Hillary Challenge (Singapore) 2007

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Inaugural National Competition for all Uniformed Groups
in Collaboration with Outdoor Pursuit Centre (New Zealand )

1. For the first time, Uniformed Groups (UGs) in schools come together in a national competition comprising varied activities in different domains, aimed at showcasing the diverse talents and dynamic vibrancy of our youth.

2. The Hillary Challenge (Singapore) is the Asian Chapter of the Genesis Energy Sir Edmund Hillary Challenge in New Zealand, and is the result of collaboration between the Ministry of Education’s Co-Curricular Activities Branch and Outdoor Pursuit Centre from New Zealand. It is an important milestone for the UG movement in Singapore as it is the first time that a national UG competition is open to all schools based in Singapore, including foreign system schools and privately-funded schools.

3. The winning team of the Hillary Challenge (Singapore) will represent Singapore and compete with the best high school teams from New Zealand in the highly competitive and much coveted Genesis Energy Sir Edmund Hillary Challenge to be held in Tongariro, New Zealand in May 2008. This is the first time that the Hillary Challenge is held outside New Zealand, and also the first time that a foreign team will participate in the Challenge in New Zealand. It will allow our best team to pit their skills against their New Zealand counterparts in terrains which are vastly different from ours.

4. The first phase of the competition has been completed, and 12 teams, out of the initial 23, have qualified for the Finals (Phase 2). The format of the competition can be found in Annex A.

(a) encourage more inter-UG collaborations
(b) stretch the potential of UG members by challenging them mentally and physically
(c) inculcate the spirit of adventure in UG members
(d) test members on their application of UG skills and knowledge

6. The Hillary Challenge (Singapore) gives our youths the opportunity to test their limits and abilities on many fronts including fitness, strategic thinking, knowledge and skills, leadership, ability to work with others and ability to think on their feet. Activities include, but are not limited to, rock-climbing, navigation, environmental preservation, river-crossing, problem-solving scenarios, sports stations, canoeing and kayaking. The range of activities and the surprise element will test the participants physically and mentally. Leadership and teamwork would be critical elements for the success of the groups.

7. The details of the Finals will be kept confidential till the race itself. This aspect of the Finals, and the short time given to teams to prepare for it, will force teams to be prepared for any possibilities. Such a resilient mindset, if acquired, would definitely stand our youth in good stead. The challenge would also encourage a love of adventure and promote ruggedness and an inclination for an active outdoor lifestyle among our youth.

8. The nine UGs represented in Singapore are: National Cadet Corps, National Police Cadet Corps, National Civil Defence Cadet Corps, The Boys’ Brigade in Singapore, The Girls’ Brigade Singapore, Singapore Scout Association, Girl Guides Singapore, Red Cross Youth and St. John Ambulance Brigade.

9. The Genesis Energy Sir Edmund Hillary Challenge is a premium challenge for high schools in New Zealand to find the top secondary school Outdoor Adventure Team in New Zealand. The event is named after Sir Edmund Hillary, who was the first person to scale Mount Everest.