16 volunteers including a non-member
successfully carried out the second Nature Camp for the year 2000 and the
new millennium. Although it was the wet season, nature was especially kind
to us, as it did not rain during the camp except a very slight drizzle
(almost unnoticeable) on the second day.
Forty nine participants aged nine to fourteen (from SJK (C) Sam
Tet, SJK (C) Ave Maria, SJK (C) Yuk Choy, SJK (C) Gunung Rapat SK Marian
Convent, SK Subang Jaya and SMK Ave Maria Convent) and most of the volunteers
gathered at the compound of SJK (C) Wan Wah 1, Menglembu at 7.30 a.m.
At the eleventh hour, the Nursery Management informed us that we had to
share the campsite with another group of campers. Therefore the briefing
was carried out before we left for Papan at about 9 a.m. As the chartered
bus was loaded with utensils, food and camping equipment, some of the participants
had to follow the volunteers in their cars.
When we reached the campsite there was no sign of the campers who were
supposed to share the place with us. With high hopes that they would not
appear, we started setting up the place while the participants helped to
do some cleaning up. The fiftieth participant, who had overslept, arrived.
The activities on the first day were Treasure Hunt, Paper Recycling,
a demonstration on how to make bookmarks from leaves (from the Bo Tree,
ficus religiosa) by non-member, Mrs Yang Chor Chaw, Station Games, Blind
Trail, Fun In the Stream (Stream Ecology) and Night Walk. The much awaited
slide show by Mr Cheang Kum Seng, which was scheduled before the night
walk had to be cancelled. Just when he had finished setting up his equipment,
the generator started choking patheticaly before falling into a deep coma.
The men tried to “resuscitate” the machine but to no avail. This session
was quickly replaced by a sing-along session led by Mr. Loke Choong Ming.
This group of children slept soundly until about seven the next morning
(so did the volunteers). After breakfast was the birdwatching session.
Then a group photo was taken before Moon led everyone into the jungle for
a two-hour trekking trip. Moon reported spotting a deer when he racced
the trail the day before. Many types of fungus and mushrooms were spotted
during along the trail.
After lunch, the children made a collage
with dried leaves and twigs collected during the jungle trekking. The Prize-giving
Ceremony filled the last slot of the camping activities. By 4.30 p.m. everyone
was back at SJK (C) WanWah 1. Many thanks again to Mrs. Yang for her time,
energy and knowledge. We hope to have her again in our next camp….
Report by Ng Kit Wan
What the children say about the Children Nature Camp …………
“I met a lot of friends……I also learnt a lot of of things.”
~ Catriona Byrne, 12; SJK (C) Ave Maria Convent,
Ipoh ~
“Generally, we enjoyed the whole camp. But most of all, we like the
Station Games and the Blind Trail.”
~Sharon Yang, 14; SMK Ave Maria Convent, Ipoh ~
“The night walk and jungle trekking were the two acticities I enjoyed
most…..I was able to see many different plants and insects. The teachers
taught us to put our torch lights next to our right eye and we could see
something like diamonds - the eyes of the spiders. . I made some
new friends…. I want to thank the teachers for looking after me, cooking
the meals and teaching us about nature and recycling.”
~ Chrys Lee, 11; SK Marian Convent, Ipoh ~