The academic year can be incredibly stressful. This is precisely why we look forward to the school holidays – to seek respite from our responsibilities and commitments as students. Admittedly, however, after a while, the holidays can tend to get a bit dull. It turns out that even unlimited games of Brawl Stars and Valorant can be boring. Many of us are left wondering how we should spend our time during the holidays in fun and meaningful ways.
Fortunately, we have some suggestions that could help. After a bit of our own research and gathering the opinions of fellow Rafflesians, we bring to you 5 of the best ways to relax with your classmates during the holidays. Of course, there is no such thing as objective criteria for what makes a suggestion the ‘best’ one possible. Nonetheless, we can guarantee that the options that we propose in this article will be fun, foster class bonding and be easy to arrange.
- Class War Games (Nerf War):
War games may typically encompass a wide variety of activities. In this article, the tried-and-tested game we bring to you is Nerf War, which includes several mini-games. Leon, Shang Lok, and Matthew, the Class Executive Committee members of Class 3A, organised their own version of Nerf War during the holidays, which was a massive success, evidenced by the record turnout. A few examples of the numerous mini-games are listed below:
- Solo Battle Royale: A free-for-all where players attempt to survive by not getting hit by Nerf bullets
- Duo Battle Royale: The same concept as the previous game, but in teams of two
- Capture the Flag: The same concept as normal capture the flag, but with Nerf bullets whizzing around
Leon tells us that the war games enabled his class to “come together”, “destress” and “take a break from [their] stressful lives as students.” The length of the organisation process of such an event is entirely up to you, based on how simple or complex you desire the games to be. You could go with the examples we have provided, which are fairly simple (everything you need to know is listed above), or you could innovate your own ideas. At its core, all such an activity needs to be successful is an unobstructed open space (an open field in a park or the compound of a condominium works just fine), nerf guns for each participant, and of course, participants. A potential issue could be supplying enough Nerf guns – not everyone has access to them. In this case, a workaround, as proposed by Leon, would be for other participants who possess more than one to provide them to those who do not.
For more information, you can check out this piece written by Leon: https://rafflespublications.com/2024/11/26/leon-aw-3a-class-bonding-activities-some-thoughts.
- Escape Room:
We would like to make a few disclaimers before we continue. Firstly, escape rooms tend to be a little on the expensive side. For instance, the one that one of our interviewees recently experienced cost 30 dollars per person for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Secondly, note that one escape room typically holds, at its greatest, around 10 people. Therefore, they probably cannot hold an entire class at once, though booking more than one room is certainly a plausible prospect. Perhaps, escape rooms are more suited to smaller groups.
The mechanics of escape rooms are very simple – you get locked in a room and have a limited amount of time to escape it by uncovering various clues. There is a vast range of the types of escape rooms to choose from; some are horror-themed (watch out), some are more mystical, and others are just normal. Samuel Sin, from class 3A, recently tried one with his classmates during the June holidays. They had tried out the Azkaban – yes, it is a Harry Potter-themed. He recounts that it was a “thrilling” experience that felt as though he was “living out the adventure” of his “favourite movie characters”.
In short, if you intend to spend some quality time with your classmates but do not particularly feel like planning anything, then an escape room might be perfect for you.
- Movie Night
A certified classic: a night to binge-watch movies of all genres with your fellow classmates, with no minimum or maximum participants! Despite its inclusivity, however, one might think: Such an activity may be extremely boring! Why meet up with your friends just to sit in silence for an hour or two before heading home?
This need not be the case. Here are some ways to spice things up:
- Hosting the movie night in someone’s home/a rented venue:
This provides you and your classmates the privacy required to truly bond and laugh your hearts out together!
- Pre-movie party:
You can host a party that aligns with the theme of the movie, complete with themed foods and even simple cosplay! The party can include a range of small activities (such as card games) leading up to the movies.
These are but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to making movie nights fun. The choice of movies is completely yours, as it can define the mood of the event: a horror movie like Revenge of the Pontianak would keep everyone on the edge of their seats, while I not Stupid is sure to lift the spirits of all who are present. If you’re planning a memorable evening with your classmates, a movie night is the way to go due to its customisability.
- Challenge: Hike across Singapore
Warning: this is not an easy activity, but if it is completed, it would certainly be worth it. The premise of this popular internet challenge is simple: hike across the entire width of Singapore from west to east, starting at Tuas and ending at Changi Airport. Depending on the specific route you take, the entire hike could span more than 50 km and take more than 15 hours to complete! To avoid getting lost, you can use Google Maps to track your journey (This is a suggested route). It is definitely a significant commitment, but if you and your friends have time (and energy) to spare during a long holiday, you should consider taking on this challenge.
The journey will definitely be an eye-opening experience as you rediscover the various areas of Singapore. Set off from Tuas’ industrial estates at 7 a.m. and trek to view Pandan Reservoir’s tranquil beauty. Then, head to the rustic charm of Clementi’s hawker centres for breakfast before continuing on to the Central Business District’s dizzying skyscrapers. With plenty of time to make jokes along the way and the shared experience of enduring this physically strenuous yet refreshing activity together, your group of friends will create a core memory to look back on.
However, this can be a strenuous challenge. Safety is always paramount: should a member of your expedition be too exhausted to carry on, do not push on. Instead, use the challenge’s flexibility to your advantage. Rather than completing the hike from west to east in a single day, why not split the hike across two days? You can always go home once you have reached the CBD and return the next day to pick up from where you have left off. After all, it is safer to take a break once the sun has gone down rather than continue on in the dark. Additionally, we recommend packing light: a hat, sunscreen, and a 2-litre bottle are all that are necessary, as you can always purchase water at hawker centres and supermarkets. Remember to wear something comfortable too, like track pants, which are perfect for hikes.
- Let us cook (literally)
Baking. A fun, yet relaxing activity that not only fills your day, but fills your stomach as well. What other way is there to make it even more enjoyable than by doing it with your close classmates? Imagine your classmates and you huddled together in a kitchen, all donning aprons. Perhaps each person can be assigned a role as you all work together to whip up a dish. One of you handles the vegetables, another handles the meat, while the others handle the broth. Or maybe, you all decide to host a baking competition, where each one of you competes to see who makes the most mouth-watering cookies. Each of you can compete against one another fiercely, as the air fills with the warm, inviting scent of cinnamon and freshly baked cookies. Whatever the choice, laughter and chatter fill the room. Does it not sound inviting?
Baking also teaches life lessons. It is an art that fosters creativity and collaboration. When your classmates and you come together in the kitchen, each person can contribute his unique ideas and skills. Whether it’s designing intricate patterns on sugar cookies, experimenting with new flavours for cupcakes, or constructing a gingerbread house, the collaborative process allows everyone to express his creativity. The kitchen becomes a canvas where imaginations run wild, and the result is a delightful array of yummy treats.
Baking with classmates offers countless opportunities for memorable moments. From the playful flour fights to the shared excitement of seeing your creations come out of the oven, every step of the process is filled with joy and laughter. These experiences become the stories you’ll reminisce about in the future, fondly recalling the times you spent together.
Of course, we understand that cooking with your classmates may spell a recipe for disaster. Should you wish to cook, please be aware of necessary safety precautions, and let safety always be number one in your minds.
Conclusion
The holidays are meant to be a fun time for everyone. From indoor activities like cooking to trekking outdoors across the island, there is bound to be something for everyone. Some activities may also have an element of competition to it, such as War Games. However, don’t get caught up trying to win or lose – instead, focus on having fun, and staying safe!
