21-27 Dec: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family

Walks in wild places

Go wild on your own!
Why not explore our wild places free-and-easy? Great destinations include Pulau Ubin and a wide range of seashores, mangroves and forest destinations. Lots of info for visitors is available on wildsingapore with tips on how to prepare for a trip, how to get there and what to see and do.

Singapore news highlights

Photo of the week is this superb Saron shrimp shared by Marcus on his Annotated Budak blog. Read more about our shrimps and prawns. They're not just for eating!

IMG_9260, originally uploaded by budak.

27 Dec (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: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401
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27 Dec (Sun): Paint along with Pui San at Sungei Buloh

Free art-and-nature appreciation at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

Tham Pui San, a volunteer of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, is an avid artist who expresses his passion for nature through his art work.

Pui San welcomes artists of all ages or anyone who wants to learn. His objective is to encourage creativity while enjoying nature at the same time. Bring along your favourite drawing or painting supplies and enjoy learning different drawing techniques at Sungei Buloh.

More in the art in the wetlands blog.

Time: 8.30-11.30am, meet at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve ticketing counter (Visitor Centre).
Venue: Main Observation Hide.
Admission charges: While the art session is free, usual admission charges to Reserve apply. $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://artinwetlands.wordpress.com/
Contact: Tham Pui Sam at thampuisan@hotmail.com or the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve at info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401
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26 Dec (Sat): HortPark Butterfly Garden Guided Tour

HortPark's latest attraction - Butterfly Garden - is an experimental project that supports efforts for a Butterfly Species Recovery Programme. It aims to breed various butterfly species, including locally extince species using suitable nectar and host plants in the enclosure.

Get up close and personal with the flying jewels, and learn their different stages of metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar into butterfly. Observe how pupae emerge into adult butterflies before taking their maiden flight within HortPark's Butterfly Garden.

This walk is held every last Saturday of the month

Time: 10am, please gather at the Butterfly Garden for the tour
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: 6471 5601
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26 Dec (Sat): Heritage and Nature guided 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
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26 Dec (Sat): Evolution Garden tour

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.

This walk is held every fourth Saturday of the month. Please register 15 minutes before the tour. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis at the Visitor Centre.

Time: 9am (English tour) and 4pm (Mandarin tour)
Venue: Register at Visitor Centre before the tour starts.
Contact: Visitor Services 6471 7361
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26 Dec (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: 9.30am 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: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401
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26 Dec (Sat): Free Chek Jawa Boardwalk tour with the Naked Hermit Crabs

photo by Andy DineshThe 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 boars, 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.

The free walk will be held every last Saturday of the month.

Not more than five persons in a group please.

A message from the Crabs:

As our upcoming walk falls smack in the middle of the long Christmas weekend, we are expecting huge crowds to descend upon Pulau Ubin. So, the Crabs have decided to change the timing of our walk to 9am. This new timing allows us to avoid the crowds going to Ubin as well as returning home. We also think the 9 am timing is perfect for the year-end monsoon season as you may have noticed that the storms in recent days happen in the afternoon.

Write to nakedhermitcrabs@gmail.com with the title “Sign up for Chek Jawa Boardwalk Tour September” and we will confirm your places for you. We accept walk-ins too! As always, we ask that you come in small family and friend groups of not more than 5. Please don't organise an extended family group or a company outing. The Naked Hermit Crabs are, er.... small and vulnerable. We confess.... we will get overwhelmed by large groups.

Time: 9am 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
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22 Dec (Tue): "Stories about nature" - drama workshop for kids

Through story, dramatisation and props provided to further ignite and enhance the imagination, children will learn about nature, its effects on our earth and how to show respect towards it.

For enquiry and registration, please contact the Education at 64719961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg . Online registration is available on www.sbg.org.sg (under "Education")

Suitable for children in P1 - P3 levels.

Time: 3-4pm
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, Bukit Timah Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Fee: $10 per child
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg
Contact: 64719961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg
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22 Dec (Tue): "Nature & me" - drama workshop for kids

Through story, dramatisation and props provided to further ignite and enhance the imagination, children will learn about nature, its effects on our earth and how to show respect towards it.

For enquiry and registration, please contact the Education at 64719961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg . Online registration is available on www.sbg.org.sg (under "Education")

Suitable for children in K1 - K2 levels

Time: 2-3pm
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, Bukit Timah Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Fee: $10.00 per child
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg
Contact: 64719961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg
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14-20 Dec: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family

Walks in wild places

Go wild on your own!
Why not explore our wild places free-and-easy? Great destinations include Pulau Ubin and a wide range of seashores, mangroves and forest destinations. Lots of info for visitors is available on wildsingapore with tips on how to prepare for a trip, how to get there and what to see and do.

Announcements
  • Food court at Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens closed until December for renovation.

Registration now open
Singapore news highlights

Photo of the week is this wonderful whip snake shared by Marcus. Read more about our whip snakes on his blog.

IMG_1400, originally uploaded by budak.

20 Dec (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.

With a special Mandarin tour 9.45am to 11.15am.

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: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401
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19 Dec (Sat): Young Naturalist 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.

More information on the programme and registration form on the Reserve website.

Time: 9am- 5pm
Cost: 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.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: 67941401
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19 Dec (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: 9.30am 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: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401
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19 Dec (Sat): Mangrove walk at Pasir Ris Park

Eppy 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 kids.

Registration closes one day before the walk date.

This walk is held every third Saturday. More details on the Pasir Ris Park website.

Time: 9-10am
Venue: Pasir Ris Park, Pasir Ris Green (Carpark C)
Cost: $4/person
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: chong_wei_teng@nparks.gov.sg
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19 Dec (Sat): Guided walk at the National Orchid Garden

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

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

A tour in Mandarin is also conducted at 4pm.

Time: 9am, 10am, 11am (English) and 4pm (Mandarin), 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
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19 Dec (Sat): Rainforest walk at the Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail

A Walk in an Ancient Forest: This free guided nature walk brings you 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.

Along a slightly undulating nature path, the walk is suitable for children aged 9 and above. The trail is not accessible to prams and wheelchairs.

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 third Saturday of the month.

Please register at least three days before the walk at 65545127 or email woon_ling_ling@nparks.gov.sg

Time: 9.30am. Meet at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Visitor Centre, at the ranger counter at 9.25am.
Tour duration: About one hour.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: Woon_Ling_Ling@nparks.gov.sg or Tel:6554 5127
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17 Dec (Thu): Sara goes Carbon Footprinting

Join Sara, the Botanicosaurus, and her new friend, Rana the Frog in this tour and learn about carbon footprints and the many little but important things that all of us can do to make a difference for our home, Planet Earth! Young participants will also be introduced to some useful and multi-purpose trees!

For enquiry and registration, please contact the Education at 64719961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg . Online registration is available on www.sbg.org.sg (under "Education")

Suitable for children in K1 - P6 levels

Time: 10-11am
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, Bukit Timah Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Fee: $8.50 per child (includes $2.50 “Sara Goes Carbon Footprinting" workbook) and $6 per accompanying adult
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg
Contact: 64719961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg
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15 Dec (Tue): A trail of colours - a tour for kids

Our beautiful garden would not be complete without the colourful blooms! In this tour, children will be able to learn about colours and the different parts and function of a flower.

Suitable for children in K1 - P2 levels

For enquiry and registration, please contact the Education at 64719961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg . Online registration is available on www.sbg.org.sg (under "Education")

Suitable for children in Pri 3- Pri 6 levels.

Time: 10-11am
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, Bukit Timah Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Fee: $6 per child and $6 per accompanying adult
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg
Contact: 64719961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg
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14 Dec (Mon): Chek Jawa boardwalk with Cicada Tree Eco Place

Living Earth Walks goes to the extensive boardwalk at Chek Jawa on Pulau Ubin. Here we shall see a diversity of unique flora and fauna. At low tide, exposed seaweeds used to be collected by locals to feed their pigs. From the mangroves, Attap Palm leaves were harvested for thatching while durable Nibong Palm trunks were used to build kelongs. The shallow sea here was also a rich hunting ground. Many natural resources were depended upon, and used in sustainable ways by the kampong folk who lived at Chek Jawa.

Trails: Wooden boardwalk. Earth paths, some parts with gentle slopes.

Minimum 20 pax for walk to go ahead.

Advance registration & payment is required. Register with Celine Low contact@cicadatree.org.sg

Time: 3pm
Cost: $15 per person (adult or child), minimum 6 years of age, excluding the bumboat ride and mini-bus ride to Chek Jawa. The bumboat ride is $2.50 per person one way. The mini-bus ride is $4 return per person to and from the main village.
Website: http://www.cicadatree.org.sg/
Contact: Celine Low contact@cicadatree.org.sg
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7-13 Dec: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family

Walks in wild places

Film screening

Talks

Workshops

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only

Early next week

Announcements
  • From NParks Ubin: The Chek Jawa intertidal walk tour schedule from Jan to Jun 10 will be available on 15 Dec 09. The delay is due to a delay in the publication of tide tables. Visit the NParks Ubin site on 15 Dec to book a tour through their website.
  • Food court at Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens closed until December for renovation.

Registration now open
Singapore news highlights

Photo of the week! A gorgeous little slug is among the many marvellous marine life spotted at Pulau Hantu during recent dives there. It was taken by Jimmy Goh and shared on the Pulau Hantu flickr.

dotonudi, originally uploaded by Debby Ng, Hantu Blogger.

13 Dec (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.

Special Mandarin guided tour at 9.30am to 11am. Please call at 67941401 to book this free guided tour. We need a minimum of 5 participants to commence the tour. Limited to maximum 15 participants.

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: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401
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13 Dec (Sun): Screening of "End of the Line"

By popular demand, WWF Singapore brings this exclusive screening.

Where have all the fish gone? See the world’s first major feature documentary film revealing the devastating impact of overfishing on the oceans!

The film explores the effects of our global love affair with fish as a source of food, including the imminent extinction of bluefin tuna, brought about by increasing demand for sushi, and the profound implications of a future world with no fish.

Filmed across the world – from the Straits of Gibraltar to the coasts of Senegal and Alaska to the Tokyo fish market – this captivating documentary features top scientists, indigenous fishermen as well as investigative reporter Charles Clover who confronts politicians and celebrity restaurateurs, who themselves exhibit little regard for the damage they are doing to the oceans.

Scientists predict that current fishing practices could spell the end of most seafood by 2048. Imagine an ocean without fish. Imagine your meals without seafood. Imagine the global consequences. This is the future if we do not stop, think and act.
The End of the Line is a wake-up call to the world.


To reserve your ticket: Email rsvp@wwf.sg by 12pm on Friday 11 December include your name, contact number and number of tickets.

More details on payment methods on the WWF Singapore website.

Time: 4pm
Venue: Sinema Old School, 11B Mount Sophia, Old School
Cost: $5/person
Website and contact: http://www.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/singapore/
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13 Dec (Sun): Birdwatching at the Southern Ridges

If you are a bird-lover, be sure to join us for a 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.

The event is free but registration is required.

Time: 7.30-9am
Venue: i-kiosk at Henderson Waves (Bridge between Mt Faber Park and Telok Blangah Hill Park)
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: 6471 5601
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13 Dec (Sun): Birdwatching at Tampines Wood

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only

Willie Foo conducts this walk. This birdy patch is located behind Tampines Industrial area along Tampines Ave 10. There was once a “Grebe Pond” here with a highest record of 12 grebes. Alas, it has since been drained and given way to development. Visit this woody area before it is completely gone. Interesting species that can be spotted here include the Sooty-headed Bulbul, Red-Whiskered Bulbul, Bee-eaters, Black-shouldered Kite, Pied Triller, Pied Fantail etc. If we are lucky, we can watch mix flocks of munias (Black-headed, White-headed and Scaly-breasted) feeding together.

Time: 7.30am.
Meet at the junction of Tampines Road and Jalan Sam Kongsi. This road is formerly known as “old Tampines Road”.
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.
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13 Dec (Sun): Plant Walk at Chek Jawa (Pulau Ubin)

for Nature Society (Singapore) members only

Anuj Jain and the Plant Group conducts this exciting 2½ hour walk. We will learn about the different ecosystems that make Chek Jawa so unique. The focus will be on mangrove swamps and its associates. We will also climb the tower for a bird’s eye view of the area as well as admire marine life from the boardwalk.

Time: 9am meet at the Chek Jawa Visitor Center. It takes about an hour to reach Chek Jawa from Changi Village Jetty (20-30 minutes by bumboat to Pulau Ubin jetty and another 20-30 minutes to Chek Jawa by van or bicycle).
Website: http://www.nss.org.sg/
Contact: email contact@nss.org.sg or call 6741 2036.
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13 Dec (Sun): MAD lessons on seashore friends with Cicada Tree Eco Place

If you’re a kid between the ages of 5 and 10, join us to learn more about our seashore friends—sea stars and octopuses, sea snails and sea slugs, crabs and turtles! What do they eat? How do they reproduce? How can we make a difference in their lives?

Register with Celine Low contact@cicadatree.org.sg

Time: 2.30-4.30pm
Cost: $15 per person which includes a lovely badge.
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
Website: http://www.cicadatree.org.sg/
Contact: Celine Low contact@cicadatree.org.sg
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12 Dec (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: 9.30am 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: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401
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12 Dec (Sat): Nature walk at MacRitchie Prunus Trail

Botanical wonders of MacRitchie. 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.

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 Saturday of the month.

Time: 9.30am. 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: Woon_Ling_Ling@nparks.gov.sg or call 6554 5127.
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12 Dec (Sat): "Getting to know MacRitchie" walk

Want to about the history and importance of MacRitchie? Then this is the walk for you. Starting at the roundabout within the park, the first portion of the walk will cover the history of MacRitchie and its relationship with water. The second portion of the walk will cover how the forests around the reservoir play a very important role in maintaining the water quality�in MacRitchie�and how the various flora and fauna, within the forests, are vital to life. The walk will weave through the forest trail and end at the bandstand.

This free walk is also available in Mandarin, upon request.

Kindly dress in comfortable clothing and shoes for this walk. Do bring along water and an umbrella. In the event of bad weather, the walk will be cancelled.

Please register at least three days before the walk at 65545127 or email woon_ling_ling@nparks.gov.sg

Time: 9am, meet at the MacRitchie cafeteria at 8.55am.
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: Call 65545127 for enquiry and/or free registration.
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12 Dec (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 (Enligsh) and 4pm (Mandarin); 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
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12 Dec (Sat): Young Naturalist 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.

More information on the programme and registration form on the Reserve website.

Time: 9am- 5pm
Cost: 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.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: 67941401
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12-13 Dec (Sat-Sun): Geminids meteor shower gazing at Changi Beach Park

Geminids Star Party 2009
Organised by MPASTRO

Catch the most anticipated meteor shower for Singaporeans!

The Geminids Star Party is for like minded people to get together, socialise, share knowledge and enjoy the night sky from a dark, hopefully cloud free site.

The Geminids meteor shower have a fairly broad maximum, so viewing should be productive throughout the entire morning of December 13, New Moon this year allows coverage of the entire night. The Geminids can produce observed rates of over 100/hour at maximum, and are reliable (for a meteor shower) as well as spectacular. Geminids are medium-speed meteors. Most of them don't leave glowing trains, but the brighter ones are often colored (yellow, green and blue are most common).

The 'stargazing for public' consist of a short laser tour to introduce the constellations you can see in the sky. (depend on the sky condition)

The event is free and suitable for kids 12 years and above.

To register, email mpastrosociety@gmail.com your name, nric and your contact number.

More details on the MPASTRO blog.

Time: 8pm to 8am (next day)
Venue: Changi Beach Park
Website and contact: http://mpastro.blogspot.com/
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12 Dec (Sat): Nature Crafts: Origami for kids

Relive the kampong days with origami! Build up your very own farm of paper animals in Pasir Ris through origami. "Fold" your way to explore the living creatures in park today!

Suitable for kids 4 to 10 years.

To register, please email Lili at lin_lili@nparks.gov.sg. Registration closes 3 days before the event. Classes will commence with minimum 15 persons per session

Time: 9-10.30am
Cost: $10/person(includes materials)
Venue: D'Space, Pasir Ris Park (Carpark E)
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
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11 Dec (Fri): "Singapore: How Does Your Garden Grow?" by Shawn Lum

Not many people may know this, but Singapore, in addition to being a global centre for trade, finance, entertainment, and food, has one of the highest concentrations of plant and animal diversity in the world. What is this diversity, where is it found, what are its prospects, and what can we do to ensure that it continues to thrive in the future? In addition, how is this biodiversity relevant to us, and how can our lives be enriched by it? It is hoped that one will look out at our Garden City with a new sense of wonderment and appreciation after learning about its many non-human residents.

Shawn Lum is a lecturer in botany and environmental science at the National Institute of Education. He is also a long-time volunteer with the Nature Society (Singapore), where he has held a number of posts. He has been known to be easily spotted from time to time.

Admission is free.

Registration is required. Please email nhb_nm_lectures@nhb.gov.sg with your name and email address.

More details on the National Museum of Singapore website.

Time: 7pm
Venue: The Salon, Level 1 National Museum
Website: http://nationalmuseum.sg/
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11 Dec (Fri): Workshop for Nature Guides - Molluscs

Marvellous Molluscs: Tentacle Tales and Shell Stories
This is the 12th in a series of upcoming monthly workshops by The Leafmonkey Workshop for existing nature guides and those interested in becoming nature guides
Reef octopus
What is this workshop about?
Molluscs include commonly encountered snails and clams. Our other favourite molluscs are octopuses and 'sotong' (squids and cuttlefishes). What they are? What are their roles and adaptations? Can eat or not? How to find molluscs and handle (or not handle) them in the field. Find out in this brief introduction to molluscs for nature guides.

This workshop is likely to be more useful for those who have already started guiding and who have some basic knowledge of molluscs. The workshop is not intended to replace self-study and practical experience in the field. For more details about molluscs, see the wildsingapore fact sheets.

About the speaker
Ria Tan, WildSingapore
Ria is the author of the Chek Jawa Guidebook as well as the wildsingapore series of websites. She can be found at every low tide visiting almost every bit of shoreline in Singapore. She can be found writing at the wild shores of singapore blog as well.

Please register by 7 Dec (Mon).

More details of the event on the Leafmonkey Workshop

Time: 7 - 9.30pm
Venue: Civil Service College, 31 North Buona Vista Road [Map]
Website: http://leafmonkeyworkshop.blogspot.com/
Contact: leafmonkey@gmail.com
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10 Dec (Thu): All about Edible Plants - a tour for kids

Learn where healthy, yummy fruits and vegetables come from! Be amazed by the many different types of fruits and vegetables that we have in Jacob Ballas Children's Garden! Give your eyes a visual treat! Join us to learn interesting and amazing fruit and veggie facts.

Suitable for children in K1 - P6 levels.

For enquiry and registration, please contact the Education at 64719961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg . Online registration is available on www.sbg.org.sg (under "Education")

Time: 10-11am
Cost: $6 per child and $6 per accompanying parent
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children's Garden, Bukit Timah Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Website and contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
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30 Nov - 6 Dec: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family

Special events

Walks in wild places

For Nature Society (Singapore) members only

Announcements
  • Food court at Botany Centre, Singapore Botanical Gardens closed until December for renovation.
Registration now open
Singapore news highlights

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 sea turtle shared by Brandon on his blog.

Turtle, originally uploaded by brandon Chia.

6 Dec (Sun): Beach Critters: I want my Lunch!!

Sift through soft sand to find small animals that call our beaches home! Ever wondered what hermit crabs or anemones eat? Learn about their feeding habits at this very hands-on workshop!

Suitable for kids 6 to 10 years old.

The workshop is free, but registration required. Registration closes 3 days before the event. Classes will commence with min 15 persons per session

To register, please email Lili at lin_lili@nparks.gov.sg

Time: 9-10am
Venue: D'Space, Pasir Ris Park (Carpark E)
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
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6 Dec (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: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401
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6 Dec (Sun): Raffles Museum Open House

A hidden gem, the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research of the National University of Singapore houses more than 500,000 animals and plant specimens that you can get up close with.
Be amazed by urban Singapore’s rich biodiversity and grab this rare experience getting up close to many animal specimens. Learn about different species of animals that inhabited Singapore and the region through games and colouring activities. Children will learn about the different habitats, biodiversity, conservation and environmental awareness.

This Open House is part of the "I love museums" programme. More about RMBR.

Free Gallery Tour: 10 am-4 pm
How to get there: Shuttle bus service from Buona Vista MRT Station to Raffles Museum is available every 30 minutes from 9.45 am to 4.15 pm (except at 12.45 pm). Bus pick up point is at the bus stop along North Buona Vista Road, where the MOE building is located. More directions on the RMBR website.
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6 Dec (Sun): MAD lessons on seashore friends with Cicada Tree Eco Place

If you’re a kid between the ages of 5 and 10, join us to learn more about our seashore friends—sea stars and octopuses, sea snails and sea slugs, crabs and turtles! What do they eat? How do they reproduce? How can we make a difference in their lives?

Register with Celine Low contact@cicadatree.org.sg

Time: 2.30-4.30pm
Cost: $15 per person which includes a lovely badge.
Venue: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden
Website: http://www.cicadatree.org.sg/
Contact: Celine Low contact@cicadatree.org.sg
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5 Dec (Sat): Our Kitchen Garden Tour at Pasir Ris

Excite your senses with our Kitchen Garden Tour. Find out how vegetables are grown before it gets onto your plate! You will also learn about some natural remedies that our grandmothers might have planted in their own backyard.

Suitable for children from K1-P6 levels.

To register, please contact Wei Teng at 64653305 or email chong_wei_teng@nparks.gov.sg

This walk is conducted every first Saturday of the month

Time: 9am - 10am
Venue: Pasir Ris Park, Pasir Ris Green (Carpark C)
Cost: $4 per person
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: chong_wei_teng@nparks.gov.sg
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