Contributed by Koh Yang Lin
On 7 June, 49 members and 28 new friends from Derek Dunn’s zone participated in a farm visit, nature tour and outing, organized by its leaders. The itinerary included a a walk through Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, and visits to Kranji farm and Marina Barrage.
On the idea of a farm visit, one of the organizers Lisa Chong, explained, “We wanted to have an outreach that will include things that Singaporeans do not normally do on a weekend. The farm visit not only suits our purpose, it is also suitable for families.”
After hopping off the chartered bus that afternoon, the members and friends quickly settled down for lunch at Sungei Buloh’s Bliss Café. Their adventure at the wetland reserve began with a game. Teams were formed and a puzzle was given to each team, with points awarded for the right steps taken. This was a clever way to facilitate the visitors’ learning journey to discover Mother Nature. Team members quickly bonded as groups competed against each other amidst much laughter and excitement.
For Emilio Mark, 21, this was his first ever visit to Sungei Buloh. “It is an eye-opener for me. This is the most green I’ve seen in a day, and the air is very fresh and refreshing.”
That was not all, the teams also visited Kranji Farm Resort, an agri-tainment farm, and enjoyed an educational tour which included sampling locally-grown produce and products.
The last destination of the day was Marina Barrage, where family and newfound friends could enjoy the companionship of one another against the panoramic view at the tip of the Singapore River.
This day out succeeded in its goal to be an out-of-the-box outreach session. “It was a break from our busy lifestyle, a time of bonding with our family and friends — I really enjoyed myself” said Celine Tien, 18.
Organizers were so pleased with the results, it has been agreed this won’t be the last of such outreach trips.
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| PHOTOS: Lim Xin Ying |
