MUST WE TAKE A FLU VACCINATION?

As an added precautionary measures, you are recommended to go for a flu vaccination at least 10 days before your proposed overseas trip.  As reported that H1N1 is milder than anticipated, however patients with a history of chronic diseases are strongly advised to seek doctor's advice on the vaccination.  H1N1 is still reigning the globe and we will take every precautionary measures and steps to minimise exposure and if required, to isolate suspected cases if there is a reason to believe of a potential case.

Unit Leaders are advised to inform parents about the vaccination and it is the discretion of the parents' to decide whether they want to administer the vaccination for their children at own costs.

HAVE YOU CHECK YOUR PASSPORT?

All participants are reminded to check their International Passport, they must have a validity period of six months or more prior to their date of return (example, the return date is 5 Dec 2009, your passport must be valid till or after 5 June 2010)

Q - What will happen if I do not have the validity date?

Ans- You will not be allowed to leave Singapore or may face problems of accessing or departing issues at the Immigration checkpoints.

Q - How long will it takes to renew or extend the passport vailidity?

Ans - For those who need to renew their expired passport, it will take about a month or less to complete the renewal.  For extending the passport, it may take 2 weeks or more depending on the Immigration Department "peak or off-peak" season.

PREPARATORY SESSION SCHEDULED ON SAT, 21 NOVEMBER 2009

We have scheduled a preparatory session on Saturday, 21 Nov 2009 at Scout HQ (Program & Training Room)  Time from 0900 to 1400hrs.

Participants attending the session will be equipped with the necessary knowledge, camp-craft and first aid skills required in preparation for the trip.  The adventure trainers will be invited to present the programme.

Participants are required to be in their scout attire with the Event Badge (already issued in the last session) to be sewn on the right chest.

Please ensure that passport should have validity period of six month or more from the date of departure (example: valid after 2 June 2010) 

For more details, you can reply via the comment of this post.

PERSONAL GEARS CHECKLIST FOR YOUR PREPARATION

A total of 31 Cub Scouts and 13 Adult Leaders and Scouts will be taking part in this Eco-Adventure Trip from Tuesday, 1 December to Saturday, 5 December 2009 in Pahang Malaysia.

Outdoor camping and living in tents (in and within the caves and streams) will offer an exciting experiences for our Scouts.

Recommended Camping Gears to bring:

- Scout Uniform (to be worn during the departure and return trip)

- Scarves will have to worn at all time during the trip.

- Scout Cap

- 2 to 3 T-shirts

- 2  Shorts

- Undergarments (preferably disposable)

- 2-3 pair socks

- Good pair of shoes

- Sandals (slippers)

- 2 Long trousers/track pant (one for sleep and one for outdoor activity, preferably track pant)

- Rain-coat/ poncho

- Body Powder

- Washing powder (for laundry wash only)

- Toiletries (body shower cream, shampoo, tooth-brush, toothpaste, toilet roll etc)

- 1 Bath Towel

- 2 Face Towel (for activity wipes)

- 3 (Big) Zip-log disposable plastic bags (for placing dirty linens)

- Scout Song Book & Writing Material

- Head lamp (torchlight - to bring extra batteries)

- Rope (knotting use and use as cloth line)

- Personal First Aid Kit (Handy plaster, insect repellent, antiseptic cream etc.)

- Personal Medication (as directed by parent/or next-of-kin such as panadol, inhaler etc)

- Personal water-bottle with strap/or slings (1 litre)

- Sleeping Bag (thin-based) *available at Giant/or Carefour supermarkets)

- Mess-tin, Fork and spoon and plastic cup

This is an Outdoor-based activity, it is recommended that a good backpack (haversack) should be used to contain all your personal gears. In addition, you can also carry a small backpack and waist pouch (for putting regularly-used items) .

All items should be waterproofed (if possible)

For those wearing spectacles, do remember to have spectacles straps in place.

In view of H1N1, please note that stringent temperature takings will be enforced as camp ruled.  Daily temperature-takings will be conducted.  Each camper to bring along their personal thermometer for use.

Do not bring valuable items such as game gadgets, mini-pod, CD player etc.

NEW DATE SET FOR ECO-ADVENTURE FROM 1-5 DECEMBER 2009

This Circular dated 22 May 2009 was issued out to all participating Units:

Dear all,

After consultation and feedbacks received from concerned parties regarding the H1N1 situation reigning the region, it was animously decided together with the travel agent that we will postpone the trip to 1-5 December 2009.

As SSA had already committed 100% payment to the trip with the travel agent, insurance, accommodations etc and the various local vendors.  Units who have not complete the balance payment through IFAAS, are advised to do so to minimise administrative inconveniences.  In the event of non-payment of the outstanding amount, SSA will deduct the due amount from the Scout Unit Fund as ruled.  

I do hope that the postponement will ease all worries and concerns.  However, do note that there will be no further postponement in the event that the situation does not improve at the scheduled date.  Any self-cancellation or withdrawal of the trip will be deemed as forfeiture of payment/or participation.

Unit Leaders are advised to inform parents that the postponement is done in the interest of the well-being of our participants and leaders.

For update,please visit www.gunungsenyum-eco-adventure2009@.blogspot.com 

Do let me know if you need further clarifications

Thank you.

DESMOND FOO 

Expedition Leader (Gunung Senyum/Gelanggi Exploration 2009)

Previous Trip Information Extracted from Previous Blog

Dear participants,

Thank you for your participation in the second series of our Eco-Adventure Trip. As we are 22 days away from this trip, we would like to update you on the status of preparations and follow-up action we may wish to convey.  I hope all of you are gearing up for this exciting adventure programme and keeping strict personal hygiene and fitness for the trip.

As mentioned in our Parent's Briefing on 2 May, we will only postpone the trip if there is an official Travel Ban Directive issued by Ministry Of Health which MOE will eventually adhered to.  Please note that we have already committed almost 90% fees for the trip as agreed and stipulated under the terms and conditions of the NATAS/Pac West Travel Agent and its representatives.

SSA had made the upfront payments to the Pac-West Travel Pte Ltd on behalf of all participants.  Unit Leaders are to ensure that your School had facilitated the necessary IFAAS payment to SSA by now.  In the event of any late payment or non-payment by the school prior to the trip, SSA will deduct the necessary amount from your Scout Unit Fund to cover the due-amount as ruled by the Association.

In view of the concerns raised on the issue of cancellation of the trip, please note that due to the proximity of the date of event and the payments committed for the preparations, there will be no refund given.  NOTE THAT ANY SELF-INITIATION FOR WITHDRAWAL OR CANCELLATION, OUTSTANDING PAYMENT WILL HAVE TO BE BORNE OR MADE.   PARENTS must be informed of the decision and the costs to be incurred.

Over the past days, we had spoken to some parents and many had expressed supportive and forthcoming about our trip.  They understood the current situation and will take the course of action as directed by the Organizers.

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TAKEN IN PREPARATION FOR THE TRIP

We had placed additional precautionary measures as follow:

1.    Each participant will be issued with the following items:

    - 1 bottle of 120ml HEXO Antibacterial Hand Rub

    - I Long Sleeve T-shirt Wear

    - 1 pair of Hand-gloves

    - Daily temperature record book

2.   Readily available masks will be issued to those with suspected cough or running nose.

3.   We have arranged for the whole group to be clustered in one cabin/compartment during the train journey to and fro. 

4.   Once a participant has symptom of slight-fever (above 38 degree), cough, running nose or etc..he/she will be immediately given a mask to cover and seek immediate medical attention at the nearby Tekam Resort Medical Hospital or Jerantut hosiptal.  

5.   Participants will be grouped into smaller group of 5 to 1 Leader.  Outdoor camping tents will be placed 2m apart.  Participants had been informed that there will be strictly no sharing of personal item.

6.    We have requested for an empty Camping Tent to act as isolation centre if there's an unwell person.

7.    We will use disposable wares for all our meals.     

8.   Personal Hygiene such as regular hand-wash, showers and inspection and airing of personal gears will be conducted.  Daily temperature-takings at 8 hour interval (3 times a day) will be the ORDER of the day and it will be strictly enforced.

9.   The field trip/and activities will have the GROUP centred and staying in an outdoor nature environment near caves and there will be less interaction with outsiders.  We have EXCLUDE programmes to visit any potential crowded places.

10.    Finally, we have arranged with Pac-West to offer a Stand-by vehicle at site throughout the trip.  In the event that there are more than 5 participants who show signs of unwell, the trip will be abandoned and a chartered coach will be arranged to pick up the whole group back to Singapore on land transportation.  Unit Leaders will contact the School and Parents to update the situation.   

I do hope that Unit Leaders keep your School Management informed of the constraints and measures already taken for the trip.

To date, SSA has supported several scout groups embarking for ECo-Adventure trips to Malaysia during the June Holidays.  Jing Shan Primary School will see 84 students and their Principal embarking similar trip from 30 May to 4 June so as Mayflower Primary School.  All schools take the same stand and are prepared to postpone once a travel ban is issued by MOH.

Do let me know if you need further clarifications via email to themeworks@singnet.com.sg or contact me via sms for return call at 96969068.

Looking forward to your continued support.

Desmond Foo

Expedition Leader

Combined Eco-Adventure Trip 2009