Welcome freshies!
Excited cheers, groups scurrying around intent on solving puzzles and new friends bonding over cheap but good canteen fare indicate the start of yet another buzzing orientation period. For the past few months, student leaders across campus have been busy planning energising camps and activities as part of the Freshmen Orientation Programme to welcome the University’s incoming students before they begin their studies in August.
NUS Business was one of the first few schools to kick-start orientation with the Bizad Club holding their social camp from 7 to 11 June. Some 250 participants engaged in a popular Escape Room Challenge and bonded over hilarious comedy clips in a lecture theatre. The seniors started planning for the camp in March, with the ultimate aim of passing on the “Bizad pride and culture” to the incoming students.
Freshmen taking part in the NUS Design and Environment camp from 23 to 26 June faced the prospect of being turned into a panda — complete with black camouflage paint around their eyes — during an Amazing Race challenge. The team opted to group the 180 freshmen according to where they lived so that they could travel to and from campus together, even after the camp had ended. “We wanted them to expand their social circle and step out of their comfort zone,” said Project Director Dacia Kee.
Freshmen having fun in the sun at Camp Estrella by the NUS Cultural Activities Club
The NUS Cultural Activities Club held Camp Estrella from 25 to 29 June with unique introductory dance classes for freshmen to better appreciate the University’s vibrant arts scene. This culminated in a “dance off” between groups on the final night, with students showing off the moves they had learnt during the camp. “Dance is not only an outlet to express ourselves but also a medium to strengthen bonds between freshmen,” said Project Director and Life Sciences student Niha Ather. Being more of a niche student group, the organising committee initially had to work doubly hard on its publicity efforts but eventually secured almost 150 sign-ups over six months.
A total of 360 freshmen signed up for NUS Students’ Sports Club’s camp held from 27 to 30 June where they engaged in an array of adrenalin-pumping land, water, indoor and martial arts sports, including whacky ones such as bubble soccer. The organisers took six months to plan the activities, facing challenges such as putting in place wet weather alternatives and ensuring the safety of such a large group engaged in highly active sports. “It’s not easy juggling school and work commitments while organising such an event but I’m glad we managed to pull through as a team and pick up skills not found in textbooks,” said NUS Engineering student Yuan Yiin Teng. She hoped that the camp inspired a sense of sportsmanship in the freshmen.
The orientation buzz will continue throughout the month of July before the students trade in their flip flops and gym bags for sneakers and laptops as the new school term begins this August.
Participants of NUS Sports Camp playing a whacky game of bubble soccer at University Town
