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Contributed by Desiree on Workplace in 2019
HI ALL! Dania Syazana (NYC) and myself were on FULLLL LAND EX (YAYYY) last week and in accordance with our Team 7 AOR we decided to try to make it a very nature appreciating, environment and heritage lovin' week for the kids! HERE'S WHAT WE DID.
(Any input would be appreciated and maybe it could also spark some ideas for next week!)
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OBJECTIVE: Balance Adventure Education with Environmental Education. Include as many nature/environment/heritage appreciating activities into our program.
FRAMING: GREEN EXPLORERS of Pulau Ubin.
HOW WE FRAMED IT: Told participants that they were on a special full land program. Asked them to point out differences between Ubin and mainland Singapore - "more green, no aircon, less buildings, more animals" were some of the responses. Described how mainland Singapore was like Ubin last time, lamented the loss of nature and our old places. In our special program though, we have been provided with the opportunity to explore and learn of this island that was like Singapore of old, its people, places, flora, fauna and our impact on the place. We are not just going to trek, we are going to become GREEN EXPLORERS!
WHAT WE DID: Eco Kit and Booklet, Nature Appreciation, Beach Clean Up, Kekek Quarry: How Nature Bounced Back, Used Ubintu Cards for Land Ex, Stories and Sharings during Land Ex, Drawing to Connect, additional stations for Liferun
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TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DID AND EMBARK ON THIS GREEN EXPLORATION JOURNEY WITH US, SCROLL THROUGH THE PHOTOS AND ITS DESCRIPTIONS:)
ECO KIT
As part of being a Green Explorers, they would be provided with an Eco Kit. In it, there would be an Eco Booklet that would be like a scrapbook of their explorations and learnings. They would share their Eco Booklet with the other watch after the end of their explorations. Dania prepared the booklets for them (see next photos). To see what the kids put into the booklets, continue scrolling...
Sidenote: Seaweed packet that the pax get in their rations was deliberately used to reduce plastic waste
Eco Booklet pg 1
Eco Booklet pg 2
NATURE APPRECIATION
WHERE: Tajam campsite, Aunty's Farm, C&C Park.
WHAT WE DID: On Wed, Thurs and Fri morning, we set aside 5 - 10 mins for participants to just be with nature. They were allowed to sit or lie down. Silence was to be observed throughout the activity.
At the individual sites, we told the story of Tajam and Aunty's Farm then got them to close their eyes.
We would ask/say certain things like...
"What sounds do you hear? Do you hear the Jungle Fowl call in the distance? How many layers of sounds do you hear? Do you feel the cool morning breeze? Was the ground or your tent wet with morning dew? Breathe the fresh morning air..."
We would also get the participants to open their eyes and look at the sky.
"What do you see? How many stars do you see? Are there more if you look longer? Is it too cloudy? Which is the brightest star?"
HOW WE CLOSED:
AT TAJAM - Asked them to point to where the insect sounds were coming from (it was from the forest area not affected by the fire). Described how last time the area was like the forest but the fire destroyed the habitats of these insects, even though we are trying to do reforestation, it is going to take a long while before the forest goes back to what it was. Explained how fire may have been caused by trash left behind (cigeratte butt? Glass that caused a fire to start coz of the sun?), linked it to human impacts and its consequences.
AT SHOPPING CENTRE - This is what Aunty experiences when she is here. The sounds of nature, the quiet and solitude.
AT C&C - It was their final morning here. Talked of how camp is drawing to a close, appreciate these last moments. Also, it was cloudy at first, couldn't see the stars, but after being present and listening, the clouds cleared and the stars can be seen again. Sometimes you face difficulties, things are cloudy but eventually, the clouds pass.
WHAT WE DID: Being Green Explorers, we would do our bit to help pick up trash at the beach. Gave them just 5 mins to pick up as much as they could. Once trash collected, in their watches participants would have 2 mins to arrange the trash according to which would decompose fastest to longest. After arranging, we would ask them to guess how long each material took and then gave them the correct answer.
HOW WE CLOSED:
Asked them which was the most common material? (Plastic - packaging, bottles, straws, etc.)
Asked them how long they usually used these for (5 mins, 1 hour were some responses).
We use it for such a short while and throw them but throwing away doesn't mean they go away - decomposing somewhere for MONTHS, YEARS. Some trash end up on beaches, in the sea.
Asked them what are the impacts (unsightly, animals eat were some responses).
As Green Explorers what can we do? (pick up trash, don't litter were some responses.)
KEKEK RAFTING
1) Asked what they saw along the way during the trek? (Plants, insects, old well)
2) Asked what they saw that didnt belong? (Trash on the ground, in the forest)
3) Linked the two: human impacts in the natural habitat.
4) Here at Kekek Quarry, we have a gem of a place where humans impacted it (tell the story of the mining), but nature has bounced back after the impact. We are going to see it BUT WE NEED TO BUILD A RAFT TO SEE THE GEM.
5) Craftsmanship and teamwork put into play where pax learnt from watchmates familiar with the knots needed to build the raft. We framed this for success so we offered help at some parts.
6) RAFT BUILT. ENTER WATER.
7) Tell story of how the quarry was mined, the destruction, how there would be a siren for the islanders to know when the dynamiting wld start, whichever other story you might have also can
7) MOST IMPORTANTLY, get participants to be in complete silence in the quarry. No paddling. Just sit, listen, observe the beauty.
8 ) LET THE QUARRY SPEAK FOR ITSELF
DURING LAND EX : UBINTU CARDS
1) Prior to Land Ex, participants had to plot and plan their route.
2) Reminded them that other than just going on the expedition, we were also Green Explorers.
3) Showed them the cards and described that each card had either an animal, plant, place or item we could find on the island.
4) 1 card given to each pax
5) If item is found, must read description to watch
6) Final catch - If they can find X out of 12 cards, can skip 1 check point
Sidenote: I have found that this technique helps coz oftentimes on the expedition the kids forget about the cards/tiredness takes over so interest dies. This spurs them on to keep observing their surroundings. If you dont actually want them to skip any checkpoints you can mastermind it by putting in more rare items like (pangolin, snakes hahaha) or get them to find all cards.
DRAWING TO CONNECT
(did this activity with nature guide, Grace, during one of our training weeks - an Environmental/Sense of Place mod)
1) Got pax to choose a plant they like and draw it with as much detail possible
2) Activity to be done in silence and alone
3) Share what they drew with everyone
4) Asked at first glance what did all the plants seem like? (Just green, just plants, boring)
5) Asked what they noticed while drawing (more details, different colours, shapes, pattern of leaves)
6) Asked what is this similar to in life? At first all seem the same, but upon closer inspection is different? (people is the answer)
7) Discussed how sometimes we judge people or feel like someone is not your type of friend but if we looked closer and got to know them, all were different with different opinions, personalities, characters, interests.
8) End off by asking how well have you gotten to know the people around you?
Side note (Alex Tan): Points 3-8 can be a lead up activity to Peer Affirmation? As we begin to look at the uniqueness of people, we see the value of every individual.Then write a note for everyone.
FINAL NIGHT
WHAT WE DID: After the end of the expedition and celebration dinner, we got pax to come together in their watches to complete their Eco Booklet. After which they exchanged booklets and shared what were some different things the other watch experienced/learnt about
Next few photos show some of the content of their booklets. To see it in real life, check Team 7's cabinet:)
Life Run
WHAT WE DID: We added two slightly different liferun stations pertaining to the environment.
Sidenote: All the liferun stations were written on recycled cardboard from the pax rations instead of fresh paper!
Station 2 was aimed at getting them to think about something they have come to appreciate with regards to nature/heritage.
Station 3 was aimed at getting them to think of a commitment they would make to protecting nature/places.
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