Perkhemahan Kelab Pencinta Alam Sekolah Rendah Peringkat Kebangsaan 2008

               An annual camp specially scheduled for the primary school Nature Clubs members from all over Malaysia had been conducted at Kem Rehlah, Pantai Bisikan Bayu, Semerak, Pasir Puteh, Kelantan by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS).

               Sponsored by CommunityLink, CIMB Group, this programme started on 31 October and ended on 2 November 2008. My wife joined the programme as Nature Club teacher advisor of the SBT Tuition Centre located at Paka, Dungun.   During this programme, I gave a talk on 'Marine Ecosystem'. Beside that, I also acted as one of the facilitator. My x-students from Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Jengal, with guidance from En. Mohd Nor Azizi Kamaruddin, made a presentation on 'Sea turtles'. This was the first experience for them to present in front of other people outside their school. Thanks to Education Department, Malaysian Nature Society for giving them the opportunities to do so.

                Among the activities conducted during the programme were ice breaking,  jungle trekking on Bukit Peraksi (a place where the 'new moon' is observed in order to know the starting date of fasting month and Aid Fitr), mangrove exploring, nature games, nature craft, beach clean-up, astronomy and a visit to fish cracker factory. 

Kem Briged Alam Sekitar MBPJ

Petaling Jaya City Council through its Environment Health Unit organized a camp namely 'Kem Briged Alam Sekitar (MBPJ Environment Brigade Camp') on 25 to 27 July 2008 at Kuala Woh Recreational Park, near Tapah. Kuala Woh Recreational Park presents a natural backdrop for fun-seekers to swim, picnic and fish. It is about 13km from Tapah town, along Jalan Tapah-Cameron Highlands. The main attraction in the park is the shallow water of the Batang Padang River. Visitors are particularly drawn to the hot water that flows between the cracks of the rock, various numbers of Rajah Brook Bird Wings Butterflies and a suspension bridge.

Conducted by a member of mine and myself, together with our three assistants, this programme being participated by 38 students ( 15 male and 23 female) and 4 teachers (1 male and 3 female) from SMK Damansara Damai and SMK Seksyen 10, Kota Damansara of Petaling Jaya. The participants being divided to 5 groups and they have to prepare their meals by themselves.

In this programme, my friend, En. Ahmad Salihin gave a talk on environment, forest ecosystem and environmental issues while I gave a talk on sea turtle conservation and marine ecosystem of Malaysia. Beside that, we also conducted several environmental games, night walk, jungle trekking, nature fashion show, blind trail and nature craft, just to name a few.

 

For jungle trekking session, we did it on 26 July and the path is at Bukit Tapah Permanent Forest Reserve (62984.84 ha). This forest reserve is a Hill Dipterocarp Forest that rich with varieties of plants species such as Meranti (Shorea sp.), Nyatoh (Ganua sp.), Keruing (Dipterocarpus sp.), Merbau (Intsia sp.) and palm type of plants like Bayas (Oncosperma horridum) , Langkap (Arenga westerhoutii), Kabong (Arenga pinnata), Pinang (Areca catechu; Pinanga malaiana) and Bertam (Eugeissona tristis).

             

Various herbal plants and fruit plants also being seen during the trekking such as Durian (Durio sp.), Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum), Pineapple (Ananas comosus), Manggis (Garcinia mangostana), Petai (Parkia speciosa), Cempedak (Artocarpus champeden) and Kundang (Bouea macrophylla). We also walked through rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) area. There were also various kinds of mushrooms that can be seen here such as the Ganoderma sp.

As this area is being used by Orang Asli (Indigenious people), we managed to see a simple shelter made of palm leaves made by them. I then took the chance to rest for a while under the shelter.