Biodiversity for kids during the June school holidays

Exciting nature activities specially for kids are lined up for the coming school holidays! Lots of fun ways to discover and enjoy Singapore's biodiversity!

Activities include free nature camps, demo of traditional prawn farming, art workshops. Learn about dragonflies, our wild night creatures. Also walks at Pasir Ris mangroves, Chek Jawa boardwalk, Southern Ridges, Bishan riverplains.


FREE EVENTS

5 Jun (Thu) and 10 Jun (Tue) and 24 Jun (Tue): Nature Keeper Camp
Designed to stimulate the interest of the young and inculcate in them an appreciation of our forests, it aims to nurture young volunteers in protecting our natural heritage in the longer term. Children will learn more about the fun facts of the forests in Singapore and have the opportunity to interact with nature. Suitable for children 7 - 10 years old. Pre-registration required.

7 Jun (Sat): Prawn and Fish Demo at Sungei Buloh

Free guided introduction to traditional prawn farming. Go on a journey back to the past, where the history of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve as prawn and fish farms is one not to be ignored. The importance of mangroves as a spawning place and nursery for prawns and other life played an important role in shaping Sungei Buloh today. The traditional method of prawn harvesting will be demonstrated and how the tidal influence play a part in this activity will be brought to life. The highlight is a real hands-on demonstration of a prawn harvest. The kids will be thrilled to check out what comes up with the net, see real live prawns and learn more about our seafood and the tides.

7 Jun (Sat): Free Pasir Ris Mangrove boardwalk tour with the Naked Hermit Crabs
There are fascinating mangroves at Pasir Ris Park! Easily explored through the boardwalks and it's open even at night! Join the Naked Hermit Crabs for an evening stroll through this interesting but often overlooked mangrove. Here, we are sure to see lots of crazy tree climbing crabs, delightful giant mudskippers and cool monitor lizards. Pasir Ris is also one of the few places where nesting herons are easily observed. And as the sun sets, we might spot some nocturnal animals like watersnakes. If we're lucky, we may catch a glimpse of the rare Mangrove pitta or the family of otters that have been seen here! Pre-registration required.

7 Jun (Sat): Fun walk along the Southern Ridges
Take your family on a leisurely stroll through the Southern Ridges, a soothing sanctuary of greenery that is steeped in history and home to some of nature's greatest gifts of flora and fauna. Highlights of the free tour include the Henderson Waves, Sembcorp Forest of Giants, Forest Walk and Singing Forest. Pre-registration required.

7 Jun (Sat) and 14 Jun (Sat) and 21 Jun (Sat) and 28 Jun (Sat): EcoLife Family Tour @ Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park
Ecolife is a 2-hour FREE tour which introduces the park and the biodiversity found in Riverplains through the use of interactive exploration themes and activities. The tour aims to encourage family bonding between parents and child through the process of learning together. Join us as we take you through this tour with worksheets provided and fun hands on activities such as doing up your very own underwater viewing scope. Pre-registration required.

14 Jun (Sat): Birdwatching at the Southern Ridges
If you are a bird-lover, be sure to join us for this free chirpy experience at Southern Ridges! Comprising a chain of green-open spaces and forested areas spanning the rolling hills of Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park, the Southern Ridges is home to numerous species of flora and fauna yet to be fully explored. 43 species of birds have been recently surveyed in this area, and some of them are even rare and uncommon. Bring your own binoculars and you may just spot some rare birds here! Pre-registration required.

18 Jun (Wed) and 21 Jun (Sat): Free Pasir Ris Park Mangrove Guided Walk
Pasir Ris Mangrove Forest, home to a thriving habitat of unique plants and animals, is a piece of nature worth exploring. Venture into the dense 6-hectare mangrove forest on the boardwalk, and get up close and personal with mud crabs, mudskipper and water monitors. Pre-registration required.

28 Jun (Sat): Free Chek Jawa boardwalk tour with the Naked Hermit Crabs
The Naked Hermit Crabs introduce you to Chek Jawa without getting your feet wet. Even though we are not going on to the shore, there is still much to see and enjoy. There are monitor lizards, fiddler crabs, spiders, rare plants, wild boar, mudskippers and lots of fruit trees. If we are lucky, we might even spot the Oriental Pied Hornbill, White-bellied Sea Eagle and the giant Atlas Moth. Not more than five persons in a group, pre-registeration required.

28 Jun (Sat): Young Naturalist Passport Camp (Basic) at Sungei Buloh
This one day camp encompasses a series of fun-filled and educational indoor and outdoor learning of the wetlands and nature conservation issues through worksheets, nature walks and hands-on activities. Children will earn a stamp for every completed activity, and a full collection of stamps will earn them a series of cloth badges. Limited to 40 children between the age of 6 to 11 years old. Pre-registration is required.

OTHER EVENTS

7 Jun (Sat): HeART for Nature - workshop for kids
Come join us for this art workshop which helps children to learn more about our natural heritage and to express their love for nature through various art forms. At Bukit Batok Nature Park. Maximum 30 kids. Pre-registration required. $60 for every 10 children (art materials will be provided).

7 Jun (Sat) and 17 Jun (Tue): Sara Goes Gardening - a guided tour for kids 
Join Sara as she discovers fascinating facts and enjoys interesting stories about aloe vera, lemon grass, garlic, spring onion and many more nutritious and yummy herbs and spices. Alongside learning about plants for a healthier and stronger body, pick up gardening tips to grow your favourite plants for your very own kitchen garden! Suitable for children in K1 - P6 levels. $9 per child (includes "Sara Goes Gardening" book) and $6 per accompanying adult. Pre-registration required.


21 Jun (Sat): Let's Learn About Dragonflies - A guided tour for kids
Did you know that dragonflies are among one of the most ancient winged insects in the world? If we travel back to the Jurassic age, you will realise that they have not changed very much in terms of their body structures! Join us in this guided tour to learn more about this beautiful insect in Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden. You will learn the differences between a dragonfly and damselfly, its life cycle as well as the habits of a dragonfly. During the tour, we will also observe the dragonflies up close with a magnifying glass. Suitable for children in P1 – P3 levels. $9 per child and $9 per accompanying adult. Pre-registration required.

28 Jun (Sat): NSS Kids’ Fun with Vertebrates at Upper Seletar Reservoir
Open to the Public - Registration Needed. Let your kids be inspired by 11-year old Mark Strange as he guides us in a fun romp through Upper Seletar Reservoir. Mark will point out the area’s many nature gems including birds and other vertebrates. For kids 4 to 12 years old. $5 per child (member) or $10 per child (non-member) will be collected on the spot. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to join in at no charge. Pre-registration required.

28 Jun (Sat): Workshop for kids - Oooo...owls!
Who goes "hoo-hoo" in our forests at night? Why do we think they are so wise? What "special powers" do they have? Do they exist here in Singapore? Discover more about these beautiful nocturnal birds, and learn to make an owl hanging poster at the end of the session. Suitable for kids 5-10 years. $25 per child. Pre-registration required.


You can also explore on your own! Check out the many DIY Trail Guides on the NParks website. More about our wild places on wildsingapore. A tip to avoid the crowds on school holiday weekends, come early. That's when wildlife is more active anyway. And leave before it gets too hot.

MORE school holiday activities on the wildsingapore happenings blog.