23 April 2011 - Now in the third edition of its series, Daddy & Me is an event that is organised by the SAFRA Yishun Country Club to help foster relationships between dads and their kids. The event comprises three segments: canopy walks, abseiling and rafting.

Safety First!

The participants totalled four father-child teams, with everyone all eager to jump straight into the activities that had been lined up for the Saturday morning. However, the instructors made sure that everybody sat through the safety briefing and understood the “Dos” and “Don’ts” of using the equipment.

Dads played an important role at this preliminary phase, helping their kids to put on safety helmets and harnesses, while the instructors were on hand to ensure that all the requirements were adhered to.

A Walk to Remember

To gain points for the Canopy Walk, each team had to navigate the course within the shortest time and then regurgitate a tongue twister from memory, right after they arrived at the finish line.

Mothers and siblings cheered for the teams on the sidelines, while dads provided the moral support that their kids needed on this adventure. The teams took their first courageous steps with each child leading the way along a suspended trail, five storeys up in the tree-line. Thereafter, the respective dads followed closely.

The walk involved moving along four different types of trails, beginning with Jacob’s Ladder. Many of the kids found Elvis Walk to be the most challenging as it involved catching onto hanging ropes while balancing along two narrow suspended cables.

Those who took the instructor’s advice to walk like a duck appeared to have an easier time getting across. Eight-year old Oh Ying Xin agreed that that section of the Canopy Walk was a scary experience for her.

However, her dad Oh Choon Ong, was her source of courage and strength, and could be heard calling out, “Hold the rope higher! Yes, that’s the way. Get your balance before you take the next step!” Indeed, Ying Xin admitted that she benefited from steadier footwork when she put her daddy’s advice into play.

However, motivation was not just a one-way street. Choon Ong said that he was surprised at his daughter’s perseverance to complete the walk. “Even as an adult, I was somewhat hesitant to take the first few steps. But seeing her make it to the finish line gave me the inspiration to complete the entire course.”

And in line with the traditional role of being the main pillar of strength in the family, another anxious kid was met with strong words of reassurance from her own dad, “Don’t worry, I’ll be there for you.”

At the end point, clapping and cheers of “Well done!” greeted each perpiration-drenched participant, as they crossed the finish line with a relieved smile – and in just the right spot for a few well-placed camera shots.

Then came the test of mental strength – reciting the tongue twister that had to be memorised at the start line, "Peter Piper picked a pack of pickled peppers…" Not an easy task – especially right after a gruelling high-altitude canopy walk!

Brave Descent

In this segment of the event, the teams had to abseil from a tower to ground level and the fastest team to make it to land was awarded the highest points. Here again, dads could be seen giving verbal encouragements and tips to their kids all the way down.

A few of the kids struggled somewhat at the beginning but most managed after putting the words of fatherly wisdom into practice. Gliding down the lines with relative ease, some of the participants could not get enough of the fun and actually went back for a second round!

Ships Ahoy!

Each team was tasked to swim out to the opposite end of the pool to fetch two inflated rubber ring floats and some rope – one item at the time. The goal was for father and child to join the floats together into a single raft and then ride out to the finish line as one. The air was filled with loud cheers and the sound of frantic splashing of water when the whistle was blown.

Strategy was the name of the game as the teams adopted different methods of retrieving the vessel-building materials. One tapped on the power of muscular propulsion as Daddy made the first two trips – giving the team the lead that it needed.

Another team took a more energy-sustainable approach where father and child took turns making the runs.

In the raft-building phase, team spirit came to the fore as the participants worked quickly to build their floating devices.

King of the Hill

In the end, it was Jeffrey Chong and his 12-year-old son, Jaydon, who made it first through the finish line, making waves as they splashed across on their ark of victory. When asked about the secret of their success, Jeffrey said, “It was really trial-and-error. The key was to find a way to join both tyres together quickly and then paddle together to the end-point”.

Jeffrey also shared that he enjoys participating in outdoor events, "I encourage my son and daughter to join such activities as these help to facilitate communication between us. In such team-building events, I normally give the instructions for my kids to follow. And if they are unable to understand what I am saying, I overcome the barrier by quickly explaining in a different way."

The team was also crowned overall champion of the day's event. Jeffrey said that he was very pleased with the activities that he and his son had participated in, "The event was well run and the number of participants made it easy for the facilitators to manage and disseminate instructions. Waiting time was also minimal, and there was even additional time for us to do the abseiling twice!"

With the busy work schedules that most dads have to adhere to these days, taking time off to be with the family (and wondering what to do together) can sometimes be a challenge. Yet, with activities like Daddy & Me gaining popularity, family time can be both enriching and full of fun!

About the Author: The Dads for Life Resource Team comprises local content writers and experts, including psychologists, counsellors, educators and social service professionals, dedicated to developing useful resources for dads.