wetlands
a publication of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Vol 10 No 5
New Outdoor Classroom

Reforestation and Reach Out Programome: Part 2 - The Project Launch

Marine Fish Programme

Archers of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Bird ringing in Kenya, East Africa

Tranquility 		 
Reforestation and
Reach Out Programme
Part 2: The Project Launch
Jeanne Tan
senior outreach officer

With the support of our sponsor Toyota Motor Corporation, 23rd April 2005 was an exciting, memorable and busy day for our partner schools, Toyota, SBWR and NParks staff who came together and worked hard to make the “Reforestation and Reach Out Project Celebration” a success.

As part of the project, the students underwent a series of training, which culminated in a big reforestation activity over three days in December last year.

Unveiling of the plaque by Professor Leo Tan,
Mr Kohei Yamada and Dr Leong Chee Chiew

As nature awareness was generated among the students, this project also enabled them to share creative and innovative ideas in environmental education and conservation with each other. Each played their role actively in creating and producing educational materials for use at the Outdoor Classroom.

Group picture taken beside the Outdoor Classroom

Much to the delight of our staff, the day was clear, bright and sunny, much in tune with how the partner students must have felt, evidenced by their smiling faces. Each school felt a sense of achievement as they went forward to receive their certificates of participation after the guest of honour had delivered his speech.

A freshwater plant, Cryptocoryne ciliata was presented to the guest of honour as a token of appreciation. It was chosen because of its status as a rare native plant and its representation as one of the plants that were reforested in the freshwater habitat near the Outdoor Classroom. Volunteer guides were all ready to show the guests the way to the Outdoor Classroom that morning.


Presentation of the secondary forest habitat by YJC students
Our guest of honour, Mr Kohei Yamada, Senior General Manager, External Affairs Department, officially unveiled the plaque which now sits proudly at the Outdoor Classroom.

The students then took their positions in their respective ‘habitat station’, ready to present and share their creative and innovative touch with the guests. We were glad to know through speaking with some of the guests who were teachers, that this was a good avenue to explore nature and make learning more fun! Yes, I could not agree more!

There is a whole new world of living organisms out there, and so much to explore in what nature has given us to see, touch, feel, smell and understand!

Seeing is believing and nothing could be further from the truth.

I now leave you with a word of encouragement from Mr Yamada: “Here at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the Outdoor Classroom facilitates outdoor learning through exploring the various habitats and engaging in educational games. Through this project, we hope that visitors will learn more about nature conservation and share their memorable experiences with others.“
   
© Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve