CCC 2018

Campcraft Competition Finals 2018 was held on 3rd March at the Home Team Academy. Our cadets did our Unit proud and achieved 4th place in the Girls’ category.

The competition allowed cadets from various schools to showcase their campcraft skills and learn from one another. At the same time, it gave the cadets a chance to bond with each other and increased their campcraft proficiency at the same time.

Below are the reflections written by our Campcraft Team members. 

NYCT1, Batch 50 (This reflection was written as an entire team)
04/03/18

Dear Diary,

Starting at the starting line, I remember thinking “Damn. Here we go…” And in a moment, it was over. It was so fast. The first and last Campcraft Comps ever in my life ended with a 4th place. I will admit, I was disappointed. We were so close, yet so far. Perhaps there were things we could have done better. What if we had a different basha design? What if we had trained harder? What if I had eaten more tang yuan the day before? I would say it was one of our most legendary pitches, but I guess, we still made mistakes. But, every team member’s mistake is the whole team’s fault, and I hold much more responsibility being the vice captain of NYCT1’18. 4th placing, not the best placing we could get but I’m even more contented that we completed our last pitch together. Just a few days before finals, I remember breaking down at the thought of not being able to complete our pitch but we did it in the end. It wasn’t a good pitch, so much more could have been done, but what’s over’s over.

I remember how prelims was such a turning point for all of us. Both Team 1 and Team 2. When the hemp snapped for the second time, I never believed we would even complete the pitch, nonetheless even get into finals. I could picture myself telling Team 2, “都靠你们了…” But amazingly we did, and I remember looking up as I pulled (or technically rolled) Jie out of the pitch, seeing the Nanyang flag flying across the azure skies. It was a moment to remember, and a memory I will always treasure, no matter how much time has passed us by.

On the pitch, I recall hearing the arguments of some schools in the other lots. I recalled asking myself, “Is this what campcraft is all about? Getting the PSY? Even if that included screaming at or scolding your teammates, is that all campcraft is worth?” And while that should have been distracting, somehow, it made me look around, to see the things we have built all the way, that I knew, that no matter the result that day, I would be grateful for the people who stood beside me as we trained together, that the blood, tears and sweat would not be for nothing. The blisters, the calluses, the numerous pairs of shoes we had to throw. No, it would not be worth nothing, even if we didn’t win the PSY, we will always be the winners. The prize of camaraderie and friendship from some unexpected places.

Throwback to the first training when I took 10min++ to complete my flag pegs but no one blamed me, even before prelims, and I was, for some unknown reason, unable to peg the pegs fast enough and I’m extremely thankful for Danielle ma’am’s assurance that I could do it. We all have made mistakes throughout our campcraft journey, and I’m glad that we learnt to forgive others, and ourselves along the way

I think all of us have regrets from that finals pitch. Honestly, I don’t want these regrets to stay with me as my only memories for Campcraft Comps. It’s been my only chance to be part of Campcraft Comps, because I will no longer be in Nanyang for the next Campcraft Comps, and I don’t want my regrets to be the only thing I remember. It’s the laughter, the inside jokes, the crazy gadgets, the team lunches, the abs we built *wink wonk* jk we still got none, the “silent” pitches, our stupid superstitions, 50’s midnight conversations, 51’s adorableness and qotd, Danielle ma’am’s secret savageness and roasts, and so many more things I want to remember. The scream of joy when we completed our first pitch in 12 minutes on 2/1/18 that we didn’t even fall out properly, the breaking of hemp twice during prelims, our now PTSD of the sound of something snapping, to the tears we cried on the bus ride home. 4th. You know what, I’ll take that. In comparison to all the memories, the final position isn’t going to be what I remember for this entire journey.

I’ll never get to fall in with my entire team beside me again. I’ll never get to scream “一起拉，一二拉” to hear Danielle Ma’am, Claire and Jiaxin shout back to me again. I’ll never get to break voice on the pitch again. I’ll never get to hear the laughter of my teammates as we joke around together again. I’ll never get to walk on HTA’s grass, preparing myself for a full pitch with my teammates again. I’ll never get to do anything with NYCT1’18, never again. Having to let go of something that you’ve been doing 4 times a week for the past 4 months isn’t easy. But, all good things have to come to an end. Goodbye to the days when we broke pegs and hemps, the days we rolled in the grass to clear mud off our PT kits, the days when we watered our sahara desert pitch and goodbye to the days we spent together as Team 1…

Taking down our pitch tomorrow will really mark the end of Campcraft Comps, and we’re really going to leave this behind. For the last time, I will hear, “Team 1, are you ready?” Finals became the endpoint for many of my campcraft experiences, but really, I don’t think any of us can truly leave this behind. Someone seriously has to carry some tissue when I cry while unpitching tomorrow. Thank you for everything Team 1. Campcraft has really become a part of me I can never cast away, and I don’t know what to do once this really ends. With this legacy we have left behind of the “dumpling” basha, we have written our story among the many ma’ams who have come before us. 51 will be leading the unit come 2020, and its going to be up to them to write the next chapter in the story of NYNP, and we will always carry you the way ma’ams have always been for us. For the last time, Team 1, 加加油!

Love,
Kai Ting

NYCT2, Batch 50

When we received the news that our team had not managed to get in the CC finals, it felt like we had suffered a crushing defeat. Our hearts sank and tears fell – it was as if all our efforts and hard work in the past few months had gone down the drain, just like that. Throughout the preparation for the campcraft competition and the multiple trainings a week leading up to that day, we trained hard and prayed hard that both teams would get into the finals. Yet, our hopes were crushed and the results hit us harder than we could ever imagine. As the days went by, it was like there was a gloomy cloud hanging over our heads, regret and sadness clinging on to us.

Even so, we eventually came to the realisation that since our first training, we had been preparing for the competition as Team Nanyang. Though both teams had trained separately, it was our unit, NYNPCC’s concerted effort to do our best for the competition. We remembered our ma’ams’ words from before- “leave the pitch with no regrets” and “you are pitching for yourselves, not anyone else”. We knew that we had to pick ourselves up and support Team 1, because ultimately, all of us were one team: Nanyang NPCC.

It was different to be back on the pitch again not as a competitor but as a spectator. We walked back into HTA with some regrets, but nevertheless, we were still excited yet fearful for Team 1. We had no idea what their progress on the basha was like, or whether the flag hemp would break again like it did in the first round. Furthermore, ma’ams had come back to watch them pitch, which while might give them some encouragement and support, would certainly add on to the pressure they were already feeling. While waiting for their turn, we watched the boys’ round. They were all competitive and fast, finishing most of the pitch faster than we ever could, but were still stumped when they had to do the gadget. This caused us to fear more for Team 1, as the gadget takes up a portion of the marks, yet all competitors would only be given 30 minutes to come up with the design of the gadget on the spot as well as the script.

When Team 1 walked into the pitch, we cheered as loudly as we could. We hoped they knew that our unit was there to support them no matter what happened. Watching all the teams walk to their respective lots, the reality that this was the finals hit us. This was the moment that we, as a unit, had been working towards, regardless of who was representing our school.

The long horn blast sounded and everyone responded quickly, immediately doing as they had planned. We spent those 14 minutes cheering “加加油” to support and encourage Team 1, hearing our voices go hoarse or suddenly break every few seconds, but we still continued cheering. In those 14 minutes, it felt as though we had grown even closer as a unit.

We all held our breaths when Team 1 started on the flag guylines and pulling on the hemp, praying hard that nothing would go wrong, as the hemp had broken before. However, they pulled it off smoothly and continued carrying out their procedure flawlessly, finishing their pitch before the time was up. Warm smiles of happiness and pride were plastered on all our faces as we held each others’ hands, tears of joy welling up in our eyes.

After all the pitches were finished, the results were announced, and Team 1 had gotten 4th place in the girls category. It was a remarkable achievement, made possible by their countless hours of trainings, of staying back in school nearly every day of the week to train, of sacrificing their personal time and sleep to brainstorm ideas for gadget and basha and many more. Our hearts filled with pride for them, as they were able to accomplish so much in the short period of 3 months and made it through all the ups and downs.

Though our journey of preparation for the Campcraft Competition has ended, our memories will stay with us. The blood, sweat and tears we all spilled were without a doubt, worthwhile. The pegging, the lashing, the pulling of guylines, the tying of tent flaps, the constant cheering of “加加油!” during each pitch all made us feel extremely exhausted, but our hearts were warm as we were putting in all we had and were improving with each pitch. We held in our tears when we felt stressed or angered by unsatisfactory pitch timings, but screamed in happiness and cheered excitedly when we managed to hit our goals. We cried, we got injured, we felt overwhelmed, but there were also times when we were happy, excited and laughing uncontrollably because of a hilarious joke.

This entire Campcraft Competition experience was amazing and unforgettable, and we would never give it up for the world. We were extremely lucky to be able to pitch with Team 2, to bond with our ma’ams, juniors and squadmates and to improve not only our skills but our strength and resilience. Throughout the past few months, we have formed an unexplainable attachment to our team and CC18, and somehow have grown to love campcraft with all our hearts. Our love for campcraft is not something that can be easily described with words. Perhaps we don’t always enjoy being muddy, or having to spend hours under the blazing sun with sweat dripping down our faces, but the feeling of accomplishment when we do a good pitch and the team spirit and joy that we share with those right beside us throughout this journey is an irreplaceable warmth and passion.

“Nanyang Team 2 to the fight,

we’ll pitch with all our strength and might,

our Nanyang school flag flying high,

we will win the PSY!

加加油!”

Thank you, Team 2, for the amazing memories, for making us cry hard but also making us the happiest. Campcraft Competition 2018 has come to an end, but we will not choose to end this journey remembering the injuries we had, the times when we cried, nor the placing we finished in. We will leave taking the good memories we made, the bonds we have forged as a team, and the unparalleled love we have for Team 2.

On the day of the competition Finals, there was also an Open Category. Our Unit’s OC, TO and CIs participated in the Open Category along with other Area 15 NPCC members in Area 15 and were tasked to complete fun challenges as well as to construct a gadget as a team. It was enjoyable watching our TOs and CIs working together and having fun despite the challenges of the game.