Straits Times Forum 31 Oct 09;
IN RESPONSE to Ms Sabrina Wong's suggestion that schools look for alternative outdoor camp venues ('Singapore schools should look for alternative venues for adventure camps', Thursday), the Singapore Sailing Federation (SingaporeSailing) would like to highlight good alternatives available in Singapore.
Service providers like Outward Bound Singapore, a member of SingaporeSailing and Singapore's leading adventure-based education centre, conduct high-quality educational camps and courses for students at their centres on Pulau Ubin and East Coast Park. They have extremely high safety and risk management standards and constantly conduct safety training and reviews.
SingaporeSailing also conducts an outdoor experiential learning programme called SailSmart. The four-day programme is targeted at schoolchildren to educate them on the environment, the sea, the weather and how to be safe and sensible by the sea. Safety standards are the top priority and they are modelled after the world-class practices of Outward Bound Singapore.
Among the many benefits that Sail-Smart delivers, participants will gain water wisdom and know when it is safe to swim and when the current is dangerous. They will have a better understanding of the marine environment, the wind, the weather, the tides, the delicate nature of our planet and how we must treat it with respect to sustain it. Principles of seamanship are also taught and through interactive and hands-on activities, participants will acquire life skills such as leadership, teamwork and self-confidence.
Besides Outward Bound Singapore and SailSmart, there are many other options available in Singapore, listed under the Singapore Sports Council's Sports Education Programme, which maintain good- quality programmes and high standards of safety.
We will be pleased to share more information with school teachers and parents who seek outdoor camp options in Singapore.
Why do we need to send children overseas for camps when we have such high-quality programmes available in Singapore?
Edwin Low
Secretary-General
Singapore Sailing Federation
Perak tragedy
Straits Times Forum 29 Oct 09;
'Singapore schools should look for alternative venues for adventure camps.'
MS SABRINA WONG: 'I am concerned after reading yesterday's report, 'Tragedy at children's goodwill camp'. The year-end school holidays are approaching and schools will send students to Malaysia for outdoor camps. My son is slated to go to Perak for a camp similar to that struck by the bridge collapse tragedy. Previously, my other children went to Perak for such camps where they, like the children in yesterday's report, crossed raging rivers. Schools should look for alternative venues.'
Not the right time to send students on overseas field trips
Straits Times 31 Oct 09;
I UNDERSTAND that Choa Chu Kang Secondary School is organising field trips to countries such as Japan and China this school holiday.
I am surprised parents can afford these trips and are willing to pay thousands of dollars for them.
Such trips are becoming the norm these days, rather than an option, though the latter may be so technically.
A student who wants to opt out feels pressured. Parents also find it hard to reject the child's request to go on an overseas field trip.
Why are schools organising such activities in a recession year?
Are schools not innovative enough to organise educational and entertaining programmes in Singapore?
I appeal to the Ministry of Education to review such overseas programmes, especially in a difficult year for many parents.
Lee Keen Meng
