Urban Navigation (Helping to Lead) by Haley Tay

On the 7^th of February 2021, I planned an activity called “Urban Navigation” for my fellow Vikings Cub Scouts. The activity was simple. Each Six would be given a map that covered parts of Bishan, Ang Mo Kio and Marymount. Using the map, each Six would have to locate and get to several planned locations. At each location, each Six would have to complete a planned activity. Points will be given for each completed activity. The Six with the most number of points would be the winner.

 

I had to consider the following when planning the activity – the location, the amount of time to get to each location, the distance between each location, the stamina of the Cubs, safety considerations when getting to each location, the difficulty in navigating to each location, the activity, the weather, the number of adult chaperons available, the attractiveness of each location and suitable prizes. 

 

I encountered the most difficulty when planning the location. I started the planning by consulting Google maps on the distance and time needed to reach each location. But when I actually walked the route, I found that it took much longer than expected. It was also a challenge getting to some of the locations as there were obstacles along the way, such as dangerous road crossings and road works. Some locations were also not sheltered and near to roads, making it unsuitable for the planned activities. Based on my walk, I eventually decided on 5 locations - Bishan Active Park, Bishan Post Office, Singapore Scouts Bishan HQ, Marymount Community Centre and Bishan Woodball Club. I chose these locations as they could be safely and comfortably reached and completed within the 1.5 hours allocated for the Urban Navigation and had suitable spaces to hold the activities.   

 

Awarding the prizes also turned out to be quite challenging. The plan was to award the prize to the Six with the most number of points. However, when the activity concluded, I realised that it was important to also recognise the kind and helpful acts shown by the Cubs during the activity. I therefore decided off the cuff, to award a prize each to the Six who displayed the most kindness, the Six who was the most helpful, the Six with the most initiative and the Six who best looked after the younger cubs, in addition to the Six with the most points. This resulted in every Six getting a prize. I was glad about the choice that I made, and how it reinforced the Scouts promise to do our best in all that we do.

 

 I am glad that I was given the opportunity to plan the Urban Navigation activity. The difficulties I encountered taught me to not ignore problems but to try my best to solve them. It also taught me the value of dry-running a plan and not to rely on desk-top research. It also taught me that it is ok to keep improving, even if it means having to deviate from the original plan on the fly.

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有一次，在二月七日，我在童子军组织一个活动叫城市导航。这个活动是非常有趣的。每组会拿到一个地图，地图里面包括璧山，宏茂桥和马里蒙特。每组需要利用地图来找不同的目的地。到了目的地，组员就要玩一个很精彩的游戏。如果成功完成游戏，就可以得到分数。积分最多的小组就会获胜。

当我在计划这个活动时，有很多东西值得我考虑，比如，地点，时间，地点之间的距离，组员们的耐力，活动，天气，礼物， 还有最重要的是组员们的安全 。

当我在计划时，我遇到很多的问题。最大的问题是选适当的地点。一开始的时候，我用了手机上的谷歌地图来查地点之间的距离。可是当我亲自走路线时，我发现地点之间的距离会比谷歌地图所说的跟远，需要更长的时间才到达。当我在走路线时，我也发现路线有很多障碍比如，危险的道路交叉口和道路工程。有些地点又没有庇护所，也有的地点是在马路旁边。这样一来，就不可以安全地举办活动。考虑了很久后，我终于选了五个地点，璧山活跃公园，璧山邮政局，新加坡童子军璧山的总部，玛丽蒙特社区俱乐部和璧山木球俱乐部。

当天，我的童子军成功的完成活动。大家都玩得不亦乐乎。我很感激有这个机会举办这个活动。看到朋友们多么开心，我也很开心。俗话说，助人为快乐之本，在这次经历之后，我学到了这句话的真正含义。