apart after a shot, the team will be disqualified. But no restriction on design of Roman Cannonball. This means we can build Trebeuchet!!!

* Campsite Model does not mean model of a full campsite like Sarimbun. Only require 1 or 2 tents. Emphasis is on camp gadgets - shoe rack, clothes rack, dustbin, lantern holder etc. Must build to scale and show evidence of pioneering skill. That's why this event takes 4 hours!

I think we should change our strategy. Instead of sending the P4s for Campsite Model, send the P6s instead. The model must be intricate and precise and only the older boys are patient and skilled enough to do it. Higher chance to win.

Let the P4s pitch tent instead. It's no longer blindfolded so not difficult. All they need is practice. P5s will still do Roman Cannonball but we explore the possibility of building a Trebeuchet. I will ask the Sixer Council what they feel before we make the final decision.

Visiting the Gotheberg

Unit Meeting

Attention all Cubs!

I'm calling for a Unit Meeting on Wednesday, 10 January from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. This is an important meeting that brings together for the first time, all Cubs from P4 to P6. The P3 new recruits will not join us as they have not officially joined us yet.

I will be announcing the list of events and activities for 2007, roles and expectations of each member and some changes in the way Scout Meetings will be run. I will also give details on the upcoming National Pioneering Competition.

The meeting place is our new Scout Den at the 3rd floor open area next to the Hall. You need to take the canteen staircase and enter through the gate on the 3rd floor. The gate is normally locked but it will be unlocked just for this occassion.

The P4 and P6 Cubs in the morning will have to stay back for one hour after school. For those of you taking school van or school bus, please ask your parents to arrange alternative transport home. If you really cannot make it for this Unit Meeting, please inform me or Mr Tang in advance. We will brief you individually on either Thursday or Friday.

The P5 Cubs in the afternoon will have to report at the Scout Den instead of the Hall. Bring your bags along. Don't leave them with your class at the Hall. Attire is normal school uniform. But if you are such a hardcore Scout, you may bring your scarf and woggle!

See you there!

7th National Scoutcraft & Pioneering Competition 2007

The National Pioneering Competition will be held on Saturday, 10th February 2007. And I have decided that we will participate in 3 categories.

Event 4b - Campsite Model
- Max 8 Cubs
- To build a campsite model within a 1 metre by 1 metre board
- Creativity and design of campsite will be judged
- Duration of 4 hours

Event 7 - Blindfold Tentage
- Team of 6 participants
- To build a 4-man tentage blindfolded within shortest time

Event 8 - Roman Cannonball
- Team of 6 Cubs
- To construct a mechanism for launching cannonballs (water balloons)
- To propel cannonballs to farthest distance

There are altogether 10 events but only 6 events are for Cub Scouts. The other 4 are Gateway, Tower, Bridge and Logging which are only open to Scouts and Ventures as they require advanced pioneering skills. The other 3 Cub Scout events are Sour Grapes, Chariot Race and Flag Pole which, unfortunately, we must skip because we do not have the necessary skills.

During the Scout Meetings for the next few weeks, we will practise our Pioneering skills so that we are ready for the Competition. This is the first time we are entering a National Scout Competition. I'm excited! I hope you are too!