Camp Valea

Words by Russell Lai & Alyssa Li-Ann Choo

Photos by Alex Tan & Lim Dao An

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. On 21st January 2020, the freshmen of SIM-UB embarked on a new journey with Camp Valea, our 2D1N orientation camp at Sembawang Camp Challenge. Many were filled with uncertainty toward a new beginning, and frankly, some of the freshmen, including us, thought it was going to be a bore. Fortunately, we were about to be proven wrong.

We found ourselves in the orientation group (OG) Vitez of Tempus House, and Raka of Chronos House, the two houses of Camp Valea, and we were on a quest to rescue the citizens of La Marville in this Alice in Wonderland themed camp. Our OGs had no shortage of interesting characters. With the constant icebreakers, the once sheltered freshies began to open up. Our conversations were genuine and sincere, and despite our different backgrounds and first impressions, we accepted each other for who we were. At that moment, it felt as though we knew that our life ahead in SIM-UB was going to be filled with laughter, tears, and many unforgettable memories shared with one another.

Right from the start, our accommodating and kind OG Leaders (OGLs) and House Masters played a huge factor in setting the mood for camp. Despite knowing us for such a short time, they never failed to put a smile on our faces, making us feel welcomed with their constant selfless acts. Their genuine care and love that was shown toward us made us feel right at home, even among the initial sea of strangers, now turned friends.

As night fell, a SIM-UB camp tradition commenced: the night walk. Down the rabbit hole, the main character Alis fell and fell. What was happening to the great town of La Marville? To uncover the mysteries, we had to brave through the dark, spooky and mysterious forest. As one OG, we had to conquer our fears to retrieve the missing clues, piece them together and solve the secrets of this mysterious land.

Walking through the harrowing forest of La Marville, some of us were close to peeing our pants (we kid you not!). The flickering lights, eerie music, and amazing actors contributed to the overall experience we had. Amidst the forest, a beast and the Cheshire Cat roamed. The beast was rumored to be huge, ferocious, fast and gruesome. “Solve the riddle, and do not make a sound. The beast lurks the forest and is attracted to sound”, chanted the Cheshire Cat in a high-pitched voice. We were terrified and even contemplated whether it was too late to turn back. Nevertheless, we persisted in our search for clues.

Humpty Dumpty needed saving, and we needed a miracle! As we lurked further into the woods, we came across several magical beasts and creatures. We managed to find the pieces to make Humpty Dumpty whole again. To commemorate the revival of Humpty Dumpty, the Game Masters (GMs) performed a skit that was magical and entertaining. It had us thinking that we were actually living in the fantasy town of La Marville!

At last, the long night ended and day broke. It was the last day of Camp Valea, and an exciting segment awaited. Alas, it was the start of the amazing race! We were on a mission to collect ingredients for a potion that would put Humpty Dumpty together again. Throughout the amazing race, there were many fun and interactive stations, but what stood out the most was the blindfold maze and the whisper challenge.

The blindfold maze involved stepping over cans, avoiding masking tape lines and traps on the floor. Being blindfolded increased our fear and uncertainty, but with the help of our OG mates, we knew we would make it through. We had to trust each other and communicate well while helping our “blind” OG mate focus and clear the maze. The teamwork required to overcome the challenges had undeniably brought us closer, as we had to work collectively towards a common goal.

“What do you eat for breakfast? Harry Potter!” In the whisper challenge, two freshmen wore soundproofed headphones that blasted loud music. Both of them read off a list of questions and answers based on what they read from each other’s lips. Though we clearly articulated the questions as best as we could, the whisper challenge undeniably brought so much laughter with all the mismatched, nonsensical answers our fellow freshmen gave. It was definitely one of the more memorable games we played as an OG during the amazing race.

Looking back, Camp Valea nudged the socially awkward freshies out of their shells. The strong bonds and memories created will not be forgotten — they will only grow stronger. With the new-found friendships, we freshmen will look to take on brand new challenges together in our college life at SIM-UB. As camp draws to a close, it is only the start of new beginnings with the friendships formed. The camp vibes will never die, FOC Spring 2020 lives on.