Subcommittee Outing 1 15/16

In order to promote bonding between subcommittee members from different portfolios, as well as to provide an event where participants can relax and get to know new people, Earthlink has held its first Subcommittee Outing on the 10th of October. This weekend getaway was held at the largest mangrove reserve in Singapore, the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve  which is home to a vast variety of animals such as mudskippers, migratory birds, and giant monitor lizards.

After everyone was gathered at the HSS foyer, participants were assigned to groups and asked to introduce themselves to their respective groups. While waiting for the buses, participants played icebreaking games and had their breakfast. The wetland reserve was just 30 minutes away by bus, and everyone arrived in high spirits. The event was kick-started by station games, interspersed with nature walks along the reserve.

As the Nature Guides assigned to each group talked about the flora and fauna they could identify, many were fascinated by the diverse wildlife that could be found in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Aside from common plants such as fishtail palms  which can be easily found in abundance in a mangrove environment, participants also spotted animals such as mudskippers, monitor lizards, and even a pair of hornbills! On the other hand, station games that are scheduled between nature walks allow participants to take breaks from walking, as well as encouraging participants to work together with group mates in order to perform well in the games. Through the games, the group members can know each other better, possibly forging new friendships.

By the time the nature walks and the station games were completed, noon had arrived. Hungry participants were treated with a simple but filling meal in the form of a picnic-lunch. After a hearty meal and some rest, the outing resumed with a Coastal Walk along the edges of the wetland reserve. By this time, the tides had receded, and participants were able to spot the more elusive horseshoe crabs and tree-climbing crabs in the mud. In fact, some participants were even able to catch a glimpse of an estuarine crocodile at the river mouth, before it silently dipped below the water surface again.

When everyone had reached the end of the Coastal Walk, it was already late afternoon. After a brief group-photo session, everyone boarded the buses for the journey back to NTU. Despite the outing being extremely tiring, everyone agreed that it was very fun. Many participants were particularly fond of the nature walks and the interesting flora and fauna that they encountered, as well as meeting people from portfolios outside their own. All in all, this was a very valuable experience for the organizers and participants alike.