WETlands
a publication of Sungei Buloh Nature Park
Vol 6 No 2
Aug 99

Common Tree
Frog

Otters in Sight

Large-Tailed
Nightjar

Flying Fox
(Pteropus scapulatus)

Dusky
Encounters
at Sungei Buloh

Weekend
Fishing Survey

School Activities
at Sungei Buloh

Spin Doctor
at Work:
story-telling
by the Park
 
School Activities
Evelyn Kuah

Community service took on a different meaning as groups of students from two secondary schools came to Sungei Buloh Nature Park each week to help maintain different areas of the Park and enjoyed themselves at the same time.

Plants are important and keeping them healthy and free from weeds is as meaningful as the planting itself.

Singapore Rhododendron
 The girls from Raffles Girls Secondary School learnt about the different kinds of weeds, the before and after effects of clearing the weeds and also about the other plants commonly found infested with weeds, like the Long Grass and the Singapore Rhododendron. Walks to the Main hide and into the Reserve also make their trip to the Park more worthwhile as they see for themselves the birds in flight and the insects and animals they learned in textbooks come alive.

Coastal cleanup and mangrove saplings removal, which are two routine tasks undertaken by Sungei Buloh staff, are new experiences for the upper secondary students of Woodlands Secondary School. They waded in the mangrove mudflats clearing coastal rubbish and pulling out unwanted saplings, and of course, getting a "mud bath" in the process.

There was, however, not a single dull moment each time they came for their three-hour long attachment service. All the girls and boys were briefed on their purpose at the Park and the details of their responsibility for the day. Arming themselves with gloves and insect repellent, they switched into their working mode almost immediately, and soon after, their natural state of enthusiasm overtook the heat, and laughter was all around. The community involvement projects aim to bring Nature closer to the urban kids.

The whole process was a learning experience packaged with fun. With the continued support from the schools and the active participation of the students, this collaboration has turned out to be the beginning of a stronger relationship in future. At the point of writing, an agreement has been reached with Woodlands Secondary School for the adoption of the Butterfly Trail Project at the Park. This is a first step in our effort to have more schools "own" the Park and through the activities inculcate a sense of graciousness while caring for public property.
   
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