Kembara program brings children closer to nature

Text and photos by P.J. Leo

CISARUA, West Java (JP): It is not necessary to wait until you grow up to learn about conservation and the protection of flora and fauna. Indeed, the sooner you learn the better.

To help children develop the habit of caring for flora and fauna, Taman Safari, in cooperation with the Habitat and Biodata Foundation and the Indonesian Forum for the Conservation of Wild Animals, organized a program to teach children about conservation. The program, called Kembara (Kemah belajar konservasi alam or camping for the study of nature conservation), kicked off on Nov. 6 and Nov. 7 at Taman Safari here.

The Kembara program, attended by 29 grade school and junior high school students from Jakarta, was launched to commemorate National Day for the Love of Flora and Fauna, which was begun by the government on Nov. 5, 1993.

"I'm not afraid to be in the forest and sleep in a tent even though my parents aren't here," said Dio, a fourth grader and program participant. "I have many friends here."

Solidarity reigned during the activities, although the children had known each other for only a short time.

Program leaders taught the children how to live among nature while sleeping in tents; how to observe nature while walking in the forest; and how to identify with the lives of wild animals by watching, touching and smelling.

These lessons were imparted by taking the children on walks up in the hills, entering the forest while listening to nature's voice and crossing rivers with the kind of clear and cool water not found in the city.

At one such small river, the children stopped to swim and joke with each other.

"How wonderful ... mom can't see us soaked in water," one of the children said to his brother. The children did not seem eager to leave the river and it took much coaxing from program leaders to get them hiking again.

Nor did the cold air and dark nights frighten the children. On the contrary, it seemed to make them more confident. After dinner the leaders took the children to see a trap set for a black tiger which had entered the park from Mount Pangrango a few months earlier. After returning to camp, the kids made a campfire near the tents, after which formal introductions were made.

Bedtime had arrived but there was still activity in the six tents. Program participants were in a talkative mood, interspersing jokes with tips on nature conservation. "We must take turns guarding the tents so the tigers do not come near. We'll take one-hour turns," one of the students said.

Voices in other tents were heard admonishing others not to litter in the forest and not to destroy the forest and all it contained.

The cold mountain air pierced the children to the bones the next morning, but they were busy preparing to welcome State Minister of Environment Sonny Keraf, who was going to visit the park on Sunday to commemorate the National Day for the Love of Flora and Fauna and sign the plaque inaugurating the Kembara campground.

"The guides taught me last night how to catch tigers," said Sandra, telling the minister about her experiences in the program. There was wide applause from the audience, which consisted of the minister and his staff, non-governmental organization members, journalists and parents.

After his speech, the minister was invited by the children to visit their camp by walking along the path they had taken the previous day. Arriving at the site, Sonny signed cards with pictures of flowers and animals for the children.

The children who participated in the program had many stories to tell their parents, who were waiting for them in the parking lot. "Mom, it's very different to swim in the river at the campground than in the swimming pool we go to in town," Leo Panjimahendra said to his mother.

Arnold had something else on his mind, asking the program leaders before he left: "When are we going to have a program like this again?"

The Kembara program is scheduled to take place regularly during school holidays and on weekends.