WHAT WE DO
Nature Kakis Chapters drive community-led nature programmes, activities, and projects, bringing our City In Nature to their communities. Nature Kakis can participate in and also go one step further to help grow community interest by planning, organizing and implementing a wide variety of activities and programmes.
If you'd like to discover more about the Nature Kakis activities, we invite you to follow us on Instagram (@NatureKakis_Network) and like our Facebook page (Nature Kakis Network) for the latest updates and to be part of our nature-loving community.
City in Nature Activities for Nature Kakis to Participate in
NParks has prepared a non-exhaustive suite of 8 introductory programmes to inspire Nature Kakis Chapters to kickstart new activities or enhance existing ones in in their communities.
Scroll down to read more about each of the programmes.
*Note: Graphic banners below were hand-drawn by Nature Kakis Youth Stewards.
Nature Kakis Activities
Biodiversity & Wildlife
Singapore’s urban and natural landscapes teem with biodiversity and wildlife, providing opportunities for the community to learn and coexist with wildlife. Nature Kakis can:
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Participate or organise biodiversity surveys and watches;
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Self-organise biodiversity/photography walks for residents;
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Incorporate wildlife management topics into other community programmes organised by the Nature Kakis Chapter;
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Educate the community on good practices to ensure safe and enjoyable encounters with wildlife, such as observing wildlife from a distance, refraining from feeding animals, keeping food/plastic bags out of sight, and disposing of waste properly; and
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Conduct outreach, ranging from webinars and engagement talks to sharing advisory materials with the community at noticeboards or house visits.
Find out more here.
Community Animals
Promoting responsible pet ownership and care for community animals is essential for improving animal health and welfare in our urban environment.
Nature Kakis Chapters can look to organise the following types of educational outreach programmes:
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Responsible pet ownership: Nature Kakis can organise educational programmes for current and potential pet owners, emphasizing responsible pet ownership and AVS guidelines. Topics may include sterilization, microchipping, licensing, and proper pet care etiquette.
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Care for community animals and animal welfare: Nature Kakis can educate residents on best practices for interacting with and caring for common community animals such as community cats and free-roaming dogs. The topics covered could include responsible community animal feeding and the Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage (TNRM) programme.
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Engaging the community as a whole: Nature Kakis may plan and execute engagement events tailored to their community, including social media campaigns and collaboration with pet interest groups.
Find out more here.
Gardening
Community in Bloom is a nationwide gardening movement started by NParks in May 2005. It seeks to promote community spirit and a gardening culture among Singapore residents, young and old.
As part of the Community in Bloom programme, Nature Kakis Chapters can champion or co-lead with community gardeners to develop community gardens in their precinct and plan activities to encourage residents and volunteers to participate in gardening activities together.
Nature Kakis Chapters can also take the opportunity to empower more community gardeners to share their gardening experiences with the community through workshops and talks.
Find out more here
Friends of the Parks
Friends of The Parks is a ground-led initiative that sets out to involve the wider community in the development and management of our green spaces by choosing to be involved in the following community engagement areas:
1. Conceptualisation and Park Design by engaging the community to reimagine their park experiences;
2. Park Development by involving stakeholders and residents in the construction of the park through community-based activities, such as tree planting, habitat enhancement, installation/painting of amenities and design of interpretative signage; and/or
3. Park Management by empowering the community to co-organise activities and events, while encouraging the community to use the park responsibly.
Find out more on Friends of the Park here!
Nature in the Neighbourhood
Nature in the Neighbourhood initiative serves as a creative outlet for Nature Kakis to design engaging activities tailored to their community by leveraging on their surrounding green spaces and community groups.
Nature Kakis Chapters have the freedom to brainstorm and implement innovative initiatives that encourage residents to connect with nature in their surroundings. These initiatives may include organising nature mural painting sessions, devising interactive games, and incorporating gamification elements like Bingo cards and Nature Podcasts to make learning about the environment enjoyable and interactive for participants.
Find out more here.
Nature Walks
With the transformation of Singapore into a City in Nature, all households will be a 10-minute walk from a park by 2030, bringing nature closer to our homes. Giving guided and informative nature walks will help the community gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the flora and fauna in their backyard. This will encourage the community to spend time outdoors to enjoy the beauty and tranquil of the greenery close to their homes.
Through our capacity building programmes, Nature Kakis can curate and conduct nature walks for the community, and/or assist in curating or facilitating nature walks organised by other Nature Kakis Chapters within their vicinity.
Find out more here
Tree Planting
The OneMillionTrees movement is a key strategy in achieving Singapore’s City in Nature vision, where everyone can play a role in intensifying the greenery in Singapore to build climate resilience. By planting one million more trees by 2030 to tackle climate change, we are also reaping environmental benefits such as cleaner water, fresher air, cooler urban temperatures and better health and well-being.
Nature Kakis can organise and run tree planting sessions for the community and get trained as OneMillionTrees facilitators to conduct tree planting sessions for their residents.
Nature Kakis Chapters can also take this opportunity to grow their pool of volunteers equipped to be tree planting facilitators to teach participants the basics of tree planting while ensuring that the planting is carried out in a safe manner.
Find out more via the OneMillionTrees movement website here!
Therapeutic Horticulture
Nature, greenery, and its benefits should be enjoyed by all, regardless of age or ability. Therapeutic horticulture programmes are specially designed to be accessible and beneficial for elderly groups, persons with dementia and persons with special needs, promoting health and mental well-being.
Nature Kakis Chapters can help facilitate or organise therapeutic horticulture activities such as:
· Propagation of Edible plants
· Gardening (Pruning/Watering/Weeding)
· Scent Bag Making
· Flower & Leaf Pressing on Cards
· Seed Mandala Decoration
· Plant Pot Decoration
Find out more here.