20 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.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

20 Dec (Sat): Birdwatching Stroll for kids at the newly opened Springleaf Nature Park

Join Cicada Tree Eco Place on this walk at Springleaf Nature Park which was officially opened on 1st November 2014. This location was formerly a rural ‘kampong’ area. The village here was known as Chan Chu Kang, sitting on the banks of the Seletar River. In the past, gambier, pepper and rubber were grown here.

With urbanization, the villages disappeared and the green spaces here became nature corridors vitally linked to our precious, biodiverse Central Catchment Nature Reserve. The river and secondary forests and grasslands on the riverbanks are home to many species of native, introduced and migratory birds. More than 80 species have been recorded here. One of the aims of our walk is to add on to the list, new species never before sighted here. In the reed beds, we try to spot waterbirds such as the Yellow Bittern and Black-crowned Night-heron. Up in the Albizia tree canopy perch Dollarbird and Coppersmith Barbet. The many tree holes here attract hole-nesting Lineated Barbet and Asian Glossy Starlings. At dusk, squadrons of very noisy Long-tailed Parakeets dramatically zoom in to roost. Along the way, kids will also learn some of the easier-to-identify bird songs. We will be strolling on the park connector path that runs parallel with Sungei Seletar which ends at Lentor Avenue.

Please note:

• Bring refillable water bottle, poncho/raincoat/umbrella, hat, snacks, herbal mosquito repellent. Optional items: camera, binoculars, notepad & pen, sunblock, sunglasses.
• Can wear anything as we will only be on a concrete path. But wear long pants and repellent to minimise mozzie bites.
• Stroller and wheelchair definitely can do.
• There are many options for dinner in this area.

To register, please email Celine Low at contact@cicadatree.org.sg giving participants' names, ages and a mobile no.

Time: 4-6pm
Meeting Point: Meet at 3.45pm inside this park’s main entrance building at Upper Thomson Road, opposite junction with Mandai Road.
Cost: $13 per participant. Kids aged 5 years and below come along free.
Website: http://www.cicadatree.org.sg/

18 Dec (Thu): Sara goes Carbon Footprinting - a guided tour for kids

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! Participants will also be introduced to some useful and multi-purpose trees and learn how to reuse and recycle objects from home and nature, and transform them into useful items for decorative or practical purposes!!

Suitable for children in K1 – P6 levels

For enquiry and registration, please contact the Education at 64719961 and 6465 0196 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg. Online registration on the NParks website.

Time: 10-11.30am
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.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: 64719961 or nparks_sbg_edu@nparks.gov.sg

8-14 Dec: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids and the family

• Ecolife by the Riverplains
• What's in my water? - Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Free Guided Walk
• A walk with your neighbours - the macaques of Macritchie

Walks in wild places

• Nature Hike - Explore Nature Areas near Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
• Forest walk at the Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail
• Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

The school holidays are here!

Wondering what to do with the kids during the December school holidays? Check out the highlights of exciting nature activities specially for kids lined up for the school holidays!

And MORE fun school holiday activities to discover and enjoy Singapore's biodiversity!

27 Dec (Sat): Nature Exploration Walk specially for parents with kids aged 6 yrs and below at Pasir Ris Park Mangrove Boardwalk

This Cicada Tree Eco Place walk is only for parents and their kids aged 6 years and below to come out and explore Nature together.

The wild mangrove forest here is easily and comfortably accessible and very suitable for small kids, with lots of things for them to look at. Our exploration will be on the extensive boardwalks to look for bugs, crabs, reptiles, birds and other critters. Uncle Andrew will have bug boxes to gently capture bugs and Tree-climbing Crabs for hands-on up-close observation and study with magnifying lenses (they shall then be released back to their habitats unharmed). Participants can see and learn how animals adapt to their habitats, how they build their homes and how they find their food. Please note that we will be at toddlers’ pace doing a slow stroll to allow kids to take their time to look at things.

Please note:

• Bring refillable water bottle, poncho/raincoat/umbrella, hat, snacks, herbal mosquito repellent.
• Optional items: camera, sunblock, sunglasses.
• EVERYONE MUST wear full-length long pants, socks and fully-covered shoes. Long-sleeved shirt is recommended, otherwise teeshirt can do.
• We will be staying on level boardwalks and paths so stroller and wheelchair are possible.

To register, please email Celine Low at contact@cicadatree.org.sg giving participants' names, ages and a mobile no.

Time: 10am-11.30am
Meeting Point: Meet at 9.45 am outside the public toilet block at right side of Car Park ‘C’ at end of Pasir Ris Green Road which is off Pasir Ris Drive 3 Road. Walk ends at 11.30 am back at starting point.
Website: http://www.cicadatree.org.sg/

13 Dec (Sat): What's in my water? - Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Free Guided Walk

Ever wondered what is living in the water bodies around Sungei Buloh? Join us then! Know more about the plants and animals that live in the different water habitats of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

Register early to avoid disappointment as this is limited to 20 pax.

Time: 9.30am-12noon
Venue: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Kranji Way Visitor Centre
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

13 Dec (Sat): Nature Hike - Explore Nature Areas near Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

While Bukit Timah Nature reserve takes a break for improvement works, take this opportunity to discover other nature areas such as Dairy Farm Nature Park, Bukit Batok Nature Park and Singapore Quarry.

Join us on Saturday mornings for a nature hike to the various nature areas and park connectors to help you familiarise and plan for future walks with family and friends. Route: Kampong Trail - Durian Loop (approximately 2 hours return). All walks will start and end at Kampong Trail.

Hike Preparations: Please dress comfortably for walks - Covered walking shoes (Appropriate for undulated trails), light clothin, cap. Have breakfast before walk and bring bottled water. Bring rain gear (Poncho/umbrella).

The Nature Hike will be cancelled in the event of bad weather.

Times: 8.30am, 9am and 9.30am (each tour max 20 participants)
Meeting Point: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Start of Kampong Trail (Near the grass patch with monkey educational boards). Limited parking at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve during period of closure, visitors are encouraged to come via public transport
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

13 Dec (Sat): Ecolife by the Riverplains

Ecolife is a free two-hour tour which introduces the park and the biodiversity found in Riverplains through the use of interactive exploration themes and activities. The tour aims to encourage family bonding between parents and child through the process of learning together. Join us as we take you through this tour with worksheets provided and fun hands on activities such as doing up your very own underwater viewing scope.

Pre-registration is required by emailing Pauline Tan pauline_tan@nparks.gov.sg or call 6554 51326

Time: 9-11am
Meeting point: Bishan- Ang Mo Kio Park Riverplains, multi-purpose shelter
Contact: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/ or call 6554 5136

13 Dec (Sat): A walk with your neighbours - the macaques of Macritchie

The long-tailed macaques are the most conspicuous animals at Macritchie Reservoir Park. Although commonly seen, they are very misunderstood. Few seeing them realise anything about the social world these monkeys live in. They have kin networks, power struggles, friends, foes, and an otherwise complex social network. In many ways, they provide a mirror of our own sociality.

If you would like to learn more about your community and the interesting world of your neighbouring macaques at Macritchie, please join our walk, led by experts from the Jane Goodall Institute SIngapore.

Suitable for adults and children above 8 years

Register at sg.monkey.walk@gmail.com, at least 3 days in advance. Do provide us with your name, contact number (in case of cancellation, we will contact you), number of adult and children participants (at most, 5 participants per registration). Upon receiving your registration, we will reply with a confirmation email. The walk will be cancelled if there is bad weather 45 minutes before the walk.

This walk is held every second Saturday of the month.

Time: 5-6pm
Venue: Macritchie Reservoir Park
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/

13 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 a boardwalk, 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.

Tours in Mandarin are available at 4pm.

Time: 9am, 10am, 11am and 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 orNPARKS_SBG_Visitor_Services@NPARKS.GOV.SG