River turns into classroom for lessons on waterways

Rachel Tan Straits Times 19 Jul 13;

A NEW initiative from the PUB will help kids learn about waterways at Singapore's first "River Classroom".

At Sungei Ulu Pandan in Clementi, students can discover how the river is filtered by plants that get rid of pollutants while absorbing nutrients in the water.

It boasts a community deck that gets youngsters closer to the water safely, and a 600m path where they can observe a new sedimentation basin, floating wetland, and a channel planted with vegetation that removes large pieces of sediment.

The project will be opened officially this Sunday.

It is part of the PUB's ABC Waters programme, started in 2006, which aims to provide "active, beautiful and clean" waterways.

PUB engineer Mak Ming Foong said it will "allow people to get closer to the water".

She added: "Before we decided on the location, we studied the entire waterway together with the surroundings to understand the site characteristics, the user's pattern and if there is potential for educational value."

Students from Queensway Secondary will perform weekly patrols in the area and conduct biodiversity audit checks.

The School of Science and Technology (SST) has been holding its own lessons in the area since January."This programme forces everyone to get out and do a project," said SST science research teacher Tan Hoe Teck.

The nearby Van Kleef Centre, which carries out research into freshwater management, also plans to arrange public walkabouts to highlight the unique features of the ABC learning trail.

Mr Jun-ichi Inada, managing director of landscape consultants Win International, helped design the area. He said: "Teachers use outdoor classrooms as part of the educational programme to make children understand."

First ‘river classroom’ at Sungei Ulul Pandan
Amanda Lee Today Online 19 Jul 13;

SINGAPORE — Residents and students visiting Sungei Ulu Pandan can now learn more about water and the environment thanks to a new project that seeks to create the “river classroom experience”.

Stretching along Sungei Ulu Pandan, between Clementi Avenue 4 and Clementi Road, the project wants to showcase the importance of treating the rainwater run-off from the surrounding catchment before entering the waterway.

The river classroom features four types of ABC Water design elements, one of which is a sedimentation basin. It temporarily collects water from the drains and allow larger sediments to settle before cleaner water flows into the river.

Aquatic plants are planted along the edge to help absorb nutrients in the rainwater run-off while enhancing biodiversity of the area.

Outdoor learning experience for residents, students at Sungei Ulu Pandan
Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid Channel NewsAsia 21 Jul 13;

SINGAPORE: Residents living in the west can now enjoy new community spaces along a waterway, while learning about the environment.

The Sungei Ulu Pandan has been spruced up under the Active, Beautiful and Clean or ABC waters programme.

The aim is to create a river classroom experience where residents and students can learn more about water and the environment to the waterway

Green features like floating wetlands were added to enhance the biodiversity of the area.

The National Water Agency PUB said schools like Nan Hua High School and Queensway Secondary School have already expressed their interest to further their outdoor learning at the waterway.

Residents can also make use of new gathering and viewing decks for recreational activities.

Over a three-year period, APB Singapore is also pledging $300,000 towards an APB Singapore Water Education Fund.

The money will support initiatives like an internship programme for tertiary students at ABC waters at Sungei Ulu Pandan.

- CNA/de