Experiential Enrichment

Parent-child bonding and experiential learning at the SAFRA Punggol Weekend Fun.

By Edmund Wee        14 July 2019

It turned out to be an experiential enrichment boot camp for families who participated in SAFRA Punggol’s Weekend Fun, held on 1 Jun. For the event, the venue was transformed into a visually stunning “tropical forest” with four zones of engagement – Arts, Gourmet, Literacy and Science – with each having its respective workshops sessions and stage performances.

The day kicked off with an arts stage performance in the Arts Zone – The Lion in the City Stage by Apsara Asia. Other activities held in this zone included workshops on 3D pen art, soy candle-making, storytelling and crafts, and wiresculpting. Techniques on how to create specialty arts such as beautiful kinetic pinwheels were also taught.

In the Literacy zone, bookworms dabbled in music storytelling. Families also got a chance to share personal stories on cultural heritage and national identity at the Singapore Bicentennial Storytelling Showcase: Discovering my History Through my Family.

“Learning through experience” for the kids is a key element of all workshops curated by SAFRA for the event.

For science enthusiasts, activities in the Science zone included the Experiential Science Forensics workshop and Terrarium making. A special section was dedicated to children who enjoy the outdoors and engaging with nature.

On that day, participants who signed up for the walking mangrove tour were whisked away to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserves. For over an hour, they explored the rich biodiversity of the mangrove ecosystem. SAFRA members also had the chance to experience the aerial beauty of buttierflies at the butterfly vivarium within Singapore Science Centre, where they were taken on an educational tour about the colourful lives of butterflies.

No event is complete without delicious food. Another section curated as the Gourmet zone saw parents and their children trying their hand at gourmet crafts such as flowerpot oreo cone making, fondant cupcake decoration, lemonade making, and even themed bento making.

The exciting day drew to a close with an inspirational and meaningful talk by Singapore Polytechnic on how to “Make a Difference” in the community. Parents and their children walked away with happy memories of having spent a fruitful day engaged in creative and experiential learning.

Workshops engaged children through hands-on exploration and music.