Biodiversity for kids during the March 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!

Exciting events include free art workshops for kids, family birdwatching trips, photography tour for students only, demonstration of a prawn farm, Ecolife Tour for Families. Also kids' workshops about night creatures, palm trees, dragonflies and more!

FREE activities

15 Mar (Sat): HeART for Nature - FREE workshop for kids

This FREE art workshop at Bukit Batok Nature Park helps children to delve deep into their hearts to express nature in various themed art activities like drawing, fingerprinting, origami, puppet making. The children will also learn about our natural heritage. Suitable for children aged 5 to 8 years (with parental supervision).

15 Mar (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!

15 Mar (Sat): Young Naturalists Passport Camp 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 6-10 years old. Registration is required.

"Trees for Life" Photography Trail: 17 Mar (Mon): at Pearl's Hill City Park and 19 Mar (Wed): at Hyderabad Road (near Hort Park) and 21 Mar (Fri): at Fort Canning Park

In March, NParks will open your eyes to the trees around us through three walking trails at Pearl’s Hill City Park, Hyderabad Road and Fort Canning Park. Our guides will share about trees such as the Leopard Tree, Bodhi Tree and Broad-leafed Mahogany, and even point out the types of trees that would make good photography subjects. At the end of this session, you will submit your favourite photographs as entries in the NParks “Trees For Life” Photography Competition. This trail is open only to students aged 13 years old and above. Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes and remember to bring along a compact or DSLR camera, sufficient water and an umbrella.

Free Ecolife Tour for Families: 15 Mar (Sat) and 22 Mar (Sat)
It’s the school holidays again. Want to spend 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.

22 Mar (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.

22 Mar (Sat): Nature Keeper Programme

Designed to stimulate the interest of the young and inculcate in them an appreciation of our forests, the programme will be carried out at Dairy Farm Nature Park. The programme 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. As part of the programme, they will also be introduced to “The Green Factory” and understand how forest products are incorporated into our daily life. There will also be a guided walk at Wallace Trail and an art-and-craft session. Suitable for children 7 - 10 years old.

22 Mar (Sat): Heritage Trees of Singapore walking tour
Do you know that there are special trees in Singapore which have “Heritage Tree” status? Join us on this walking tour to discover five Heritage Trees in Duxton Plain Park and Spottiswoode Park. Along the way, we will also learn to identify the trees that provide us shade and beautify our urban landscape

22 Mar (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.

Other activities

15 Mar (Sat): Adventure with Plants - Sara at the Evolution Garden

In this guided tour for kids, join a giant prehistoric dinosaur, Sara, who lost her friends in the Evolution Garden. Travel back through time with Sara and help her search for her squirrel friends. By going through the thematic trail, you will also learn about some ancient plants which emerged on earth millions of years ago! Suitable for children in K1 – P6 levels. $8.50 per child (includes $2.50 "Adventure with Plants, Sara at the Evolution Garden" workbook) and $6 per accompanying adult.

17 Mar (Mon): The Great Palm Escape - a guided tour for kids

Be amazed by one of the finest palm collections in the world! Come on this guided tour and be introduced to some of the more interesting and unusual palms of the Gardens. Discover their interesting features and learn their names and uses too! Suitable for children in K1 – P6 levels. $6 per child and $6 per accompanying adult.

21 Mar (Fri): 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.

22 Mar (Sat): We Love the Nightlife - a workshop for kids

Who loves the night life? Bats, snakes, frogs, toads, owls and night jars! Join us to find out more - we will start with a talk showcasing native nocturnal wildlife, followed by an art and craft session where kids can make and keep paper souvenirs of our nocturnal animals. The event will end with a night walk at Canopy Walk, Kent Ridge Park where we will try and spot nocturnal wildlife. Suitable for kids 5-10, this programme is conducted with Cicada Tree Eco-Place. $25 per child.

22 Mar (Sat): "Trees Around Us" Drama Series for kids

"Trees Around Us" Drama Series: Through each story about trees, children learn to emulate and incorporate good, moral value in their lives. The Secret Heart of the Tree - An African Tale (A Drama Workshop) Based on a light-hearted African tale that carries a powerful message of respect for nature, respect for others and respect for one's word and honour, this drama workshop teaches children important values and invites them to discover the wonders of plants through dramatization, interaction and play.  Suitable for children in K1 - P6 levels. $10/child.

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.