Discussion for Food Festival

 

Overview

This session stood out as one of the most engaging experiences, as it combined practical skill development with enjoyable teamwork. The program had two main components: planning a "Food Festival" and participating in a survival exercise titled “Blizzard at Basecamp”.

Food Festival Activity

In the first activity, our group was asked to plan what type of food we would sell at a festival and estimate the associated costs. This task encouraged us to think both creatively and practically, balancing innovation in food choices with financial considerations.

Through this exercise, I learned:

• The importance of listening to all team members before making final decisions.
• How to collaborate effectively with a group of ten members.
• Ways to balance creativity (food selection) with realistic constraints (budgeting and cost planning).

Food Festival

The activity also strengthened my organizational and problem-solving skills, as we had to design food options that were appealing to customers, profitable, and manageable for an event setting.

Survival Skills (Blizzard at Basecamp)

The second part of the session involved a survival challenge. We were given the scenario of being stranded at a basecamp during a blizzard and asked to select 8 items out of 16 that would help us survive until rescue in three days.

This activity tested our ability to make decisions under pressure, while also requiring leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking. After discussion and justification, our team selected the following items:

1. Emergency thermal blankets – protection against freezing temperatures.
2. Two-way radios – maintaining communication if separated.
3. Energy bars – providing essential nutrition.
4. First aid kit – ensuring health and safety.
5. 20-meter rope – useful for climbing, securing, or rescue tasks.
6. Flashlight with extra batteries – for visibility and safety in the dark.
7. Firestarter kit – to generate warmth, cook food, and signal for help.
8. Portable water purifier – ensuring a clean supply of drinking water. 

To make the task more organized, roles were distributed among the group such as Team Leader, Recorder, Timekeeper, and Presenter. Each choice was carefully justified based on survival needs, team safety, and practicality. 

What I Learned

This session was very different from regular classroom learning, as it placed us in realistic, decision-making scenarios. It not only enhanced my problem-solving and critical thinking skills but also strengthened my ability to function as part of a team in stressful environments.

Most importantly, I realized that survival depends not only on meeting physical needs but also on qualities like leadership, trust, cooperation, and clear communication among team members.