Posted on Wed, 21 Sep 2011
Go Outdoors This Weekend For The Parks Fest!
Oh my! The first ever Parks Festival is already underway since 17 Sept, and we almost missed it…..But rest assured, simplyfab tree huggers, there are plenty more stuff going on in the parks around Singapore until 25 September where you can go and indulge your enviro-passions. It’s also a good opportunity to drag the kids away from killing aliens on the computer to a more wholesome communing with nature. By the way, did you know we have 300 parks in tiny Singapore? And we have otters too – see the picture above?… They are otters, aren’t they? Not elongated rats? (All these nice pics came from the nice people at NParks.) We didn’t know…!
Anyways, here are some fascinating events caught our eclectic eyes….
On 25 September, Sunday morning, Veggie Thursday has organised ‘Happy Feet’ walk cum carnival to promote and celebrate eating less meat for at least one day of the week. Expect a fun-filled morning of games, feet-pampering activities (such as foot reflexology) and yummy vegetarian food. Come barefoot or just in slippers, from 8am – 1pm, at the Fort Canning Park Foyer, for free.
For the more adventurous, there’s the Nature Adventure Camp at Hortpark over the weekend from 24 Sept, 9am until 25 Sept, 12pm. Commune with nature with a programme of birds, bees and forest trees. Sleep under the stars and have a really unique time. All meals provided. $160 for four people; bring your own tents and sleeping bags if you like.
Catch the WaterFire Art Display at Bedok Reservoir Park 24 & 25 September from 6pm each evening. This water art installation, called WaterFire (www.waterfire.org) is a fancy fiery installation by Barnaby Evans, an internationally acclaimed artist which I can’t say I have heard of. Hosted by Temasek Polytechnic (TP) and National Parks Board (NParks) and supported by the Public Utilities Board, expect activitites involving the arts, culture and ‘earth stewardship’ planned to bring together long time citizens of Singapore, new additions and foreigners. According to NParks, this is intended to ”reinforce the integration and understanding among foreigners and Singaporeans”. Twelve embassies will be setting up country pavilions at the park during this event.
If you’re not into holding hands, but rather something more intellectually challenging, there’s the Biodiversity of Singapore Symposium (Saturday 24 Sep 2011: 8am – 6pm) organised with the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research. Sounds like its for people with a serious interest in all things eco, expect lots of talks about ecosystems – forests, freshwater and inter-tidal/marine. This will be a single day session which brings together researchers, educators, and conservationists young and old. Registration required.
More details and full schedule: www.nparks.gov.sg/parksfest
