Page 3 - 觀塘官立中學 2019-2020 校報

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A Magical Journey

Enhanced Smart Teen Project 2019-2020

Who says only Disneyland can offer you a magical journey? 40 students
from our school joined a 5-day-4-night camp co-organised by the
Education Bureau and the Fire Services Department in early November
2019 and embarked on an equally extraordinary adventure with the
guidance of experienced firefighting instructors. Let’s take a look at
their unique encounters at the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy
located in Tseung Kwan O.

Stepping out of their comfort zone is where magic happens
Smart Teen participants were courageous to take on new challenges
in unfamiliar environments. Living in a barrack
accommodating around 20 students, each participant
had to play a part in maintaining its daily order, tidiness
and cleanliness. Unlike life at home when parents
are taking good care of every aspect, Smart Teen
participants experienced a drastically different way of
life because they had to be responsible for making their
beds, ironing their uniforms, polishing their black leather
shoes, clearing waste in the rubbish bins, taking dirty clothes to the laundry, as well as replacing water bottles of
the water dispenser. It was amazing to see how these students could quickly adapt to a highly disciplined life in
the camp, demonstrating qualities of both resilience and independence.

No man is an island – Placing
team before individuals
In the camp, all 40 KTGSS students
were viewed as one in the squad.
The ideas of team work and unity
were constantly reinforced by
the firefighting instructors. Not
only did students have to dress in
uniforms, they also had to listen
to commands, march and follow
all the rules set by the academy.
Every morning, the uniform
inspection was the highlight. Smart
Teen participants, together with the real firefighter trainees would be inspected altogether on the drill ground.
They showed increasing team spirit by shifting their attention from their own uniform to helping one another to
correct their attire. In this way , they were impeccably dressed.

Their group cooperation was further manifested when they had to find their way out of a wooden maze in
groups of four in an entirely dark environment. In another activity, the Smart Teen participants were teamed up
with the real fire fighting training team. Don’t they look like real firefighters in their protective suits?

Combining team spirit, they were required to complete activities often requiring initiative, courage as well as
grit - the desire to give something a go. Abseiling was an example. Some students had to overcome their fear
of heights in order to glide down the mountain slope which was equivalent to a five-storey building. Indeed,
the camp was a golden opportunity for students wanting to challenge themselves in a fun environment whilst
gaining resilience to help forge themselves into adulthood.