22 Kindergarten 1 (K1) children from My First Skool at Blk 269 Compassvale Link holding the leaves they found during the Perseverance Camp by NTUC First Campus’ Outdoor School Singapore at Chestnut Nature Park on 14 October 2025.

An increasing number of parents in Singapore are enrolling their children in outdoor learning programmes to complement academics. This rising interest in nature-based education reflects parents’ desire to balance academic learning with outdoor experiences that build empathy, confidence, and teamwork. NTUC First Campus’ Outdoor School Singapore (OSS) was featured as one of the leading providers, offering children aged three to twelve opportunities to explore nature and learn through play beyond the classroom. OSS has seen participation triple over the past three years, from about 3,000 in 2022 to 9,000 in 2025.

OSS Head Mindy Teo shared that nature-based learning helps children become “stronger, braver, more empathetic, and more connected to the world around them.” She added that outdoor activities also promote eye health, physical fitness, focus, and emotional resilience, which are key benefits in contrast to digital lifestyles. OSS research involving 300 children found that two-thirds became more resilient and seven in ten showed greater confidence in solving problems after participating in such programmes.

OSS Lead Instructor Danial Hakim Putra Kamarudin explained that outdoor learning builds confidence and resilience by allowing children to try new experiences such as climbing logs or hiking trails. “It’s okay if they don’t succeed on the first try. What matters is that they learn to trust themselves, recognise their strengths, and keep trying,” he said. Danial added that nature provides endless learning opportunities, helping children develop problem-solving skills, independence, and emotional strength through play and exploration.

Media coverage:

Berita Harian Print (23 October 2025)

Berita Harian Online (23 October 2025)