A total of 32 preschoolers – 18 Kindergarten 2 children from My First Skool at Blk 187 Marsiling Road and 14 Kindergarten 1 children from Little Skool-House at Alexandra Hospital – were among the first to experience Asia’s first ZooSchool at its launch on 16 May 2025.

In a landmark partnership, Mandai Wildlife Group and NTUC First Campus (NFC) have unveiled Asia’s first ZooSchool, a unique educational initiative for children aged 3 to 12. ZooSchool offers immersive programmes that blend classroom learning with hands-on exploration, drawing young learners into the world of nature, wildlife, and conservation. Designed by experienced educators from both organisations, there are sessions available for both members of the public and preschools.

Ms Belina Lee, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Transformation & Growth, Mandai Wildlife Group shared, “Mandai Wildlife Group has a proud legacy as a global pioneer in wildlife education. For over four decades, our wildlife parks have served as living classrooms, where generations of educators and children have discovered and fallen in love with the wonders of the natural world through impactful and memorable learning experiences. The launch of ZooSchool is the next big step in our evolution, offering the benefits of a fully equipped educational facility with Singapore’s wildlife parks at the heart of the learning experience. Through our partnership with NFC, we are combining our expertise with their capabilities in early childhood and outdoor learning to develop purpose-driven curriculum – one that brings learning to life at the intersection of nature, play and discovery, while igniting a lifelong passion to care for animals and nature.”

With programmes anchored in the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, ZooSchool offers a dynamic and immersive learning environment where children engage directly with nature. They will learn about animal behaviours and conservation through wildlife encounters, behind-the-scenes experiences, and interactions with veterinarians, animal care experts and sustainability advocates. By tapping into children’s natural curiosity, these programmes also focus on developing essential life skills such as teamwork, resilience, and confidence, while introducing practical survival skills like basic first aid, knot tying and navigation. Each session provides an interactive learning experience through purposeful play, creative projects, and outdoor adventures. 

“At NTUC First Campus, we believe there is no better way to nurture young minds than through immersive experiences that ignite curiosity, build resilience, and cultivate a lifelong love for learning and nature. Our partnership with Mandai Wildlife Group on ZooSchool deepens this commitment. With ZooSchool, nature becomes the classroom, and every encounter is a powerful teaching moment. This bold venture deepens our longstanding commitment to outdoor and inquiry-based learning, integrating conservation education, purposeful play, and the expertise of wildlife professionals to elevate what outdoor learning can achieve. It is yet another example of how NTUC First Campus nurtures generations and shapes the future, not just preparing children for school, but nurturing future stewards of our planet,” said Mr Justin Ang, Chief Executive Officer, NTUC First Campus.

Complementing the outdoor learning is a 1,300-square-metre, purpose-built facility at the Mandai Wildlife Reserve. This facility features configurable, immersive indoor environments and classrooms inspired by natural ecosystems. It also has a sensory-rich multi-level outdoor playground designed to ignite imagination and support physical development through active exploration. 

To celebrate Singapore’s 60th anniversary and the partnership between Mandai Wildlife Group and NTUC First Campus, ZooSchool is gifting every preschool in Singapore a special edition Mandai Top Trumps card game. These cards feature illustrations of animal residents of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, offering a fun and engaging way to educate and engage players about wildlife conservation. The card game is incorporated in some of ZooSchool’s programmes, like Wild Wonders, reinforcing conservation learning through play.

More information on the following programmes is available on the ZooSchool webpage:

• [July to September 2025] Wild Rescue Rangers Holiday Camps (ages 6-12): Three-day camps with survival skills, animal interactions, and conservation activities.
• [June & July 2025] Wild Wonders (ages 5 to 12): 2-hour adventures uncovering animal superpowers and conservation mysteries.
• [July 2025 onwards] Preschool Programmes* including Introductory Programmes, Adventure Programmes, and Overnight Camps.

*All bookings are to be made via enquiry to [email protected] The June Holiday Camps are fully booked. Registration is now open to the public for Wild Wonders in June and holiday camps in July, August and September at https://zooschool.mandai.com.

Additional programmes will be introduced in the coming months. Friends of Mandai and NTUC Union Members can enjoy further discounts. Visit https://zooschool.mandai.com for more details.