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Home , Admiralty Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park, Chek Jawa, Esplanade Park, Fort Canning Hill, HortPark

Outdoor Learning at NParks

All information is correct at the time of printing. NParks reserves the right to amend the charges and activities without prior notice. This programme guidebook is printed on environmentally friendly paper.

To get the latest updates on events and happenings in our parks, please sign up for our e-newsletter at www.nparks.gov.sg/mailinglist. Outdoor Learning at NParks For Students & Teachers

Singapore is a small city state with a land area of about 700 square kilometres. Despite being a highly urbanised and densely populated country, ’s economic development and conservation co-exist and complement each other well. With over 2,000 species of native plants, 364 species of birds, 301 species of butterflies, 127 species of dragonflies and 103 species of reptiles, Singapore is well-endowed in biodiversity.

Singapore’s high level of biodiversity has been made possible through a pragmatic approach in balancing development and biodiversity conservation, and finding unique solutions to create a nature conservation model that champions environmental sustainability in an urban setting. This is also what makes Singapore a model for other cities in the world to follow. In fact, we have developed the Singapore Index on Cities’ Biodiversity, a self-assessment tool for cities to evaluate and benchmark their biodiversity conservation efforts.

Our progress in biodiversity conservation is the result of careful planning and steadfast determination to conserve our natural heritage. In this guidebook, you will find a comprehensive listing of the programmes that NParks has developed to help students and teachers understand and appreciate nature. We have customised the programmes to suit different age groups, such that a variety of options are available for kindergarten, primary, secondary and tertiary students, as well as teachers. Contents

Programme Suitable for Page

Teachers’ Training Programmes • Nature Educators Series at the P 06 Singapore Botanic Gardens • Programme for Active Learning P 06 (PAL) – Kids for Nature P1 to P2 • Young Arborist Programme P S 07

Co-curricular Badge Series • Nature Keeper Programme P 08 • Young Naturalist Programme P S 08

Learning Journeys • Exploring Back- S T 09 • Roots, Shoots and Fruits P S T 09 Ann Siang Hill Park • Pioneers Trail P S T 10 Nature Park • A Forest No Less K P S T 10 •Monument Trail P S T 10 Fort Canning Park • Heritage on the Hill P S T 11 • The Fort Canning Spice Trail P S T 11 • Trees of the Fort P S T 11 HortPark • HortPark Garden Tour K P S T 12 • Fascinating Forest at Labrador S T 12 Park • Creatures Up Close and Personal P S T 12 03

K – Kindergarten; P – Primary; S – Secondary; T – Tertiary Programme Suitable for Page

Pulau Ubin • Guided Tour P S T 13 • Sensory Trail P S T 13 Singapore Botanic Gardens • Adventure with Plants – K P 14 Sara at the Evolution Garden • Conservation of the Native Orchids of Singapore S T 14 • Eco-Garden Tour: Plants and their Uses P S T 15 • Evolution Garden Tour: Evolution and P S 15 Adaptation of Plants • Evolution Garden Tour: Plant Classification P S 15 • Flowers at Work P 16 • Healing Garden S T 16 • Herbs and Spices P S T 17 • Heritage Tour P S T 17 • Let’s Discover Plants and Animals K P 17 • Looking at Plants P 17 • Numbers & Shapes K P 18 • Pond Life K P 18 • Rainforest Trek P S T 18 • Sara Goes Carbon Footprinting P 18 • The Birthday Party: Sara at the Children’s Garden K P 19 The • Park Heritage Tour S T 19 • Southern Ridges Nature Tour S T 19 Sungei Buloh Reserve • Guided Walk at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve K P S T 20 Various Parks • Park(s) Orienteering P S T 20 Workshops Central Catchment Nature Reserve • I heART Nature Workshop K P 21 HortPark • Bottled Gardens – Terrariums P S 21 • Grow Your First Air Plant P S T 22 04

K – Kindergarten; P – Primary; S – Secondary; T – Tertiary Programme Suitable for Page

• Nature Sketching in the Garden P S T 22 • Starting Your First Plant K P 22 Singapore Botanic Gardens • My Garden Fits a Dish K P 23 • My Garden in a Bottle P S 23 • “Trees Around Us” Drama Series K P 23 Talks • Sara Goes Gardening K P 24 • Storytime with Sara Series K P 24 • Highlights at Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden K P 25 Nature Ways • Nature Way Monitoring Programme S T 26

05

K – Kindergarten; P – Primary; S – Secondary; T – Tertiary Teachers’ Training Programmes

Nature Educators Series at the Programme for Active Learning Singapore Botanic Gardens (PAL) - Kids for Nature P1 to P2

Date : Open (first-come, first- Date : Open (first-come, first- served basis) served basis) Duration : 3 hours Duration : 8 hours Charges : $40 per educator Charges : To be advised Venue : Jacob Ballas Children’s Venue : Your school Garden/ Group Size : 25 pax (max) Evolution Garden, Target Group : Primary 1–2 teachers Singapore Botanic Gardens Developed to meet the requirements Group Size : 15–20 pax of MOE’s Programme for Active Target Group : Primary school teachers Learning (PAL), Kids for Nature aims to facilitate holistic learning Teachers’ Training Workshops can be for students by creating meaningful arranged and conducted for schools outdoor experiences. The programme and organised groups. The workshops will equip children with the relevant available are: skills and knowledge to be safe • Highlights at Jacob Ballas and comfortable in the outdoors. It Children’s Garden will cultivate a sense of ownership • The Birthday Party – Sara at for the environment, and shape a the Children’s Garden child’s character and attitude through • Adventure with Plants – Sara at experiential learning. the Evolution Garden • Children’s Treasure Hunt – Sara, the Forgetful Dinosaur

06 Young Arborist Programme

Date : Open (first-come, first- served basis) Duration : 8 hours Charges : To be advised Venue : To be advised Group Size : 25 pax (max) Target Group : Primary, Secondary school teachers

Be equipped to bring your students on a journey of discovery into the world of trees with the Young Arborist Programme, an education package specially designed to enable students to see trees through the eyes of an Arborist, or a “Tree Doctor”. The programme is designed to transport students from the confines of the classroom to the wonders of our natural environment. We hope that your students will develop an interest in caring for trees, and learn to appreciate their importance.

07 Co-curricular Badge Series

Nature Keeper Programme Young Naturalist Programme

Date : Open (first-come, first- Date : Open (first-come, first- served basis) served basis) Duration : 3 hours per workshop Duration : 8 hours Charges : $5 per student Charges : $5 per student Venue : Central Catchment Venue : Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve Wetland Reserve Group Size : 20–40 students Group Size : 30–40 students Target Group : Primary Target Group : Primary, Lower Secondary This is a series of workshops designed to stimulate the interest Designed to draw budding young of the young and inculcate in them naturalists to explore Sungei Buloh an appreciation of our forests. The Wetland Reserve, the Young Naturalist programme also aims to nurture Programme is a journey of discovery into the wonders of . With the young volunteers to actively protect completion of each set of activities, and conserve our natural heritage. students are awarded a Young Eight animal badges and one Nature Naturalist badge. Four attractive Keeper Identity Badge await young badges await young naturalists who Nature Keepers who successfully successfully complete four sets complete the programme. of activities. Young naturalists of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve will get to explore the habitat, learn more about birds, express their creativity and participate in international events, such as World Wetlands Day and Earth Day.

08 Admir Charges Group Size Duration Date these trees! ways. Comeandlearnmoreabout are alsobeneficial to humansinmany withstand occasionalflooding.They poorlyaerated invery soiland survive “Punna”? Theseresilienttreescan Heard of“Merbau”,“Merawan” and Target Group Venue Exploring Back-mangroves Learning Journeys Learning alty P : : : : : : $6–$17.50 perstudent 15–20 students 1–1.5 hours basis) first-served Open (first-come, Secondary, Tertiary Admiralty Park a r k growth andreproduction. environments to allow for successful have adapted to theirnatural highlights how plants different strategies. Thisguidedwalk use awidevariety ofreproductive of theplantkingdom Members Target Group Venue R oots, ShootsandFruits Tertiary : : Primary, Secondary, Admiralty Park 09 009 Ann Siang Hill Park

Pioneers Trail A Forest No Less

Venue : Ann Siang Hill Park Venue : Bukit Batok and Telok Ayer Green Nature Park Target Group : Upper Primary, Target Group : All Levels Secondary, Tertiary Bukit Batok used to be a sleepy rural Learn about the way of life of area made up of forests, farm lands Singapore’s early immigrants along and factories. Today, it is a scenic nature park that consists of both this walking trail that will take you planted trees as well as a secondary through a quiet enclave amid the forest. The walk will highlight the hustle and bustle of Chinatown. Visit interesting plants and wildlife found places of worship built in the 1800s, in an established secondary forest as well as old shophouses. Check habitat. out the old well at Ann Siang Hill, and spice up your walk by taking a closer look at cinnamon and nutmeg trees along the way. Esplanade Park Monument Trail

Venue : Empress Place, Esplanade Park & War Memorial Park Target Group : Upper Primary, Secondary, Tertiary

Take a stroll along the mouth of the Singapore , once the heart of Singapore’s commercial activity and entrepôt trade. Relive Singapore’s history on this trail as it takes you to several historical landmarks and 10 national monuments. Fort Canning Park

Heritage on the Hill

Venue : Fort Canning Park Target Group : Upper Primary, Secondary, Tertiary

Did you know that the history of Fort Canning Park dates back to the 14th century? Check out the Trees of the Fort ancient artefacts excavated from the hill, and join us on a journey Venue : Fort Canning Park that highlights the changing faces Target Group : Upper Primary, of Fort Canning, from the ancient Secondary, Tertiary 14th century to the colonial 19th century. Let our nature guides bring you on a learning journey at Fort Canning Park. Find out more about the Heritage Trees on , as well as The Fort Canning Spice Trail other beautiful trees like the flaky- barked Gelam and gnarled Madras Venue : Fort Canning Park Thorn. Target Group : Upper Primary, Secondary, Tertiary

You might have tasted nutmeg and clove in various cuisines, but have you ever seen what these trees look like? Join us as we guide you through the Spice Garden. It was the site of Singapore’s first botanical gardens and now has a collection of different types of spices and medicinal plants.

11 HortPark

HortPark Garden Tour

Venue : HortPark Target Group : All levels

Take a stroll around HortPark. Learn all about interesting plants and gardening ideas as we take you through the various theme gardens and display plots.

Labrador Nature Reserve Creatures Up Close and Fascinating Forest at Labrador Personal

Venue : Labrador Nature Venue : Pasir Ris Park Reserve Target Group : Primary, Secondary, Target Group : Secondary, Tertiary Tertiary

Discover the rich heritage of Labrador What is a mangrove and why is Nature Reserve, explore Singapore’s it important to us? Embark on a only coastal cliff vegetation, and learn fascinating tour to discover the how plants in the Reserve play an answer. Look out for vinegar crabs, important role in the ecosystem by mudskippers, fiddler crabs, mud- supporting other life forms. creepers, and many more! Learn 12 how unique plants and animals live in this rich but harsh habitat.

Chek Jawa Guided Tour

Venue : Chek Jawa, Pulau Ubin Target Group : Primary, Secondary, Tertiary

Discover the beauty of Chek Jawa and learn about its six ecosystems, and the Sensory Trail diverse array of animals that inhabit these unique habitats. Venue : Pulau Ubin Target Group : Primary, Secondary, Tertiary

Experience nature at Pulau Ubin by stimulating all five senses on our Sensory Trail. This trail is an excellent introduction to the rustic and untouched natural beauty on the .

13 Singapore Botanic Gardens

Adventure with Plants - Sara at the Evolution Garden Conservation of the Native Venue : Evolution Garden, Orchids of Singapore Singapore Botanic Gardens Venue : Core, Target Group : Kindergarten, Lower Singapore Botanic Primary Gardens Target Group : Secondary, Tertiary Travel back through time with Sara the Botanicosaurus, and help her Did you know that of the 226 search for her squirrel friends at the species of native orchids recorded Evolution Garden. By going on this in Singapore, more than 170 are thematic trail, you will also learn considered to be extinct locally? Only about some of the ancient plants five of them are common. Join us and which emerged on Earth millions of learn about our orchid conservation years ago. programme, in which we monitor existing species, explore ways to conserve their germplasm and increase their numbers by planting them into appropriate environments in Singapore. You will be amazed by the horticultural considerations and challenges involved in this meaningful orchid re-introduction programme.

14 Eco-Garden Tour: Plants and their Uses

Venue : Eco-Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens Target Group : Upper Primary, Secondary, Tertiary

Plants play a key role in our lives. Come explore our Eco-Garden, where you can study, smell and feel selected living specimens. Special emphasis will be placed on the economic uses of these plants to humans.

Evolution Garden Tour: Evolution and Adaptation of Plants Evolution Garden Tour: Plant Venue : Evolution Garden, Singapore Botanic Classification Gardens Venue : Evolution Garden, Target Group : Upper Primary, Lower Singapore Botanic Secondary Gardens Target Group : Upper Primary, Lower Did you know that the first plants Secondary appeared on Earth about 500 million years ago? How did plants evolve and Through observation of living adapt over time? Come and explore specimens and investigative the Evolution Garden, and you will exercises, study the similarities and discover endangered plant species, differences among different plant models of extinct plants, as well as groups. The classification system of real fossils! 15 plants will also be explained. Flowers at Work Healing Garden

Venue : Jacob Ballas Venue : Healing Garden, Children’s Garden/ Singapore Botanic Tanglin Core/Central Gardens Core, Singapore Target Group : Secondary, Tertiary Botanic Gardens Target Group : Upper Primary Spread over 2.5 hectares, the Healing Garden is designed to be Take a closer look at flowering plants, a tranquil retreat. It contains more and increase your understanding than 400 species of medicinal plants of the forms and functions of flower traditionally used in . parts. You will also learn about The Healing Garden also serves as a pollination. plant bank, as many of these plants are dwindling in the wild.

16 Herbs and Spices Let’s Discover Plants and Animals

Venue : Core, Venue : Jacob Ballas Singapore Botanic Children’s Garden, Gardens Singapore Botanic Target Group : Upper Primary, Gardens Secondary, Tertiary Target Group : Kindergarten, Primary Herbs and spices have important culinary and medicinal uses. Come Be amazed by the many different types and explore our Herbs and Spices of animals in Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, and learn more about the Garden! Discover fascinating facts many benefits these plants provide about the wildlife in the Children’s us with. Garden, and learn the importance of respecting nature and our Heritage Tour environment.

Venue : Tanglin Core, Singapore Botanic Gardens Looking at Plants Target Group : Upper Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Venue : Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden/ Come view a piece of Singapore’s Tanglin Core/Central heritage – the Singapore Botanic Core, Singapore Gardens. Highlights of this Botanic Gardens tour include a tour of the Heritage Target Group : Upper Primary Museum, which features interactive exhibits and panels that share little This tour involves a comprehensive known facts of the Gardens’ rich study of selected plants in the living history. You will also get to view collection found in the Singapore rare artefacts such as botanical Botanic Gardens. This tour books and paintings. The tour also emphasises the functional parts of brings you to some of the Gardens’ a plant – namely the leaves, flowers, historical landmarks. fruits and seeds. 17 Numbers & Shapes

Venue : Jacob Ballas Rainforest Trek Children’s Garden/ Venue : Central Core, Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Singapore Botanic Gardens Gardens Target Group : Upper Primary, Target Group : Kindergarten, Secondary, Tertiary Lower Primary The beauty of the tropical rainforest Follow a trail of numbers and shapes lies in the fragility and uniqueness of at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. You the ecosystem, which is shaped by its will have the opportunity to discover inhabitants – the plants and animals interesting characteristics of selected found there. Come and join us for an plants, with special emphasis on enriching experience in the Singapore numbers and shapes. Botanic Gardens’ rainforest. Pond Life

Venue : Jacob Ballas Sara Goes Carbon Footprinting Children’s Garden/ Tanglin Core, Venue : Jacob Ballas Singapore Botanic Children’s Gardens Garden, Singapore Target Group : Kindergarten, Botanic Gardens Lower Primary Target Group : Primary

How do aquatic plants survive when Join Sara the Botanicosaurus and they are submerged in water? What her new friend, Rana the Frog, on this are the special characteristics that tour. Learn about carbon footprints enable some of them to float on and the many small, but important the water surface? Many animals things that all of us can do to make a also live on aquatic plants. Learn difference to our home, planet Earth. about pond ecology, food chains, You will also be introduced to some and aquatic ecosystems. You will be useful trees along the tour. amazed by the many different types 18 of aquatic plants and animals that can be found in ponds. The Southern Ridges

Kent Ridge Park Heritage Tour

Venue : Target Group : Secondary, Tertiary

Discover the interesting flora and fauna at Kent Ridge Park, and learn about one of the fiercest battles fought in Singapore during World War II, which took place on Kent Ridge Hill.

The Birthday Party: Sara at the Southern Ridges Nature Tour Children’s Garden Venue : Park & Venue : Jacob Ballas Hill Children’s Garden, Park Singapore Botanic Target Group : Secondary, Tertiary Gardens Target Group : Kindergarten, Lower This tour takes you through the Primary Southern Ridges, a soothing sanctuary of greenery that is Sara the Botanicosaurus is steeped in history as well as unique organising a birthday party for her flora and fauna. Highlights of the baby brother. At the last minute, she tour include the Henderson Waves, realises that she has forgotten to get the Sembcorp Forest of Giants, the him a birthday present! Help Sara Forest Walk and the Singing Forest. search for the perfect gift and along the way, have a fun and memorable experience in Asia’s first children’s garden. 19 Sungei Buloh Wetland Various Parks Reserve Park(s) Orienteering Guided Walk at Sungei Buloh Venue : Various parks Wetland Reserve Target Group : Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Venue : Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve This is an outdoor activity that Target Group : All Levels teaches your students map-reading and navigation skills. It is designed Join us on a guided walk around to raise environmental awareness Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, and encourage an appreciation of where you can learn about the nature in everyone. It also helps to interesting flora and fauna that promote teamwork, critical thinking inhabit the Reserve, and discover and leadership skills. how they are all interconnected in the web of life.

20 Workshops

Date : Open (first-come, first-served basis) Duration : 1–2 hours Group Size : 20–30 pax Charges : $10–$30 per student

Central Catchment Nature Reserve HortPark

I heART Nature Workshop Bottled Gardens - Terrariums

Venue : Bukit Batok Nature Venue : HortPark Park, Dairy Farm Target Group : Primary, Secondary Nature Park Target Group : Kindergarten, Lower Have you ever wanted your own Primary miniature bottled garden? At this hands-on workshop, learn how to Through this activity, children are create a sustainable enclosed garden able to build confidence and express with minimal fuss. Materials will be their creativity while being connected provided, and you can take home your to a natural environment. They will terrarium after the workshop. have opportunities to engage in interesting art and craft with nature- related themes.

21 Grow Your First Air Plant

Venue : HortPark Target Group : Upper Primary, Secondary, Tertiary

As their common name implies, air plants are plants that grow on other plants, needing little or even no soil. Learn how to care for these unusual members of the plant kingdom, and discover how you can best decorate your home and garden with them. Materials will be provided, and you can take home your own air plant after the workshop.

Nature Sketching in the Garden

Venue : HortPark Starting your First Plant Target Group : Upper Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Venue : HortPark Target Group : Kindergarten, The workshop will cover basic Primary landscape and nature drawing, as well as basic colour theory. Emphasis Try your hand at growing your first will be placed on understanding the plant and learn how to take care unique characteristics of nature, as of it. We encourage the use of old well as of flora and fauna that can be household items for this workshop, found in HortPark. Materials will be so bring along a used container, and provided. find out how you can recycle it into a beautiful pot for your plant. 22 Singapore Botanic Gardens My Garden in a Bottle

Venue : Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens Target Group : Primary, Secondary

Fancy having a garden of your own, but lack the space and time? Try creating your own terrarium – a type of container garden that is cheap, easy to create, and needs minimal care.

My Garden Fits a Dish “Trees Around Us” Drama Series

Venue : Jacob Ballas Venue : Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Children’s Garden, Singapore Botanic Singapore Botanic Gardens Gardens Target Group : Kindergarten, Target Group : Kindergarten, Primary Primary

Create a miniature garden in a Each workshop is centred on a dish! Experience being a landscape story about trees, and the many designer for a day as you design living creatures that make trees the layout of the plants in your dish their home. Through play and garden. dramatisation, take on various roles in the story, with the help of simple props and costumes. Through each story, you will learn about the beauty of trees, and also the importance of incorporating good behaviour in your 23 lives. Talks

Sara Goes Gardening Storytime with Sara Series

Date : Open (first-come, first- Date : Open (first-come, first- served basis) served basis) Duration : 1 hour Duration : 1 hour Charges : $9 per student Charges : $6 per student Venue : Jacob Ballas Venue : Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Children’s Garden, Singapore Botanic Singapore Botanic Gardens Gardens Group Size : 20 students Group Size : 20 students Target Group : Kindergarten, Lower Target Group : Kindergarten, Lower Primary Primary

Join Sara the Botanicosaurus as she Join Sara the Botanicosaurus and discovers fascinating facts about her friends for fun-filled storytelling gardening. Enjoy interesting stories sessions designed specially for about lemon grass, garlic, spring the little ones. In each story, you onion and many more nutritious and will learn about the importance of yummy herbs and spices. Besides plants and their uses, and find out learning about how plants are how you can help to save the Earth important for your health and well- and protect the environment. You being, you can also pick up gardening will also get to explore Jacob Ballas tips on how you can grow your own Children’s Garden, and get up close kitchen garden! and personal with the plants that are featured in the stories.

24 Highlights at Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden

Date : Open (first-come, first-served basis) Duration : 20 min Charges : $150 per talk Venue : Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens Group Size : 20–60 students Target Group : Kindergarten, Primary

Join us for a talk on Asia’s first children’s garden! Learn about the many colours, shapes, sizes, and textures of the plants in our Sensory Garden. You can find plants that can be used to make drinks and dyes here. There are even plants that grow on other plants! Have fun at the Fantastic Forest, which includes a tree house, a pond, a suspension bridge and a cave! There is plenty to see and do in the Children’s Garden!

25 Nature Ways

Nature Way Monitoring Programme

Target Group : Secondary, Tertiary As of June 2014, the Nature Ways in Singapore are as follows: The Nature Way Monitoring • Admiralty (3.5 km) – connects Programme engages schools which Admiralty Park to Central are located in close proximity to Catchment Nature Reserve these green corridors to monitor and () assess biodiversity. Through long- • Kheam Hock (1 km) – term monitoring, we can assess the connects the Singapore effectiveness of the Nature Ways Botanic Gardens to Central as conduits for bird and butterfly Catchment Nature Reserve movement. (MacRitchie) • (3.5 km) – connects For more information on the Nature to Pasir Ris Park Way Monitoring Programme, please • (6 km) – connects contact Samantha Lai at Park to Pasir [email protected]. Ris Park • Tanglin (5.5 km) – connects the Singapore Botanic Gardens to the Southern Ridges () • (10.5 km) – connects to Central Catchment Nature Reserve (Mandai)

26 Resource materials available for download:

• DIY e-guides on walking trails in parks and nature areas www.nparks.gov.sg/eguides • Worksheets and other teaching resources www.nparks.gov.sg/education • Know 10 trees in Singapore (information on Singapore’s common trees) www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/know10trees

For more information about our programmes, please contact us :

• Nurul Haniza • Shannon Lim [email protected] [email protected] 6471 7362 6471 7848

• Nicky Ng • Denise Chen [email protected] [email protected] 6471 7812 6471 7901

• Gina Leong [email protected] 6471 7847

27 Outdoor Learning at NParks

All information is correct at the time of printing. NParks reserves the right to amend the charges and activities without prior notice. This programme guidebook is printed on environmentally friendly paper.

To get the latest updates on events and happenings in our parks, please sign up for our e-newsletter at www.nparks.gov.sg/mailinglist.