WETlands
a publication of Sungei Buloh Nature Park
Vol 5 No 1
Apr 98

Prawn Farming
at Sungei Buloh

Workshops
for Children &
for Teachers

5th Anniversary Celebrations: events and messages

BabeWatch R(A): Herons at
Sungei Buloh

Time and Tide Wait for No Man: what you can see at the various
tide levels

Bird Sightings
(Dec 98-Jan 99)		  
Come Experience
the Wild Side of Life
Children's Vacation Workshop
 Colleen Goh

The end of the year vacation workshop for kids was held in December 1997. Participants from Pei Hwa Presbyterian School took part in this day-long workshop based on the theme 'Birds of Buloh'.
Through the use of innovative games and activities, participants learnt more about the birds that inhabit the Park. Knowledge acquired included bird identification techniques and different uses of beaks. They also found out how difficult it can be to build a nest after an interesting hands-on session. The next series of vacation workshops will he held during the June School Holiclays. Called "Adaptations in Nature", the workshop is targeted at Primary 5 and 6 students.

"What do you think of the nest we made?"

The primary aim of this workshop is to introduce children to the strange and wonderful flora and fauna of Sungei Buloh Nature Park and how they have adapted themselves to the different conditions found in the various habitats of the Park.

Workshop participants
during a games session
 Children will participate in learning games, activities and nature rambles, all centering around the theme 'Adaptations in Nature'. They will also have the opportunity to get up close and personal with unusual but interesting creatures like Mudskippers, Horseshoe Crabs, Archerfish, Halfbeaks, Waterhens, Creeper Shells and Changeable Lizards—just to name a few!

Class size is limited to a maximum of 20 and participants have a choice of two days: 2 June or 5 June. The fee of $40 includes meals and workshop materials.

Teachers' Workshop

This workshop is held once a month on a Saturday morning. It aims to familiarise teachers with the various programmes and materials available at the Park and more importantly, to equip teachers with the necessary krwwledge and skills to conduct field trips to the Park.
The workshop begins with a short session where participants are introduced to the various Park programmes and given an update on the latest amenities and activities that have been set up (for example, the Spot Art Competition). This is followed by a familiarisation tour of two of the more popular walking trails: the Mangrove Boardwalk and Route 1. Here, teachers are taken on a guided walk by our education staff and introduced to the various flora and fauna that can be encountered along the trails.

"Eeks! What's that?!"
Teachers having fun during the workshop

A new segment that has been included in this year's workshop programme is the introduction of fun and environmentally-friendly activities that teachers can conduct with their pupils while at the Park.

The participants are appreciative of the efforts taken to introduce the Park to them and leave with a better understanding and appreciation of Singapore's wetland paradise.

Response from workshop participants has been encouraging and vacancies for this year's workshops are filling up quickly.
   
© Sungei Buloh Nature Park