22 Apr: Earth Day in Singapore

Lots of biodiversity activities to celebrate Earth Day in Singapore next week!

What is Earth Day?
There's often much confusion about Earth Day.

From wikipedia: Started nearly 40 years ago in the US, the Earth Day celebrated on 22 Apr is not a UN-sanctioned 'Day' or 'Year'. There are two websites claiming to be the 'official' Earth Day site: http://www.earthday.org/ and http://www.earthday.net/. In addition, there is a UN-sanctioned Equinox Earth Day which is celebrated around March at the annual equinox. This is managed by the Earth Society Foundation.

Nevertheless, a wide range of activities are conducted under the banner of 'Earth Day' in many countries on 22 April.

Here's some Earth Day activities to be held in Singapore:

21 Apr (Sat): Earth Day Celebrations @ Pasir Ris Park
Join the FREE celebrations of Earth Day at Pasir Ris. Go on a Mangrove Adventure and see creatures of the mangrove forst. Explore and learn with hands-on activities at the Sensory Kitchen and Butterfly Garden. Participate in many other exciting activities and win attractive prizes. Want to do more for Earth Day? Register your organised group (more than 10 persons) and sign  up for the Park Cleanup.

21 Apr (Sat): Free Earth Day walk at Pasir Ris Mangrove boardwalk 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! Celebrate Earth Day with the Naked Hermit Crabs, join this evening stroll through an 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! The walk is free and suitable for children.

21 Apr (Sat): Earth Day at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Join this guided walk to identify passerine birds from their calls. You will help carry out a bird census. A great opportunity to learn how a passerine bird census is done and to identify birds by their calls. While the walk is free, entry charges to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.

21 Apr (Sat): Earth Day Special: Storytime with Sara - Learning about the 3Rs
Join Sara and her friend, Rana the Frog, as they learn about how to save the earth and protect the environment. Children will also be taught the importance of trees and learn what they can do to save the environment. Go on a walk with Sara and gain first-hand experience walking through a rainforest, experiencing the sights, sounds and smell. Suitable for children in N1 – K2 levels. $6 per child and $6 per accompanying adult.

25 Apr (Wed): Talk by Prof Leo Tan at U@live
A relentless champion for the environment and science, Prof Leo Tan will give a talk at U@live. Professor Tan has been a vocal advocate for the environmental cause including Project Semakau, a three-year research programme with the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, and the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, set to open in 2014 with Singapore’s very first permanent exhibit of dinosaur fossils.  Come discover what this pioneering environmentalist has to say about Singapore’s “green” future. Special treat! There will be an Edmontosaurus femur on display! (A dinosaur bone!). Free but pre-registration is required.

28 Apr (Sat): Sara goes Carbon Footprinting
An Earth Day special, join Sara, the Botanicosaurus, and her new friend, Rana the Frog in this tour and learn about carbon footprints and the many little but important things that all of us can do to make a difference for our home, Planet Earth! Young participants will also be introduced to some useful and multi-purpose trees! Suitable for children in K1 - P6 levels. $8.50 per child (includes $2.50 “Sara Goes Carbon Footprinting" workbook) and $6 per accompanying adult

28 Apr (Sat): Earth Day Coastal Cleanup @ Tanah Merah – a call to Organisations to hit the beach! Companies and groups, come make a difference by cleaning up this much neglected shore which is very much alive!