Leon Garcia ES holds Backyard Encampment

Ma'am Donna A. Sollano officially opened the camping with a bash of confetti.

Camping plus fun equals learning. . . .
Let's do the scouting way!

   Scouting spells learning. Indeed! Boy Scouts, Junior Girl Scouts, Kawan, Stars, Kid Scouts and Twinklers of Leon A. Garcia Sr. Elementary School had a great learning fun-filled activities in this 3-day School Backyard Encampment. "Lingaw kaayo Ma'am (It was really fun, Ma'am)," said Ericka Palao ( a junior scout). Most of the time, you would hear scouts saying the phrase "First Time!" This was because there were series of sets of activities that they had experience first only in this encampment. And this was made possible through the leadership of Mrs. Donna A. Sollano, an expert and trainer in scouting plus the active troop leaders of Leon A. Garcia Sr. Elementary School.

Active troop leaders during the staff presentation.

   Let's learn to dance (Isayaw mo to da Max). Agodo dance, its a simple dance all level of scouts felt energized as they moved their whole body. The music itself sounds fun, that's why every body loved it. The troop leaders joined with the scouts and showed their best moves, too .

Boys and girls enjoyed the Agado dance.

    Pajama Party. Almost every day, each one of us socialize with other people; classmates and neighbors. But this time, we did it the scouting way! Mixed we go to form the friendship and be with other scouts (be it with girls or boys). This activity taught the scouts not only to be Mr. or Miss Congeniality but to be gender sensitive. That all scouts are equal, boy and girl; equal in talent, equal in tasking and equal in happiness. Each team formed shouted their best yells. It was also a night of unlimited talents. Later, the scouts enjoyed "Paborito ng Bayan", disco-disco.

I like it groovin, groovin!

Twinklers and stars on the move with Tita Emeluna P. Orongan.

   Balabag Expedition. Early morning, boy scouts and girl scouts woke early, did the revelries and cleaned the gym. Afterwhich, they ventured to a thrilling hiking activity at the Balabag site (We have no idea that across the bridge is a truly promising Mother Nature sight). Scouts lined up and performed their challenge as they passed each station; there was a challenge to dance, to sing, to conduct community clean up and reciting the BSP & GSP law. Scouts themselves worked together to trek trail with a map (Quite an experience!) But all the sweat were drained upon witnessing Mothers Nature landscape of tall trees and clear cascading river water. The sound of the flowing river  played a mellow music so pleasant to ears. Truly, a best way to appreciate and relax what nature could offer us. And mind you, it was set just across the bridge in the middle of a busy Davao City.

Patrol posed for a while waiting for tita jovy to check their spelled "scout" with their shoes.

Camper Allyza Faye Omega recited the Scout's Law as one of the Challenges.

    Ala-Master Chef. Scouting per se is about survival. And one of the activity was the outdoor cooking challenge. Patrols both Boys and Girls dug the ground, laid stones and placed their foiled-wrapped picadillo. They themselves prepared the mixture with the guidance of troop leaders. They covered it with sand, built fire and then, an egg barbecue?! Yes! scouts grilled their egg over the fire which underneath laid the picadillo. "Isn't is amazing? isn't it exciting?" exclaimed Danver Veroy (Boy Scout). And when their lunch were cooked, together they enjoyed their delicious meals prepared by them.

This is the hard way to cook but the most promising one. We did it our way!

Pecadillo preparation.

   Best friends Forever. Out of the trash old magazines, girls themselves lavished and decorated their neck and wrist with necklace and bracelet. Really! girls were able to produce necklace and bracelet out from the old magazines. They shimmered it colorless and alas! they looked fantastic on the craft they had finished. Some exchanged their work with other girl scouts just like a friendship bond, empowering in them the scouts' law that says "A girl scout is a friend to all and a sister to every other girl scout."
         "Sinong bestfriend mo doon? Syempre ikaw lang!these were the lines of two girls as they exchanged their friendship bond bracelet.

Tita Jean taught the girls to be rich in craft.

   Superheroes. The cute little twinklers to kawan scouts wore their best superheroes costume. They dance and walked like models showing their best pose. They were so happy and you could really see that they enjoyed each moment while wearing their costume. Troop leaders also did their super heroes attire. This activity taught the participants to enliven the good nature of the super heroes they were portraying. Scouter Evelyn B. Sullano told the children that we don't need super heroes because we, in our selves are already heroes by doing good deeds to others.

Justice League of LGES.

Bhay Kubo song.

   Campfire (Filipino Culture). Scouting won't be complete without camp fire. "Give me fire from the north, south and east!, shouted Scouter Manuel A. Andayan Jr. as they made a story line before they set the fire. He and Sir John
Cabreros even played a tribal war  to show how the camp fire evolved. Boys and girls circled in the big fire set by the Boy Scouts. They sang the traditional songs and later showcased their best group talents featuring the Filipino Culture. One group danced a folk dance to the tune of "Bahay Kubo", next group interpreted a folk song with choreography, another group had a role play showing the different Filipino Values and one group recited a speech choir about being a true Filipino. All were reminded how beautiful our culture is and promised to preserve our cultures. The troop leaders swayed on a Muslim dance which campers awed because they have witnessed and must believe that their teachers could move and dance too.

Camp fires burning, camp fires burning. . . .

Tita Gina Nomio posed with camper Camille Mahumot during the camp fire.

    Scouts Own (Peace). Every thing is possible with God, that is why we should give honor to Thee in every thing we do. 4:30 in the morning, scouts entered the gate of silence and asked the Lord for peace through song, verse, prayer and reflections. To some, this was their first time but to most girl scouts, this was their way of fellowship. There was silence and only the light of the candle illuminated the gym. It was totally awesome and refreshing according to one of the campers.

The Silence during the scouts own.

Girl Scouts did their best in law relay.

    Laro ng Lahi. The girl scouts went to Camp Corazon to join the Girl Scout Council Rally. They were accompanied by Tita Elna Puerto, Tita Jean M. Taguiang, Tita Ginaliza M. Nomio, Tita Fe S. Omega and Tita Miira S. Ellevera. Girls were grouped and they played the different events such as knot tying, law relay, message relay and loop relay. Some of the patrol won and cherished; others lost yet they still cherished the moments. It is because girl scouts by nature practice sportsmanship in every games. What matter most was they enjoyed. As what Camper Camille Mahumot had said' (Happy lang walang ending," and she giggled. But the most promising part was a group of girl scouts (Camille Mahumot, Creselda Ebo, Ericka Palao, Rosa Caliwang, Ana Marie Jovillo, Villegas and Mary Rose Deleguer) were able to take home the beacon. They won in the Gadget Making Contest and one of their gadgets was awarded as the Most Innovative Gadget. Other patrol also won in knot tying (second place) and Law Relay (second Place). Every body was so delighted for their accomplishments.

Busy as a bees. Girls showed their talents in gadget making contest.

    The camping ended with a closing program. Every body was tired but felt great with the learning they have earned through scouting. The campers went home with sleepy eyes but if one would start talking about the camping, those eyes turned so bright and filled with joy. Truly in scouting, the fun never cease and learning continue to flow.

Camper Allyza Faye received her certificate during the closing ceremony.