23-29 Jun: Highlights of the week ahead

A major highlight this weekend is EnviroFest 2008 at the Toa Payoh HDB Hub. The event gathers many groups active in environmental issues under one roof.

If you've always wanted find out more about our environment and what you can do to make a difference, here's an excellent opportunity to do so.

The groups exhibiting at the event will include Nature Society (Singapore), Waterway Watch Society, Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (Acres), Raffles Museum Toddycats!, Cat Welfare Society, Naked Hermit Crabs, Hantu Bloggers, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Nature Trekker Singapore.

Specially for the kids

• Nature walks at Seletar Camp, a fast disappearing environment.
• FREE Chek Jawa boardwalk tour by the Naked Hermit Crabs.
• The Secret Life of Flowers a workshop at HortPark.

Outdoor walks

• Mangroves guided walks at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Saturday and Sunday.
• Guided walks at HortPark
• Guided walk at he Evolution Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens
• Guided heritage and nature walk at Fort Canning Park.
• For Nature Society (Singapore) members only, there's a Ramble on Pulau Ubin.

Exploring our sea shores!

• FREE Chek Jawa boardwalk tour by the Naked Hermit Crabs
• Dive at Pulau Hantu with the Hantu Bloggers

For a different experience, go stargazing at the Singapore Science Centre.

Registration now open:

• 6 Jul (Sun): Family walk on Sentosa's natural shores
• 5 Jul (Sat): Reefwalk at Kusu Island
• 5 Jul (Sat) and 6 Jul (Sun) : Intertidal walk at Pulau Semakau

Visit the wildsingapore happenings blog for a full listing of upcoming events for the next three weeks and to search for events by your area of interest.

This beautiful poster of our very own Glossy Horseshoe Bat reveals one of the many fascinating but little known wild creatures that we share our island with.

Glossy Horseshoe Bat in tree hole, originally uploaded by kwok_wai.

29 Jun (Sun): Free Chek jawa boardwalk tour

The Naked Hermit Crabs introduce you to Chek Jawa without getting your feet wet. Enjoy the great view and find out more about rare coastal plants, cute fiddler crabs, aggressive mudskippers, sturdy mangrove trees, interesting bugs and more!

The free walk will be held every the last Sunday of the month. You don’t even have to sign up. On each public walk day, a few of the volunteer guides will be stationed at the Chek Jawa Info Kiosk in front of House No. 1 at Chek Jawa.

Group size? Come in small friends and family groups of around 6 people or fewer. We expect to have a few guides volunteering each time, but cannot guarantee that we will have a lot of guides. Please …. don’t organize a huge company group and show up at our free walk-in tours. We will be overwhelmed and you will go away very disappointed.

What happened at the event on the adventures with the naked hermit crabs blog

Time: 3 pm meet at the Chek Jawa Info Kiosk
Duration: Two hours
Cost: no charge for now, but donations accepted.
Website: http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.com/
Contact: nakedhermitcrabs@gmail.com

29 Jun (Sun): Pulau Ubin Ramble

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only.

Join the Nature Ramblers led by Yap Chung Kui for this 4hr/8km ramble. Explore the numerous trials and savour the rustic charm of the countryside Also see Malay kampongs, fish ponds, coconut groves and fruit trees. The highlight will be a visit to Chek Jawa where you can view marine life from the new boardwalk and climb the tower to have a good look at the surrounding mangrove swamp. Boat fares to be borne by participants. Booking is not required. Not suitable for children below 12 yrs.

Time: 7.45am. Meet at Changi Point Jetty.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

29 Jun (Sun): Mangrove Walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Sunday morning, subject to availability of guides.

Time: 9.30 am (subject to availability of guides) for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

29 Jun (Sun): Dive Pulau Hantu with the Hantu Bloggers

A unique and educational dive experience in our local waters. Discover what is truly, uniquely Singapore!

Your support helps us monitor and document Hantu's reef on a regular basis! Let's see what's waiting for us out there this time!

Pre-registration is required.

Organised by the Hantu Bloggers, check out their blog for more details of the trip and past exciting encounters.

Join the The Hantu Bloggers Yahoo Group to read the trip itinerary, and to be informed of future dives.

Website: http://www.pulauhantu.org/
Contact: hantublog@gmail.com

28 Jun (Sat): Guided Walk at Evolution Garden

A free guided walk of this unique garden in the Botanic Gardens, that tells the story of how our plants came to be. An easy stroll on paved paths among strange plants.

Suitable for kids.

The 4pm tour is conducted in mandarin.

This walk is held every fourth Saturday of the month.

Time: 9am (English tour) 4pm (Mandarin tour)
Venue: Register at Visitor Centre before the tour starts.
Contact: Visitor Services 6471 7361

28 Jun (Sat): Heritage and Nature Walk at Fort Canning Park

Free guided walk to discover the most historic part of Singapore. Malay & Chinese historical records point to this hill as the centre of a kingdom that arose around 1300AD. Previously a "Forbidden Hill", Fort Canning Park once housed some ancient Malay rulers as well as Sir Stamford Raffles who had his house built in 1823 during his 3rd and last visit to Singapore.

This walk is conducted by volunteer guides every last Saturday of the month.

Time: 4-5.30pm
Venue: Meet at Cox Terrace, in front of Fort Canning Centre, Fort Canning Park
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: Lili at 63321302 or Goh_lili@nparks.gov.sg

28 Jun (Sat): Mangrove Walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Saturday.

Time: 9.30 am and 3.30pm for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

28 Jun (Sat): Guided Tour @ HortPark

This free tour of HortPark features HortGardens, a collection of 20 theme gardens and the GardenPatch, a patchwork of display plots showcasing garden designs, concepts and products by local gardening-related companies. See nurserymen at work, propagating plants for our garden city.

This tour is conducted every last Saturday of the month.

Please register 15 minutes before the tour. Registration is on a first-come-first served basis.

Time: 10-11.30 am
Venue: Register at Visitor Information Counter @ HortPark
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: 64715601 or NPARKS_HortPark@nparks.gov.sg

28 Jun (Sat): The Secret Life of Flowers -- a workshop at HortPark

Ever seen the insides of a flower really up close? Join this educational workshop and explore the various parts of a flower with a hand-lens. Learn how these flower parts contribute to pollination and the sexual reproduction of the plant.

Conducted by Woon Ling Ling (NParks).

Suitable for kids (9 – 12 years old).

To register, please call the HortPark Hotline at 6471-5601 or email NPARKS_HortPark@nparks.gov.sg. Registration closes 1 day before the event date.

Time: 12.30pm-1.30pm
Venue: HortPark - Fruit Room
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/CsubPage.aspx?prv=Y&pg=124
Contact: 6471-5601 or email NPARKS_HortPark@nparks.gov.sg

28-29 Jun (Sat-Sun): Envirofest 2008

Envirofest is a one-stop event that showcases various local environmental groups and school green clubs that represent the main areas of environmental activism.

Envirofest is a platform for local environmental groups to showcase their conservation efforts and publicize their activities so as to raise awareness among the general public of Singapore. It also hopes to build a network that connects the local eco-community, with the purpose of initiating joint green efforts.

We aim to introduce and promote environmental-related activities as new and interesting recreational activities to the heartlanders. Lastly, we hope to share a real and economical sense of green thinking and green living to Singaporeans in their daily lives through creative projects and exhibitions.

Local environmentalists will be sharing their environmental efforts with the heartlanders on stage. Their topics covered range from nature conservation of Singapore to the marine life at our wonderful shores.

The list of exhibitors include

• National Environment Agency
• National Parks Board
• Public Utilities Board
• National Library Board
• Sembwaste
• Nature Society (Singapore)
• Waterway Watch Society
• Animal Concerns Research & Education Society
• Raffles Museum Toddycats!
• Cat Welfare Society
• Naked Hermit Crabs
• Hantu Bloggers
• Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• Nature Trekker Singapore
• Exhibits from the Asean Youth Festival Photography Competition
• Singapore Polytechnic Environment Club
• National Junior College Greenlink
• Hwa Chong Institution

In addition, this environmental awareness carnival will also be a platform for companies to exhibit their eco-products or eco-services.

The opening ceremony will be at 5 pm on 28th June 2008, with Associate Professor Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Environment and Water Resources and Member of Parliament for Jalan Besar GRC gracing the event as Guest-of-Honour, and opening Envirofest and as well as launching the SWITCH (Simple Ways I can Take to Change my Habits) campaign nationwide. Joining him will be the NEA CEO Mr Lee Yuen Hee and Mr Sam Tan, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC.

Time: 11 am-8 pm
Venue: Toa Payoh Amphitheatre (in front of Toa Payoh Community Library)
Website: http://www.kolamayeryouths.sg/envirofest2008/
Contact: boonwah_chan@KolamAyerYouths.sg

27 Jun (Fri): Free Stargazing at the Singapore Science Centre

The Science Centre Observatory is one of the few observatories in the world located next to the Equator. Its unique position allows constellations in both the northern and southern celestial hemispheres to be observed and thus opens up more vistas in the sky for observers.

View the night sky at our free stargazing sessions every Friday night, 7:50pm - 10pm.

Please note that all observations are weather permitting. In the event of cloudy skies, haze or rain observations may not be possible.

More details on the Singapore Science Centre website

Time: 7.50-10pm
Venue: The Science Centre Observatory, near the Omni-Theatre
Website: http://www.science.edu.sg/
Contact: General enquiry 64252 500 or enquiry@science.edu.sg

25 Jun (Wed): Nature walks around Seletar Camp

Seletar Camp has been popular during school holidays and this year, there has been a little more organisation - probably because for most residents, this may be the last holiday season here.

Come and take a stroll around this unique corner of Singapore. See how many different birds you can spot, how many wild and cultivated flowers and plants and trees there are and how many small planes you can see taking off. Talk to residents and ask them about their experiences of living in this natural wonderland. Seletar - a great community, history, nature - so much to offer!

More details on the postcards from seletar blog

Time: 5pm
Website: http://postcardsfromseletar.com/
Contact: Sue 91057778

16-22 Jun: Highlights of the week ahead

The holiday fun continues for the kids and the family. Here's some events to look forward to

• Get to know Eppy and friends a guided mangrove walk for the family at Pasir Ris Park.
• Fruit, Glorious Fruits! a guided walk for kids.
• Paper nature craft for kids at Pasir Ris Park.
• Discover the colourful world of butterflies a craft session at the library.
• Earth-friendly puppet-making at the library.
• PLAYing in the park a series of outdoor interactive plays (mini musicals) for children and the young at heart.

Have a fun day outdoors AND make a difference! Help out at Compassionate Day at Acres' Wildlife Rescue Centre on Friday and Saturday.

In the forests, join the Native Plant Hunt to learn more about our native plants in a fun way.

In the gardens, there's a walk at the National Orchid Garden,

In the mangroves, join the guided walks at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Saturday and Sunday.

For Nature Society (Singapore) members there birdwatching at Pulau Ubin.

On the shores there's an intertidal walk at Pulau Semakau with the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research.

For a special night out, go stargazing at the Singapore Science Centre.

Talks this week include

• Wayside trees and palms at HortPark.
• Kingfishers of Sungei Buloh at the Cheng San Community Library.
• Singapore Hornbill Project at the Pulau Ubin Volunteer Hub
  

Registration now open:

• 6 Jul (Sun): Family walk on Sentosa's natural shores
• 5 Jul (Sat) and 6 Jul (Sun) : Intertidal walk at Pulau Semakau
• 29 Jun (Sun): Dive Pulau Hantu

Visit the wildsingapore happenings blog for a full listing of upcoming events for the next three weeks and to search for events by your area of interest.

Marine litter is indeed a hair raising issue. Another thought-provoking photo by Uncle Tay for the photo of the week.

It sends a chill up my spine!, originally uploaded by biodiversity711.

22 Jun (Sun): Birdwatching at Pulau Ubin

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only.

Pulau Ubin has become increasingly popular with holidaymakers seeking one of the last greeneries. This time round, our verteran birder Lim Kim Keang will bring you deeper into the island where surprises await. Besides rubber plantations and fruit tree orchards, island hosts like Oriental Pied Hornbills, Oriental Magpie Robins, Abbott’s Babblers, Red Junglefowl, woodpeckers, parakeets etc will welcome us with their heartwarming calls. Meet . Bring mosquitoes repellent, hat and ample water for this trip.

Time: 7.30am, meet at Pulau Ubin Jetty. (Boat fare per trip cost $2.50 per head to be borne by participants)
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

22 Jun (Sun): Mangrove Walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Sunday morning, subject to availability of guides.

Time: 9.30 am (subject to availability of guides) for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

21 Jun (Sat): Walk at the National Orchid Garden

A leisurely stroll through a garden of orchids and other special plants.

The 4pm tour is in mandarin.

This walk is conducted by the volunteers of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and is held every third Saturday of the month.

Time: 9am, 10am, 11am and 4pm, register at Visitor Centre 15 minutes before the tour starts. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis.
Tour duration: One hour.
Cost: While the tour is free, admission charges to the Orchid Garden applies: $5/adult, $1/student, $1/senior citizens (above 60 years) , Child below 12 years - Free
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: Visitor Services 6471 7361

21 Jun (Sat): Mangrove Walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Saturday.

Time: 9.30 am and 3.30pm for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

21 Jun (Sat): Stroll on the Southern Ridges

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only

A Stroll on the Southern Ridges with Yap Von Bing. We will take a leisurely stroll on the brand-new elevated walkway linking the Southern Ridges. Starting at the Alexandra Road, it meanders through a secondary forest through to Telok Blangah Hill. On this stretch, we will get close to many typical plants of the belukar vegetation as well as hear and see birds hanging around the thickets. We shall continue through the park and cross the magnificent Henderson Waves to Mount Faber.

Time: 8.30am, meet on Alexandra Arch (over Alexandra Rd).
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

21 Jun (Sat): Talk on "Singapore Hornbill Project"

The Singapore Hornbill Project, now into its fourth year, is a collaboration among NParks, NTU and the Jurong BirdParks. The study looks into the nesting ecology of the Oriental Pied Hornbill to better understand the factors behind nesting success and failure.

The talk will cover some of the key initiatives of this year's work, including the development of a GPS system to track the ranging pattern of the male hornbill, capture techniques, analysis of blood samples to determine genetic affinities, as well as other important findings.

About the speakers

Marc Cremades is the coordinator of the Singapore Hornbill Project and is also the Advisor (Conservation) of the Avian Department, Jurong BirdPark. Marc has worked for many years on bird breeding programmes in North America, Europe and Africa, and is currently involved in another study on the eco-physiology of birds in their natural habitats.

Prof Ng Soon Chye is an avid naturalist, as well as a former President of the Nature Society (Singapore). A co-initiator of the Singapore Hornbill Project, he is also one of Singapore's leading obstetrician and gyneacologist.

Nathalie and Edmund are final year Biological Sciences undergraduates under Prof Ng's supervision.

Time: 10-11am
Venue: Pulau Ubin, Volunteer Hub
Contact: Adelle Wang WANG_Shumin@nparks.gov.sg

21 Jun (Sat): PLAYing in the Park at Pasir Ris Park

In conjunction with the school holidays in June, PLAYing in the Park is a series of outdoor interactive plays (mini musicals) for children and the young at heart.


Time: 5-6pm
Venue: West Coast Park
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/eventshub.asp

21 Jun (Sat): Get to know Eppy and Friends - a guided mangrove walk

What exactly is a mudskipper? And who is Fiddler crab or Sesamine crab? Does a dog-faced water snake look more like a dog or a snake? Join the team and discover answers to the questions above and more. And if we’re lucky, we may be able to see some of the seashore animals at the river mouth (depending on the tide conditions). Suitable for family groups.

For more information about our activities or to register, please email Sunshine Sim at Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

Time: 9-10.30am
Venue: Meet at Interpretative Centre
Fees: $4 per pax
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/CPage2.aspx?pg=194&prv=Y
Contact: Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

21 Jun (Sat): Talk on "Wayside Trees & Palms" at HortPark

Curious about the trees and palms you see along our local roads ? Then join us in this talk where you will learn how to identify common roadside and heritage trees. Photos of interesting tree/palm fruits, as well as tree-climbing activities will also be shown.

Conducted by Toh Chin Heng (NParks).

To register, please call the HortPark Hotline at 6471-5601 or email NPARKS_HortPark@nparks.gov.sg. Registration closes 1 day before the event date.

Time: 11am-12.30pm
Venue: HortPark - Fruit Room
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/CsubPage.aspx?prv=Y&pg=124
Contact: 6471-5601 or email NPARKS_HortPark@nparks.gov.sg

21 Jun (Sat): Intertidal Walk at Pulau Semakau

This half-day guided walk will take you through the operations of the landfill and the pristine intertidal area of Pulau Semakau. Guided by Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research Semakau volunteer guides, participants will explore the richness of the seagrass meadows and coral reefs without having to dive in our waters.

Booking required. Reservations not accepted. Booking is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

21 June, 5-10.30am (30 places available)
30 places available. Please register early: email Luan Keng dbswlk@nus.edu.sg your name, organisation (if any), date of walk, number of
participants. To confirm your booking, a non-refundable pre-payment is
required. I will confirm payment details once I've received your
registration.

More about the walks on the RMBR website. More about Pulau Semaku on the wildsingapore website.

Time: 5-11am
Departure point: participants will be advised
Cost: $53.50/adult, $40.60/child (age 7-18); all cost is inclusive of 7% GST, boat rides (return), guiding fees, guidesheets and coordinating fees.
Website: RMBR website
Contact: Luan Keng dbswlk@nus.edu.sg

21 Jun (Sat): Earth-Friendly Puppet-Making at the Library

Transform everyday items like cardboard, plastic bags, newspapers, buttons, strings and other scrap materials into fantasy characters and animals puppets with movable parts. Children are encouraged to bring recyclable refuse from home to be transformed, and have their imaginations unleashed into creating eco-friendly puppets. Through this craft session, children will enjoy learn the value of reducing, reusing and recycling. Save the world. Make a puppet today.

Time: 2-3pm
Venue: Activity Room, Toa Payoh Community Library
Website: http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg/
Contact: helpdesk@nlb.gov.sg 6332 3255

21 Jun (Sat): Native Plant Hunt at Hindhede Nature Park

A free fun activity among the tall shady trees of Hindhede Nature Park, overlooking scenic quarry views. Form a team of three to five members, pick up your clues at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre, and you're on your way to learn more about at least eight native plant species! You have one hour to complete your hunt.

Registration for the free plant hunt is limited to maximum of 10 people per registrant.

The activity is conducted by the Building and Environment Green Volunteers from Ngee Ann Polytechnic's School of Engineering and the Central Nature Reserve volunteers.

More about the activity on the NParks website.

Time: 10 -11am. Start at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg
Contact: vanessa_chang@nparks.gov.sg or 6554 5127.

21 Jun (Sat): A Compassionate Day at Acres

Your help is needed with a wide array of tasks, ranging from painting, spring cleaning, tree planting, to gardening. Many hands make light work and it would be a great opportunity to meet other animal advocates.

Things to bring:

• Your own drinking water/ food (Vegetarian).
• Paint rollers, paint trays, poles (for painting higher areas) and masking tape.
• Gardening gloves.
• Cloth/rags for wiping and old newspapers.
• Garden scissors and shears.
• Trash bags.

Volunteering starts at 10am and finishes at 5pm.

Here are the directions to ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre (AWRC) (for printing): http://www.acres.org.sg/AWRC%20map.gif

If you would like to volunteer, please email Anbu (anbu@acres.org.sg) to confirm the days and times you can help out!

See you there!

Best wishes,
Louis
ACRES
www.acres.org.sg

21 Jun (Sat): Fruits! Glorious Fruits! -- a guided tour for kids

Be amazed by the many different types of fruits that we have in our Children’s Garden! Feast your eyes on a visual treat in this ‘fruit’ful guided tour. Join us to learn about amazing fruit facts.

Suitable for children in K1 - P6 levels

More details on the Singapore Botanic Gardens workshop page

Time: 10-11am
Cost: $6 per child or parent
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Bukit Timah Core
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: 6471 9961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg

20 Jun (Fri): Free Stargazing at the Singapore Science Centre

The Science Centre Observatory is one of the few observatories in the world located next to the Equator. Its unique position allows constellations in both the northern and southern celestial hemispheres to be observed and thus opens up more vistas in the sky for observers.

View the night sky at our free stargazing sessions every Friday night, 7:50pm - 10pm.

Please note that all observations are weather permitting. In the event of cloudy skies, haze or rain observations may not be possible.

More details on the Singapore Science Centre website

Time: 7.50-10pm
Venue: The Science Centre Observatory, near the Omni-Theatre
Website: http://www.science.edu.sg/
Contact: General enquiry 64252 500 or enquiry@science.edu.sg

20 Jun (Fri): Talk on "Kingfishers of Sungei Buloh" at the Library

Did you know that there are a myriad of beautiful birds that call Sungei Buloh home? One of them is the Kingfisher. Ever wondered how many types of kingfishers there are in the mangroves, what do they eat and what kind of call do they make? Come join us for a fun filled talk and hands on session as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve brings you into the world of the Fisher-birds!

Time: 4.30-5.15pm
Venue: Activities Room, Cheng San Community Library
Website: http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg/
Contact: helpdesk@nlb.gov.sg 6332 3255

20 Jun (Fri): A Compassionate Day at Acres

Your help is needed with a wide array of tasks, ranging from painting, spring cleaning, tree planting, to gardening. Many hands make light work and it would be a great opportunity to meet other animal advocates.

Things to bring:

• Your own drinking water/ food (Vegetarian).
• Paint rollers, paint trays, poles (for painting higher areas) and masking tape.
• Gardening gloves.
• Cloth/rags for wiping and old newspapers.
• Garden scissors and shears.
• Trash bags.

Volunteering starts at 10am and finishes at 5pm.

Here are the directions to ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre (AWRC) (for printing): http://www.acres.org.sg/AWRC%20map.gif

If you would like to volunteer, please email Anbu (anbu@acres.org.sg) to confirm the days and times you can help out!

See you there!

Best wishes,
Louis
ACRES
www.acres.org.sg

19 Jun (Thu): Paper Nature Craft Workshop for kids

Join us and learn how to make beautiful but simple nature displays that are all made with paper! Creations include a bat cave, bird sanctuary or a koi pond. Materials are provided. Participants get to bring home their own creations.

Suitable for children aged 6-12 yrs old.

Register for two or more workshops and enjoy up to 20% discount per pax.

For more information about our activities or to register, please email Sunshine Sim at Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

Time: 9-10.30am
Venue: D Space, Pasir Ris Park (carpark E)
Fees: $10 per child
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/CPage2.aspx?pg=194&prv=Y
Contact: Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

18 Jun (Wed): Discover the Colourful World of Butterflies at the Library

Listen to a story, make a craft and discover the fascinating world of butterfliess. An hour programme full of activities and games. Please bring along your colour pencils. Limited to 20 children from 7-9 years old.

Registration is required. Please register at the Woodlands Regional Library customer service counter at Level 3.

Time: 3-4pm
Venue: Everest Room, Woodlands Regional Library
Cost: $2 per participant
Website and contact: http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg/

17 Jun (Tue): Fruits! Glorious Fruits! -- a guided tour for kids

Be amazed by the many different types of fruits that we have in our Children’s Garden! Feast your eyes on a visual treat in this ‘fruit’ful guided tour. Join us to learn about amazing fruit facts.

Suitable for children in K1 - P6 levels

More details on the Singapore Botanic Gardens workshop page

Time: 10-11am
Cost: $6 per child or parent
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Bukit Timah Core
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: 6471 9961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg

16 Jun (Mon): Discover the Colourful World of Butterflies at the Library

Listen to a story, make a craft and discover the fascinating world of butterfliess. An hour programme full of activities and games. Please bring along your colour pencils. Limited to 20 children from 7-9 years old.

Registration is required. Please register at the Woodlands Regional Library customer service counter at Level 3.

Time: 3-4pm
Venue: Everest Room, Woodlands Regional Library
Cost: $2 per participant
Website and contact: http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg/

9-15 Jun: Highlights of the week ahead

Please take note:

• Closures at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve: The bridge leading to Hide 3A (Route 3) at the Freshwater Ponds will be closed 2-30 Jun for maintenance, from the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website.

More holiday fun for the kids and the family in our great wild outdoors!

• Family walk at Sentosa on natural shores with the Naked Hermit Crabs
• PLAYing in the park outdoor interactive plays for kids
• Recycling art fun for kids at the library
• Discover the colourful world of butterflies at the library
  
• Art of papermaking for kids
• Surprise for Daddy a guided walk at a kitchen garden
• The Birthday Party a guided walk at the Children's Garden

In the forests, join the guided walk at the Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail.

In the mangroves, join the guided walks at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Saturday and Sunday.

Other special activities this week include

• Nature walks at Seletar Camp a disappearing neighbourhood
• Sports Fishing at Pulau Semakau with the Sports Fishing Association of Singapore
• Let's Get Wokking a cooking workshop at Pasir Ris Park using ingredients from their Kitchen Garden
• Free star gazing at the Science Centre

Registration now open:

• 6 Jul (Sun): Family walk on Sentosa's natural shores
• 5 Jul (Sat) and 6 Jul (Sun) and 21 Jun (Sat): Intertidal walk at Pulau Semakau
• 29 Jun (Sun): Dive Pulau Hantu

Visit the wildsingapore happenings blog for a full listing of upcoming events for the next three weeks and to search for events by your area of interest.

The Photo of the Week is this red feather star taken by il mare at Kusu Island during a reef survey there. Our reefs are very much alive!

Red Featherstar, originally uploaded by il_mare77.

15 Jun (Sun): Mangrove Walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Sunday morning, subject to availability of guides.

Time: 9.30 am (subject to availability of guides) for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

15 Jun (Sun): Sports Fishing at Semakau with the Sport Fishing Association of Singapore

From January to September 2008, SFAS Semakau sport fishing trip will be an on going fishing league, based on a point system, there will be total of nine trips to compete for the League Champion and a final shoot out in October 2008. Those who do not wish to take part in the league can also come for the trips during this time.

The SFAS practice catch and release and among the rules are that anglers must demonstrate proper conduct and practice good fishing ethics and etiquette, and anglers are to use artificial lures or flies for sport fishing and not to use any organic baits (dead or alive) in all fishing activities.

Registration opens 5 May and closes 9 Jun. More details.

Time: 7.30am-2pm
Website: http://www.sfas.net/
Contact: info@sfas.net

14 Jun (Sat): Mangrove Walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Saturday.

Time: 9.30 am and 3.30pm for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

14 Jun (Sat): PLAYing in the Park at East Coast Park

In conjunction with the school holidays in June, PLAYing in the Park is a series of outdoor interactive plays (mini musicals) for children and the young at heart.


Time: 5-6pm
Venue: West Coast Park
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/eventshub.asp

14 Jun (Sat): Let’s get Wokking! A workshop

Cook up a storm in our cooking workshop. Learn to make simple but delicious dishes such as nasi ulam and assam pedas. All ingredients are gathered fresh from our Kitchen Garden, Pasir Ris Park. Workshop includes a brief guided walk in our Kitchen Garden.

Register for two or more workshops and enjoy up to 20% discount per pax.

For more information about our activities or to register, please email Sunshine Sim at Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

Time: 9-10.30am
Venue: Kitchen Garden (carpark C), Pasir Ris Park
Fees: $15 per pax
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/CPage2.aspx?pg=194&prv=Y
Contact: Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

14 Jun (Sat): Forest Walk at the Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail

A free guided nature walk through a rainforest right in the heart of the city! Along paved trails, under the shade of giant trees, learn about our rainforests, spot forest creatures and strange plants.

Suitable for young children.

More about the Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail on the wildsingapore website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NPark's Singapore Botanic Gardens and is held every second Saturday of the month.

A special Mandarin version of this tour is at 4pm.

Time: 9am, 10am, 11am, 4pm; Register 15 minutes before the tour at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One hour.
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: Visitor Services, 64717361 or NPARKS_SBG_Visitor_Services@NPARKS.GOV.SG

14 Jun (Sat): Recycling Art Fun for kids at the Library

Learn creative ways of transforming useless items to usable ones. Limited to 30 children aged 5 – 12.

Registration is required via either our website (http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg) or at the Customer Service Counter (6332 3255)

Time: 3-4pm
Venue: Ang Mo Kio Community Library
Website: http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg/
Contact: helpdesk@nlb.gov.sg 6332 3255

13 Jun (Fri): Free Stargazing at the Singapore Science Centre

The Science Centre Observatory is one of the few observatories in the world located next to the Equator. Its unique position allows constellations in both the northern and southern celestial hemispheres to be observed and thus opens up more vistas in the sky for observers.

View the night sky at our free stargazing sessions every Friday night, 7:50pm - 10pm.

Please note that all observations are weather permitting. In the event of cloudy skies, haze or rain observations may not be possible.

More details on the Singapore Science Centre website

Time: 7.50-10pm
Venue: The Science Centre Observatory, near the Omni-Theatre
Website: http://www.science.edu.sg/
Contact: General enquiry 64252 500 or enquiry@science.edu.sg

13 Jun (Fri): Art of Paper Making workshop for kids

Engage your child’s creativity in our fun and experiential papermaking workshop. A wonderful way to teach recycle waste into wonderful possibilities such as envelopes, greeting cards, artwork and more. Suitable for children aged 6 yrs to 12 yrs old. Materials are provided for. Participants get to bring home their own creation.

Register for two or more workshops and enjoy up to 20% discount per pax.

For more information about our activities or to register, please email Sunshine Sim at Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

Time: 9-10.30am
Venue: D Space, Pasir Ris Park (carpark E)
Fees: $10 per child
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/CPage2.aspx?pg=194&prv=Y
Contact: Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

12 Jun (Thu): Nature walks around Seletar Camp

Seletar Camp has been popular during school holidays and this year, there has been a little more organisation - probably because for most residents, this may be the last holiday season here.

Come and take a stroll around this unique corner of Singapore. See how many different birds you can spot, how many wild and cultivated flowers and plants and trees there are and how many small planes you can see taking off. Talk to residents and ask them about their experiences of living in this natural wonderland. Seletar - a great community, history, nature - so much to offer!

More details on the postcards from seletar blog

Time: 5pm
Website: http://postcardsfromseletar.com/
Contact: Sue 91057778

11 Jun (Wed): Discover the Colourful World of Butterflies at the Library

Listen to a story, make a craft and discover the fascinating world of butterfliess. An hour programme full of activities and games. Please bring along your colour pencils. Limited to 20 children from 7-9 years old.

Registration is required. Please register at the Woodlands Regional Library customer service counter at Level 3.

Time: 3-4pm
Venue: Everest Room, Woodlands Regional Library
Cost: $2 per participant
Website and contact: http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg/

11 Jun (Wed): Surprise for Daddy – guided walk at Kitchen Garden

Father’s Day is just round the corner & Ashley is giving her Dad a surprise by cooking his favorite assam pedas pasta! But she has no idea how the different spices look like. Take a tour at our kitchen garden and learn the various types of spices and uses.

Suitable for children aged 6 yrs to 12 yrs old.

For more information about our activities or to register, please email Sunshine Sim at Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

Time: 9-10am
Venue: Meet at carpark C
Fees: $4 per child
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/CPage2.aspx?pg=194&prv=Y
Contact: Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

10 Jun (Tue): The Birthday Party -- a guided tour for kids

Sara At The Children’s Garden

Sara is celebrating her baby brother’s birthday party. At the last minute, she realizes she forgot the birthday present! Help Sara search for the perfect gift at the Children’s Garden. Along the way, have a fun and memorable experience in this new Garden dedicated to children.

Suitable for children in K1 – P2 levels.

More details on the Singapore Botanic Gardens workshop page

Time: 10-11am
Cost: $8.50 per child (includes $2.50 “The Birthday Party. Sara at the Children’s Garden” workbook); $6.00 per accompanying parent.
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Bukit Timah Core
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: 6471 9961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg

9 Jun (Mon): Family Walk at Sentosa shore with the Naked Hermit Crabs

5 June is World Environment Day! Join the Naked Hermit Crabs in their mission to showcase the diverse marine life and natural beauty on our shores. They will bring you on a mini adventure to a beautiful natural shore tucked away in a corner of Sentosa. There will be lots to see. Just read their previous blog entries on trips to Sentosa.

Suitable for kids in K1 and K2. A great outing for the family!

Registration is required. Walk-in are NOT accepted.

There used to be a $5 per person charge for the Sentosa walks. But this year, the Sentosa walks are sponsored by Transitions Optical. So the Sentosa walks are FREE this time round!

More details on the adventures with the naked hermit crabs blog

Time and meeting place: those who register will be informed.
Website: http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.com/
Contact: nakedhermitcrabs@gmail.com

2-8 Jun: Highlights of the week ahead

Announcements!

• Chek Jawa intertidal walks in Jul-Sep: Registration opens as of 1 Jun For walks on 7 Jul (Mon) 8am and 8 Jul (Tue) 10am. More details on the NParks website.
• Closures at Sungei Buloh The bridge leading to Hide 3A (Route 3) at the Freshwater Ponds will be closed 2-30 Jun for maintenance, from the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website.

MORE wild holiday fun for the whole family!

• Family Walks on Sentosa's natural shores 6 Jul (Fri) and 9 Jul (Mon).
• PrawnWatch at Sungei Buloh a hands on demonstration of traditional prawn farming and introduction to the role of mangroves in our daily lives.
• Playing in the Park
• Trash to Treasure a workshop for kids
• Surprise for Daddy a walk in the kitchen garden
• Lots more kid's activities at Seletar on the postcards from seletar blog
• Stargazing at the Singapore Science Centre
• more activities for kids for the rest of the month
  

Lots of guided walks!

In the gardens, join the special World Environment Day kitchen garden walk at Pasir Ris, Edible and Medicinal Plants tour at the Botanic Gardens, Exploring Herbs and Spices at HortPark,

In the forests, join the guided walk at Lower Peirce Boardwalk and MacRitchie Prunus Trail

In the mangroves, join the special World Environment Day mangrove walk at Pasir Ris and regular guided walks at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Saturday or Sunday.

On the shores, more guided walks!

• On Sentosa's natural shores 6 Jul (Fri) and 9 Jul (Mon) with the Naked Hermit Crabs
• Kusu Island with the Blue Water Volunteers
• Pulau Semakau with the Raffles Museum

For the more active, join Pedal Ubin a cycling tour of our last unspoilt island.

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only: Horseshoe crab Research and Rescue at Kranji, learn green recipes with Go Green, Go Vegetarian

Have fun AND make a difference!

• RE-Live! at the Atrium@Orchard: an environmental carnival for youths by youths.
• The Green Mile@RE-Live explore our wild places in the heart of the city
• SPCA Fun Run for dog lovers and make a difference

Talks this week

• Sustainable Development and the Environment: Is there a place for Nature? a talk by Shawn Lum as part of the Singapore Biodiversity Talk Series for World Environment Day
  
• The Naked Truth: See our Shores in a Different Light I'll be giving a public talk about our shores, featuring Cyrene Reefs! Please come, and bring your friends too!

Registration now open:

• 6 Jul (Sun): Family walk on Sentosa's natural shores
• 5 Jul (Sat) and 6 Jul (Sun) and 21 Jun (Sat): Intertidal walk at Pulau Semakau
• 29 Jun (Sun): Dive Pulau Hantu

Visit the wildsingapore happenings blog for a full listing of upcoming events for the next three weeks and to search for events by your area of interest.

This week's photo is this baby shark shared by chimck and taken on one of our offshore reefs! Our shores are alive with fascinating creatures!

Shark @ Beting Bronok, originally uploaded by chimck.

8 Jun (Sun): Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Reseach at Kranji

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only.

Please register (name, NSS member or otherwise, affiliations, eg. schools, company etc., if any, experience, if any, and contact details) for this monthly mission to rescue and study the Mangrove Horseshoe Crab via email to horseshoecrabrr@hotmail.com We have also started a training and accreditation program for anyone keen to be a Qualified HSC R&R Conservation Volunteer. Recommended to have cap/hat, shoes/boots/diving shoes, sun-block, insect repellant, cutter and camera. Washing facilities available.

Time: 8.30 am, at the extension of Kranji Road at the junction with Kranji Loop. Take bus 925 from Kranji MRT, alight at the Chinese temple along Kranji Loop, cross the road and look for the nameless track that starts beside Leong Soon Pte Ltd, 251 Kranji Road.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036. Also horseshoecrabrr@hotmail.com

8 Jun (Sun): Mangrove Walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Sunday morning, subject to availability of guides.

Time: 9.30 am (subject to availability of guides) for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

8 Jun (Sun): Nature Walk at MacRitchie Prunus Trail

Free guided nature walk along boardwalks hugging the MacRitchie Reservoir. Learn about this mature secondary, spot forest and aquatic wildlife, enjoy panaromic views of waters surrounded by luxuriant forest.

Suitable for young children.

Pre-registration required.

More about the MacRitchie Prunus Trail on the wildsingapore website and NParks website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks Central Nature Reserve and is held every second Sunday of the month.

Time: 9.25am. Meet at entrance of the trail, about 50m after the canoe kiosk on the eastern side of MacRitchie Reservoir Park.
Tour duration: About one hour.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: vanessa_chang@nparks.gov.sg or call 6554 5127.

8 Jun (Sun): SPCA Fun Run

Join us this year's Fun Run at the tranquil Bedok Reservoir! This is a fund raising event in aid of the SPCA.

Whistle goes off at 7.00am sharp, and the top prize for this 4km run/walk is a Tudor Prince Date Hydronaut watch!


Time: 7am
Venue: Bedok Reservoir
Fee: $30.00 (T-shirts with above design for early registrants) Form submission and payment centres: SPCA Reception and BigO Cafe Restaurant (Wheelock Place). Please approach SPCA reception for pledge cards.
Website: http://www.spca.org.sg/whatsnew.html
Contact: spca_fundraising@yahoo.com.sg

8 Jun (Sun): The Green Mile @ RE-Live!

Think you’re stuck in the concrete jungle? Think again! Join us, as we journey through the “green lungs” of Singapore. Discover the parks in the heart of our city centre, and take in the sights and sounds of our city in a garden.

Come dressed as your favorite environment-saving superhero (optional, of course), as we fight to save the world!

Free T-shirts to be given to all participants!

Bring your friends and support a worthy cause!

The event is free and open to all. Pre-registration is required.

Time: Report at 8.45am, event begins 9am and ends 12noon.
Venue: The Green Mile will begin and end at Atrium@Orchard (where the RE-live! Carnival is held)
Website: http://relive2008.blogspot.com/
Contact: relive@eco-singapore.org

7 Jun (Sat): Edible and Medicinal Plants Tour at the Botanic Gardens

Join this free tour by our volunteer guides and spice up your knowledge of Edible and Medicinal Plants.

Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis at the Visitor Centre, 15 minutes before the tour starts.

More information on the Singapore Botanic Gardens website.

Time: 9am and 10am, register 15 minutes before the tour at Singapore Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: Visitor Services (6471 7361)

7 Jun (Sat): Go Green, Go Vegetarian With NSS

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only.

Our second session in the series will have Evelyn's `Taukuanh Pouch', served with a simply prepared yet appetizing chilli sauce will make an appearance. Angie's `Pumpkin & Beans Stew', an unusual side dish, would be a nice accompaniment for tea. To help keep our cost low, our special introductory fee of $6 per person for this series will apply.

Time: 2.30-4.30pm
Venue: Nature Society (Singapore), 510 Geylang Road, The Sunflower #02-05 Junction of Geylang Road and Lorong 28 Closest MRT is Aljunied.
Cost: $6 per person
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.

7 Jun (Sat): Talk on "The Naked Truth: See Our Shores in a New Light"

In commemoration of World Environment Day, Transitions Optical and the Naked Hermit Crabs are pleased to present an exhibition of posters and pictures of Singapore’s shore life, from 6-8 June, at the National Library.

There will also be a free public talk on 7 Jun (Sat) by Ria Tan.

There is much beauty and wildlife in Singapore’s shores. But there is a fragile balance that is all too easily disrupted. So many things can go wrong – beginning from ‘small’ things like littering to major construction projects – and that beauty is lost. Forever.

Through 300-600 recent photos, Ria will share and stories of adventures and discoveries on our living shores.

With a special focus on Cyrene Reef!
more about Cyrene Reef on the wildsingapore website

Nemos, sea snakes, living corals and more! From Changi to Tuas, Sentosa to the Sisters Islands, and beyond.

Ria will also share about some of the threats to our shores, and how ordinary people CAN make a difference.

For a sample of the photos in the talk, see the wildsingapore flickr site

Ria is not a scientist and is just an ordinary person who has been photographing the shores for the last 7 years. She is also co-author of the Chek Jawa Guidebook and Southern Shores guidesheet. She also volunteers as a guide with Chek Jawa, Pulau Semakau as well as wildfilms, the Naked Hermit Crabs and TeamSeagrass. She contributes to several blogs including wildfilms, wildsingapore news, wildsingapore happenings and the singapore celebrates our reefs blog.

All are welcome!

Transitions Optical, the world leader in the manufacturing of plastic photochromic lenses is pleased to support The Naked Hermit Crabs. Just as Transitions lenses help protect eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays and glare, the mission of The Naked Hermit Crabs is to protect our threatened shore-life. The group’s mission is to alert the public to the diverse marine life and natural beauty on our shores, and enlist their help in their protection and preservation. The Naked Hermit Crabs actively conduct talks and free excursions for the public, much of it funded by the members themselves.

Time of talk: 3pm
Venue: The Plaza, The National Library, 100 Victoria Street.
Website: http://www.wildsingapore.com/places/cyrene.htm
Contact: Ria at hello@wildsingapore.com

7 Jun (Sat): PLAYing in the Park at West Coast Park

In conjunction with the school holidays in June, PLAYing in the Park is a series of outdoor interactive plays (mini musicals) for children and the young at heart.

Time: 5-6pm
Venue: West Coast Park
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/eventshub.asp

7 Jun (Sat): Trash to Treasure Craft – workshop for kids

Look beyond the empty water bottles, containers and used items and see their potential in our recycling art and craft workshop. Kids will have fun learning how to recycle common household items and make something old into something new again. Suitable for children aged 6 yrs to 12 yrs old.

Register for two or more workshops and enjoy up to 20% discount per pax.

For more information about our activities or to register, please email Sunshine Sim at Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

Time: 10.30am-12pm
Venue: D’ Space (carpark E)
Fees: $10 per child
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/CPage2.aspx?pg=194&prv=Y
Contact: Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

7 Jun (Sat): Surprise for Daddy – guided walk at Kitchen Garden

Father’s Day is just round the corner & Ashley is giving her Dad a surprise by cooking his favorite assam pedas pasta! But she has no idea how the different spices look like. Take a tour at our kitchen garden and learn the various types of spices and uses.

Suitable for children aged 6 yrs to 12 yrs old.

For more information about our activities or to register, please email Sunshine Sim at Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

Time: 9-10am
Venue: Meet at carpark C
Fees: $4 per child
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/CPage2.aspx?pg=194&prv=Y
Contact: Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

7 Jun (Sat): Reefwalk at Kusu Island with the Blue Water Volunteers

Our wild and wonderful coral reefs are just too exciting to be enjoyed by divers only! Non-swimmers are most welcome, as we only visit the reefs during low tide, so you only expect to get wet around your ankles at most.

Trained and enthusiastic volunteer guides will introduce you to the marine life found on Kusu Island and share reef stories.

Suitable for children.

Pre-registration is required.

Time: 6a-10am
Venue: Marina South Pier
Cost: $15/person
Website: http://www.bluewatervolunteers.org
Contact: reefwalk@bluewatervolunteers.org

7 Jun (Sat): Exploring Herbs & Spices -- a guided walk at HortPark

Let the experts lead you in an exploration of the Herb & Spice Garden in HortPark. Find out more about the history, uses, benefits, as well as the cultivation and harvesting of various herbs and spices.

Conducted by Josephine Pang

Please be at Visitor Services 15 minutes before the start of the walk.

Time: 10-11am
Venue: Herb & Spice Garden
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/CsubPage.aspx?prv=Y&pg=124
Contact: 6471-5601 or email NPARKS_HortPark@nparks.gov.sg

7 Jun (Sat): Nature Walk at Lower Peirce Trail

Free guided nature walk along boardwalks through cool, shady forests and by the Lower Peirce Reservoir. Learn about our forests, spot forest and aquatic wildlife, enjoy panaromic views of waters surrounded by luxuriant forest.

Suitable for young children.

Pre-registration required.

More about the Lower Peirce Trail on the wildsingapore website and NParks website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks Central Nature Reserve and is held every first Saturday of the month.

Time: 9.25am and 10.25am. Meet at Casuarina Entrance of the trail along Old Upper Thomson Road, which is a 2-minute walk from Casuarina Road.
Tour duration: One-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: vanessa_chang@nparks.gov.sg or call 6554 5127.

7 Jun (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Saturday.

Time: 3.30pm for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre. (9.30am tour replaced by PrawnWatch)
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

7 Jun (Sat): PrawnWatch at Sungei Buloh

Free guided introduction to traditional prawn farming. It begins with a guided walk to learn about the history of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve as prawn and fish farms. And the importance of mangroves as a spawning place and nursery for prawns and other 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.

The walk is approximately 5km on wide earthen trails. Suitable for older children who are reasonably fit.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups.

More about PrawnWatch on the Sungei Buloh website. More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website.

Time: Meet at 9am at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Information Counter, so that the walk to the Prawn Pond can begin at 9.30am.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for older children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

7 Jun (Sat): Pedal Ubin

Registration now open!

Take a journey on bicycle with the Jungle Fowls, a bunch of friendly and passionate volunteer guides from NUS’ Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, who want to share the joys of discovering nature and heritage in Pulau Ubin.
For more information and registration details visit http://pedalubin.rafflesmuseum.net/

Time: 8.30am, meet outside the Pulau Ubin Volunteer Hub
Website: http://pedalubin.rafflesmuseum.net/

7 Jun (Sat): Plant Highlights At The Children’s Garden

Love to eat chocolates? Seen a cherry tree? Here’s your chance to see cocoa trees, a local cherry tree and many more in this tour highlighting interesting and useful plants in the Children’s Garden. If you are lucky, you may even have a close brush with the animals and insects that live amongst the trees and plants in the garden.

Suitable for children in K1 - P6 levels

More details on the Singapore Botanic Gardens workshop page

Time: 10-11am
Cost: $6 per child or parent
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, Bukit Timah Core
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: 6471 9961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg

7 Jun (Sat): Intertidal walk at Pulau Semakau

This half-day guided walk will take you through the operations of the landfill and the pristine intertidal area of Pulau Semakau. Guided by Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research Semakau volunteer guides, participants will explore the richness of the seagrass meadows and coral reefs without having to dive in our waters.

Booking required. Reservations not accepted. Booking is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Please register early: email Luan Keng dbswlk@nus.edu.sg your name, organisation (if any), number of participants. To confirm your booking, a non-refundable pre-payment is required.

More about the walks on the RMBR website. More about Pulau Semaku on the wildsingapore website.

Time: 6-11.30am
Departure point: participants will be advised
Cost: $53.50/adult, $40.60/child (age 7-18); all cost is inclusive of 7% GST, boat rides (return), guiding fees, guidesheets and coordinating fees.
Website: RMBR website
Contact: Luan Keng dbswlk@nus.edu.sg

6 Jun (Fri): Free Stargazing at the Singapore Science Centre

The Science Centre Observatory is one of the few observatories in the world located next to the Equator. Its unique position allows constellations in both the northern and southern celestial hemispheres to be observed and thus opens up more vistas in the sky for observers.

View the night sky at our free stargazing sessions every Friday night, 7:50pm - 10pm.

Please note that all observations are weather permitting. In the event of cloudy skies, haze or rain observations may not be possible.

More details on the Singapore Science Centre website

Time: 7.50-10pm
Venue: The Science Centre Observatory, near the Omni-Theatre
Website: http://www.science.edu.sg/
Contact: General enquiry 64252 500 or enquiry@science.edu.sg

6 Jun (Fri): Family Walk at Sentosa shore with the Naked Hermit Crabs

5 June is World Environment Day! Join the Naked Hermit Crabs in their mission to showcase the diverse marine life and natural beauty on our shores. They will bring you on a mini adventure to a beautiful natural shore tucked away in a corner of Sentosa. There will be lots to see. Just read their previous blog entries on trips to Sentosa.

Suitable for kids in K1 and K2. A great outing for the family!

Registration is required. Walk-in are NOT accepted.

There used to be a $5 per person charge for the Sentosa walks. But this year, the Sentosa walks are sponsored by Transitions Optical. So the Sentosa walks are FREE this time round!

More details on the adventures with the naked hermit crabs blog

Time and meeting place: those who register will be informed.
Website: http://nakedhermitcrabs.blogspot.com/
Contact: nakedhermitcrabs@gmail.com

5-15 June: RE-live! @ Atrium -- an environmental carnival

Double A RE-live! @ Atrium is an environmental carnival by youth for YOU!

This 11-day fun-filled event intends to engage the public on the importance of leading a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle, and to drive the public to RE-think and RE-live their existing habits. Some of the highlights of the event are:

AIBI Bike-a-thon: Reduce your carbon footprint! Be part of a record breaking event!
The Green Mile: Join us in this walk to make your stand!

Eco Trail: Discover the environmental groups in Singapore

Palmessages: Pledge to RE-live!
Launch of Engage! Roadshow: Learn the realities of eco-living

Bazaar: Sale of eco-friendly products from 5th to 20th June
Exciting stage events!: Snakes and Ladders, Guess!, and Handicraft Competition. Attractive prizes to be won!

IT'S IN US to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Come down to the Atrium @ Orchard from 5th to 15th June to discover how!

Facebook event

Time:12noon – 9pm
Venue: Atrium@Orchard (outside Dhoby Ghaut MRT/Plaza Singapura)
Website: relive blog
Contact: relive@eco-singapore.org

5 Jun (Thu): World Environment Day Celebration at Pasir Ris

To commemorate Environmental Day, Pasir Ris Park will be offering two different walks free. Participants can choose either the Kitchen Garden tour or the guided walk at Mangrove. The walks will be last about 45 mins to an hour.

For more information about our activities or to register, please email Sunshine Sim at Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

Time: 9-10am
Venue: Meet at carpark C
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/CPage2.aspx?pg=194&prv=Y
Contact: Sunshine_Sim@NParks.gov.sg

5 Jun (Thu): Talk on "Sustainable Development and the Environment: Is there a place for Nature?"

The environment has gone from being the domain of an active but otherwise small part of our community, to an issue that regularly graces the news headlines and is central to everything from business models to development plans and policies. To what extent has an appreciation and an understanding of biodiversity conservation kept with this exponential growth in environmental awareness? This talk will look at challenges facing the conservation of biodiversity in light of typical models of sustainable development and standard arguments put forth for conservation. What role can Singapore play in the bigger scheme of conservation-related things?

About the Speaker:
Shawn Lum is a lecturer at the National Institute of Education. While his training has been in plant ecology, he is also a proponent of environmental education and community-based conservation. A fair amount of his spare time is spent as a volunteer for the Nature Society (Singapore).

All are welcome!

Time: 4pm – 5pm
Venue: Function Hall Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Contact: LIM_Wei_Ling@nparks.gov.sg

26 May-1 Jun: Highlights of the week ahead

The school holidays have started! And there's lots of activities for the family!

• Young Naturalist Passport Camp at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
• Nature Photography for kids at Pasir Ris Park
• Plant highlights at the Children's Garden
• MIA trail night tour at the Raffles Museum with an open house too as part of International Museum Day
• Free star gazing at the Singapore Science Centre
• Nature walks at Seletar and lots more kid's activities on the postcards from seletar blog
• Workshops include the art of papermaking for kids and making plant containers from recycled materials

There's lots of guided walks: in the gardens at HortPark, in the mangroves at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Saturday and Sunday, and in the forests at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

For the more active, there's the Bike Rally at East Coast Park.

Talks and other events this week include

• Remember Chek Jawa screening of an independent film about efforts for Chek Jawa before deferment of reclamation
• Begonias of Sumatra at the Singapore Botanic Gardens

Make a difference! Support these efforts ...

• Change! '08 Concert at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
• Fundraising for World Environment Day at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Registration now open:

• 5 Jul (Sat) and 6 Jul (Sun): Intertidal walk at Pulau Semakau
• 29 Jun (Sun): Dive Pulau Hantu
• 8 Jun (Sun): SPCA Fun Run
• 7 Jun (Sat): Pedal Ubin
• 7 Jun (Sat): Reefwalk at Kusu Island

Visit the wildsingapore happenings blog for a full listing of upcoming events for the next three weeks and to search for events by your area of interest.

Photo of the week is this marvellous nudibranch on Changi!

Nudibranch : Chromodoris Tumulifera, originally uploaded by il_mare77.

1 Jun (Sun): Rainforest Walk at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Free guided nature walk along natural winding hillside trails under tall rainforest trees. Learn about our only substantial patch of primary rainforest, spot forest creatures and strange forest plants.

Suitable for children aged 9 and above. The trail is not accessible to prams and wheelchairs.

Pre-registration is required.

More about the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve on the wildsingapore website and NParks website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Central Nature Reserve and is held every first Sunday of the month.

Time: 3.55pm. Meet at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre, gather at the ranger counter.
Tour duration: About one hour.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: vanessa_chang@nparks.gov.sg or Tel:6554 5127

1 Jun (Sun): Mangrove Walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Sunday morning, subject to availability of guides.

Time: 9.30 am (subject to availability of guides) for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: sbwr@pacific.net.sg or call 6794 1401

1 Jun (Sun): Nature walks around Seletar Camp

Seletar Camp has been popular during school holidays and this year, there has been a little more organisation - probably because for most residents, this may be the last holiday season here.

Come and take a stroll around this unique corner of Singapore. See how many different birds you can spot, how many wild and cultivated flowers and plants and trees there are and how many small planes you can see taking off. Talk to residents and ask them about their experiences of living in this natural wonderland. Seletar - a great community, history, nature - so much to offer!

More details on the postcards from seletar blog

Time: 5pm
Website: http://postcardsfromseletar.com/
Contact: Sue 91057778

1 Jun (Sun): Bike Rally at East Coast Park

Bike Rally is a non-competitive event open to all interested cyclists. Cycle around the island (about 130km) within a day, and make friends with cycling enthusiasts from all around Singapore. So what are you waiting for? We'll see you at the finishing line.

Registration opens on 25 Feb 08 and closes on 16 May 08.

Time not indicated on the website
Venue: East Coast Park (carpark E2)
Website: http://ntusportsclub.com/bikerally2008/bikerallyweb/index.htm