Kembara program brings children closer to nature<\/p>\n
Text and photos by P.J. Leo<\/p>\n
CISARUA, West Java (JP): It is not necessary to wait until you
\ngrow up to learn about conservation and the protection of flora
\nand fauna. Indeed, the sooner you learn the better.<\/p>\n
To help children develop the habit of caring for flora and
\nfauna, Taman Safari, in cooperation with the Habitat and Biodata
\nFoundation and the Indonesian Forum for the Conservation of Wild
\nAnimals, organized a program to teach children about
\nconservation. The program, called Kembara (Kemah belajar
\nkonservasi alam or camping for the study of nature conservation),
\nkicked off on Nov. 6 and Nov. 7 at Taman Safari here.<\/p>\n
The Kembara program, attended by 29 grade school and junior
\nhigh school students from Jakarta, was launched to commemorate
\nNational Day for the Love of Flora and Fauna, which was begun by
\nthe government on Nov. 5, 1993.<\/p>\n
\"I'm not afraid to be in the forest and sleep in a tent even
\nthough my parents aren't here,\" said Dio, a fourth grader and
\nprogram participant. \"I have many friends here.\"<\/p>\n
Solidarity reigned during the activities, although the
\nchildren had known each other for only a short time.<\/p>\n
Program leaders taught the children how to live among nature
\nwhile sleeping in tents; how to observe nature while walking in
\nthe forest; and how to identify with the lives of wild animals by
\nwatching, touching and smelling.<\/p>\n
These lessons were imparted by taking the children on walks up
\nin the hills, entering the forest while listening to nature's
\nvoice and crossing rivers with the kind of clear and cool water
\nnot found in the city.<\/p>\n
At one such small river, the children stopped to swim and joke
\nwith each other.<\/p>\n
\"How wonderful ... mom can't see us soaked in water,\" one of
\nthe children said to his brother. The children did not seem eager
\nto leave the river and it took much coaxing from program leaders
\nto get them hiking again.<\/p>\n
Nor did the cold air and dark nights frighten the children. On
\nthe contrary, it seemed to make them more confident. After dinner
\nthe leaders took the children to see a trap set for a black tiger
\nwhich had entered the park from Mount Pangrango a few months
\nearlier. After returning to camp, the kids made a campfire near
\nthe tents, after which formal introductions were made.<\/p>\n
Bedtime had arrived but there was still activity in the six
\ntents. Program participants were in a talkative mood,
\ninterspersing jokes with tips on nature conservation. \"We must
\ntake turns guarding the tents so the tigers do not come near.
\nWe'll take one-hour turns,\" one of the students said.<\/p>\n
Voices in other tents were heard admonishing others not to
\nlitter in the forest and not to destroy the forest and all it
\ncontained.<\/p>\n
The cold mountain air pierced the children to the bones the
\nnext morning, but they were busy preparing to welcome State
\nMinister of Environment Sonny Keraf, who was going to visit the
\npark on Sunday to commemorate the National Day for the Love of
\nFlora and Fauna and sign the plaque inaugurating the Kembara
\ncampground.<\/p>\n
\"The guides taught me last night how to catch tigers,\" said
\nSandra, telling the minister about her experiences in the
\nprogram. There was wide applause from the audience, which
\nconsisted of the minister and his staff, non-governmental
\norganization members, journalists and parents.<\/p>\n
After his speech, the minister was invited by the children to
\nvisit their camp by walking along the path they had taken the
\nprevious day. Arriving at the site, Sonny signed cards with
\npictures of flowers and animals for the children.<\/p>\n
The children who participated in the program had many stories
\nto tell their parents, who were waiting for them in the parking
\nlot. \"Mom, it's very different to swim in the river at the
\ncampground than in the swimming pool we go to in town,\" Leo
\nPanjimahendra said to his mother.<\/p>\n
Arnold had something else on his mind, asking the program
\nleaders before he left: \"When are we going to have a program like
\nthis again?\"<\/p>\n
The Kembara program is scheduled to take place regularly
\nduring school holidays and on weekends.<\/p>",
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