Wetlands support a diverse range of wildlife and are important habitats that provide water, food and shelter for the animals. They also serve as crucial stopover sites for migratory waterbirds. To celebrate our wetlands and raise awareness of the many benefits they offer, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve lined up a myriad of activities over two weekends on 26 January and 2 February 2019. More than 250 visitors participated in these activities, ranging from guided walks, parent-child workshop to various activity booths.

At the Wetland Family Adventure Workshop, parents and their children bonded as they worked as detectives to uncover more about life supported by freshwater and mangrove habitats. Becoming scientists for a day, they observed and learnt about various freshwater and mangrove inhabitants – from dragonfly nymphs to fishes and worms – up close under a microscope. They dipped their hands into the Junior Wetlands, a rehabilitated freshwater pond, and excitedly scooped out various freshwater organisms. They also got a chance to learn about the anatomy of mudskippers as they moulded them out of terracotta clay. The jam-packed workshop also included a guided walk where participants learnt about the various wetland habitats found at the Reserve.

Visitors also engaged in activities at various booths ranging from making mudskipper masks, colouring to craft activities on dragonflies and frogs. There was even an upcycling activity where visitors sewed pre-loved cloths into tote bags. To round up the activities, there were also a couple of guided walks that introduced participants to inhabitants that live in our water bodies and mangroves.

Learning about the various wetland habitats found at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve while on a guided walk. © Mohammad Azry, Volunteer from National Parks Board (NParks)

Parent-child investigative teams finding out what lies beneath the surface of freshwater habitats. ©Mohammad Azry, NParks Volunteer

© Mohammad Azry, NParks Volunteer

Budding scientists examining freshwater and mangrove inhabitants under the microscope, and learning more about them through a display ©National Parks Board

Hands-on craft activity booths were set up at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve to engage the little ones through their senses, and a sample of an upcycled tote bag. ©Mohammad Azry, NParks Volunteer

©Jimmy Tan, NParks Volunteer

©National Parks Board

Article prepared by Florence Sim from National Parks Board (NParks), Singapore

Photographs by: Mohammad Azry and National Parks Board (NParks)