What's on this week for nature activities in Singapore

WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK?!
Nature activities and events happening this week

27 Nov-3 Dec 06

1 Dec (Fri): Young Naturalist Passport (YNP) Camp

For kids between the age of 6-10 years old, 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. Registration closes when full capacity is reached.

More details about the YNP programme on the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website

Time: 8.30am - 5pm
Contact: 67941401
Costs: Each participant needs to purchase a young naturalist passport from our Visitor Services Counter at 50 cents. Registration of $5 is applicable, and cheques will be returned upon attendance and completion of the camp. The fee will be donated to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve education fund if the child fails to turn up for the camp upon registration and confirmation. Admission charges (50 cents per child) apply.

2 Dec (Sat): Horseshoe Crab Watch
for NSS members only

Hsu Chia Chi leads this afternoon at the Mandai mudflats monitoring our Mangrove horseshoe crabs, and rescue them from carelessly discarded nets if necessary. Learn about the flora and fauna of this mangrove shoreline and witness the increasing number and variety of migratory shore birds that sojourn or re-fuel in this rich estuarine area on their annual southward winter migration.

Time: 2.30pm, Meet at end of nameless track (extension of Kranji Rd at junction with Kranji Way and Kranji Loop) where there is a small Hindu shrine at 2.30pm. If you don’t know the area, meet at Kranji MRT station at 2.15pm.
Contact: More details about the Nature Society (Singapore). To join the NSS, email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

2 Dec (Sat): Lower Peirce Boardwalk
free Nature Appreciation Walk

The 900m boardwalks take you through the forest then along the edge of the Reservoir. So you will encounter a wide range of wildlife from forest to aquatic creatures. And enjoy wonderful panaromas of waters surrounding by luxuriant forest. Shaded by the forest, the walk is pleasantly cool. more

Time: 9.30am and 10.30am. Meet at Casuarina Entrance of the trail along Old Upper Thomson Road.
Tour duration: about one and a half hours. Suitable for young children
To join the guided tour, you will need to pre-book.
Contact: vanessa_chang@nparks.gov.sg or call :6554 5127.

2 Dec (Sat): Free Evolution Garden Tour, Singapore Botanic Gardens

Journey through time with our volunteer guides in this one-hour tour. Bizarre plants, bubbling pools of hot lava and lots of other things you wouldn't expect to see in a botanic garden!

Time: 9am, register at Visitor Centre Time. Register 15 minutes before the tour. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis.
Contact : Visitor Services (6471 7361)

2 Dec (Sat): Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve free guided walk

You'll see the fabulous plants and animals of the mangroves and freshwater wetlands. Besides the abundant bird life, there is also other fascinating wildlife in the Reserve. more

3pm: Marine Fish Tour, a 30-minute tour introducing the fascinating fishes of Buloh.

Time: 9am, 10am, 3pm, 4pm, for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.
Tour duration: one to one and a half hours. Easy trails, some suitable for young children.
Entry charges: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

3 Dec (Sun): Anniversary Sungei Buloh walk

In celebration of the anniversary of the official opening of Singapore's first wetlands reserve at Sungei Buloh, volunteers of NUS' Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, conduct a free walk for the public every year on teh Sunday closest to the anniversary date which is the 6th.

Who is this walk for? Anyone and even children. The walk will be conducted in the vicinity of the Visitor Centre - main bridge, main hide, mangrove boardwalk and along part of route 1. Be prepared for rain as always. What will you hear about and see? Hear stories about the animals, plants and the ecology of mangroves - get introduced to the economic plants, crabs climbing trees at high tide, mudskippers, snails, Archer fish, Mullets, Halfbeaks and Garfish. You will also learn about the invasions of WWII and see the view of Johor. Other gems we always hope to see: Water monitors, the resident family of Smooth-coated otters and the prize - the crocodile! It's also time for the migratory birds!

You can take TIBS No. 925 from Kranji MRT right to the park. Catch the 7.30am bus else you will be late.

More details on the habitatnews blog

Pre-registration required.

Time: 8am. Meet at the Visitor Centre of at Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve (SBWR)
Contact: toddycats@gmail.com

3 Dec (Sun): Plant Walk at Pulau Ubin

With Shawn Lum, Head of the plant group and Vice President of Nature Society (Singapore). For those who have been on Shawn’s walk before will know he is a fountain of interesting facts and information. The walk is restricted to 24 people and is expected to be fully booked. Please email early to avoid disappointment.

Time: Meet 4pm SHARP at Changi Village jetty.
Contact: Grant at grant@gvn.com.sg with your name and mobile number.

3 Dec (Sun): Birdwatching at Pulau Semakau
for NSS members only

This is a good time to visit Semakau for migratory birds and migrant surprises. Ho Hua Chew leads the walk to observe resident attractions such as Great-billed Heron, Pacific Reef Egret, Malaysian Plover, etc. Sightings are possible of rare migrants such as the Chinese Egret, Oriental Pratincole, etc.

Time: 7.30am, meet at the West Coast Pier (near Republic of Singapore Yacht Club.) Back to the mainland by 2pm. There is free parking at Carpark 2 off the West Coast Highway.
Cost: Non-refundable $25 fee for boat and administration charge. Send your cheque to the NSS office by 15 September with the All Purpose Form. Number of persons for trip: 11 or 22 or 33.
Note: Identity card or passport is mandatory for boarding. Strictly for members only, on a first-come, first-served basis. Children under 12 are not allowed (NEA regulation). Please note that your reservation is not automatically confirmed until you hear from the trip leader after the closing date.
Contact: More details about the Nature Society (Singapore). To join the NSS, email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

3 Dec (Sun): Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
free Nature Appreciation Walk

This is a special walk in conjunction with the launch of the guidesheet to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (on sale for $5 at the little shop at BTNR and Nature's Niche, the bookshop at Singapore Botanic Gardens).

The walk takes you along the short South View trail for a quick introduction to the rainforest. You will learn more about the amazing plant life in a rainforest and how everything fits remarkably together. more

Time: Walk starts at 4pm. Meet 5 minutes before the walk starts at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: about one hour. Not accessible to prams and wheelchairs.
To join the guided tour, you will need to pre-book with NParks.
Contact: vanessa_chang@nparks.gov.sg or Tel:6554 5127

3 Dec (Sun): Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve free guided walk

You'll see the fabulous plants and animals of the mangroves and freshwater wetlands. Besides the abundant bird life, there is also other fascinating wildlife in the Reserve. more

Time: 9am, 10am subject to availability of volunteer guides; for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.
Tour duration: one to one and a half hours. Easy trails, some suitable for young children.
Entry charges: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

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