Kids can get close to animals, pick up life skills at ZooSchool

Camp featuring survival skills and conservation among offerings at school

- Emerald Lo

Starting in June, children aged three to 12 will meet animals up close and develop life skills through a new programme at Mandai Wildlife Reserve aimed at fostering a deeper appreciation for nature.

Set up by Mandai Wildlife Group together with pre-school operator NTUC First Campus, ZooSchool's 1,300 sq m campus in Mandai features indoor spaces modelled after rainforest, freshwater and savannah habitats. There is also a multi-level outdoor playground.

Children will pick up life skills such as knot-tying, map reading and first aid, aimed at building resilience, critical thinking and fine motor skills.

To complement their classroom learning, they will also venture into Mandai's five wildlife parks, which will serve as open-air classrooms. Guided by veterinarians and animal care experts, the children will have close-up animal encounters and go behind the scenes to learn about wildlife conservation and animal behaviours.

"The world is running out of time," said Ms Belina Lee, deputy chief executive (transformation and growth) at Mandai Wildlife Group, at the launch of ZooSchool on May 16.