SINGAPORE: While the Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) campus in Pulau Ubin features impressive obstacle courses these days, it was far more spartan when it began 50 years ago.
As one of the pioneering instructors at OBS during its founding days, Mr Mathias Chay has seen the campus evolve.
“My fellow instructors and I would go into the swamps and chop trees, branches and so on to build obstacles,” said Mr Chay, who is in his 70s.
They placed these so-called “agility courses” near the sea so that if trainees were to fall, they would land in the water.
“It was all built by us, made up of the natural elements found around us. I suppose it was not as sophisticated but it did the job,” said Mr Chay at the OBS 50th anniversary celebrations on Pulau Ubin on Wednesday (Nov 29).
OBS pioneer Mathias Chay remembering old times at an exhibit. (Photo: Noor Farhan)
“The quarters where the students would stay were actually labourers’ quarters. They were built for the workers of the granite quarry nearby,” he added.
Mr Chay also recalled the time when sea expeditions were done using sailboats given to them by the British Army.
“It was one of those old fibreglass boats that were very rudimentary. We called them bathtubs as they were very clumsy,” he reminisced.
OBS pioneer Mathias Chay. (Photo: Noor Farhan)
PULAU UBIN “LIKE A LARGE, UNKNOWN CONTINENT”
One of Mr Chay’s adventure trainees at OBS was none other than Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
“The facilities and equipment were very basic. We had canoes, sailing dinghies, prismatic compasses and topographic maps, some simple rope and obstacle courses, but not much else,” recalled PM Lee in his speech at the anniversary celebrations.
“Pulau Ubin then was even more rural than today. There were prawn ponds, granite quarries, a few kampongs, old rubber plantations, lots of mangrove swamp and a bit of a beach. To us, it seemed like a large, unknown continent,” he said.
He said that the 17 days he and his camp mates spent there had a lasting impact on him.
“Today, the mission of OBS – to develop mentally and physically rugged youths to be active citizens is more relevant than ever,” Mr Lee added.
PM Lee (centre) stands beside Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu at OBS Pulau Ubin. (Photo: Noor Farhan)
TEACHING YOUTHS RESILIENCE
Since OBS was formed in 1967, more than 500,000 Singaporeans have been through the course.
OBS instructor Melvin Lam said that current trainees are taught skills like kayaking, trekking, setting up tents and cooking in the outdoors.
“They also stay overnight in the forest. The environment we put them in puts them out of their comfort zone,” he said.
OBS trainees manning the ropes at one of its obstacle courses. (Photo: Noor Farhan)
Putting the trainees in an unfamiliar environment improves their endurance and resilience, said the 28-year-old, who has been instructing at OBS for a year.
It was such skills which student Haikal Chew learnt on his recent stint at OBS. His fondest memory was leading his team of 60 to kayak around Pulau Ubin.
“The most memorable was the sea expedition, where I was the sea expedition leader. (It) was tough but we made it to our destination and it was meaningful,” said the secondary three student at Woodlands Ring Secondary School.
OBS CEO David Chua said that there will be more team-based challenges in the high adventure elements of Coney Island when the expanded camp opens there around 2020.
“Cutter” sailboats going for a trip near the waters off Pulau Ubin. (Photo: Noor Farhan)
“In the future we can look forward to new programmes not just from Coney Island but to expeditions that will be designed in the northern parts, Eastern parts and southern parts of Singapore,” he added.
At the event, PM Lee also launched the OBS50 anniversary book. It recounts the memories and experiences of former instructors and students at OBS.
