Biodiversity for kids during the December school holidays

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

Exciting events include the launch of Neil Humphreys' "Secrets of the Swamp"; free Chek Jawa boardwalk tour; demonstration of traditional prawn farming at Sungei Buloh; a chance to rescue horseshoe crabs; fun with forest wildlife; dragonflies, carnivorous plants and MORE!


FREE EVENTS

16 Nov (Sat): Secrets of the Swamp – Storytelling and Activities for kids
Join us at this storytelling and activities session, where we will share about a new children’s book published by the National Parks Board, titled Secrets of the Swamp.

One of Singapore’s bestselling authors, Neil Humphreys, and award-winning illustrator Cheng Puay Koon (PK) will be there at this interactive session. Be spellbound as Neil takes you into another world full of the unknown, and discover your artistic talent with PK’s sketching activity. You will also get the opportunity to interact with Neil and PK through an autograph and picture taking session. The book will be available for purchase at the event. Suitable for children aged 7-12. Admission is free.

23 Nov (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 11-14 years old. Pre-registration is required.

Every Saturday from 16 Nov (Sat) to 28 Dec (Sat): Free Ecolife Tour for FamiliesSpend time with your family and learn more about Bishan–Ang Mo Kio Park and biodiversity in and around the river.

Ecolife introduces the park and the biodiversity found in the area through the use of interactive explorational themes and activities. It is to encourage family bonding between parents and child through the process of learning together. This tour is conducted by volunteers. For children 6 to 14 years old. Preregistration is required.

7 Dec (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.

Specially for families and kids. Not more than five persons in a group, pre-register with this online form.

14 Dec (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. Pre-registration not required for small walk-in groups.

14 Dec (Sat): Young Naturalist Passport Camp (Intermediate) 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 11-14 years old. Pre-registration is required.

15 Dec (Sun): Horseshoe Crab Rescue and Research
Get muddy and make a difference. Join us the Nature Society (Singapore) on their monthly mission to rescue and study the Mangrove Horseshoe Crab (HSC) at Kranji. Pre-registration required.

28 Dec (Sat): Butterfly-watching in HortPark
Butterflies are natural wonders and good indicators of the quality of our environment. Join us for an educational walk as our guides point out to you the numerous species of butterflies that visit HortPark. Seek out the beautiful caterpillars and learn about the lifecycles of these flying jewels.

Photo from the Butterflies of Singapore blog:
Launch of the Butterfly Garden at Hort Park.

At the end of this free tour by the HortPark volunteers, start your journey to becoming a conservationist by bringing your own flower pot and sowing the seeds of either a host or nectar plant that attracts butterflies. A small flower pot will suffice. Pre-registration is required.

MORE EVENTS

23 Nov (Sat): Storytime with Sara at Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden

Join us for a fun-filled storytelling session, specially designed for little ones. Children will explore Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden with Sara the Botanicosaurus and her squirrel friends, Fluff-tail and Twitchy. To conclude the programme, children will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with plants that are featured in the story, and even have the chance to rock the Suspension Bridge and play hide-and-seek in the Maze. Suitable for children in N1 – N2 levels. $6 per child and $6 per accompanying adult. Pre-registration required.

1 Dec (Sun): NSS Kids’ Fun with Forest Wildlife at Venus Drive
LTA’s proposed Cross Island MRT line will destroy a swathe of forest harbouring a rich variety of wildlife and result in forest fragmentation. Join Uncle Si Guim to understand the issues concerned, and get to see for yourself the many species of plants, birds, vertebrates and insects residing here. The walk will start and end at Venus Drive. For children 4 to 12 years old). $5 per child (member) or $10 per child (non-member). Pre-registration required.

7 Dec (Sat): MAD for Strange Plants - kids' workshop
Plants can be very strange. Some plants gobble up bugs! Other plants provide food and shelter for bugs that, in turn, take care of them. Some plants scare bugs and people away by giving off an unpleasant smell. But many plants that appear strange are very useful to us. Come learn interesting and fun facts about them and how you can make a difference to protect our environment and the natural homes of these strange plants. This hands-on session with feature live plants.

Suitable for kids 5-12, this programme is conducted with Cicada Tree Eco-Place. $25 per child. Re-registration required.

11 Dec (Wed): 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.

25 Nov (Mon) and 17 Dec (Tue): A Trail Of Colours - guided tour for kids
Have you ever been captivated by the colourful flowers you see in the Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden? Join us for this guided tour that will encourage children to examine selected flowering plants closely to understand the forms and functions of flower parts. Let the mysterious role of flowers in pollination unfold right before the eyes of your children!

Suitable for children in K1 - P6 levels. $6 per child and $6 per accompanying adult. 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.