Last week was a whirlwind of activity, filled with learning and exploration, though not without its challenges.
I decided to set aside Cornell's Handbook of Bird Biology. Its dense, scientific content and emphasis on memorizing scientific names felt overwhelming and disconnected from my goal of trying to understand about birds. Instead, I attended the Nature Interpretation course, which proved to be far more engaging. The course materials were clear, relatable, and rooted in a local context, making it easy to connect with the content. I learnt from my trainer and was surprised that there is no official certification for Nature Guide, only Heritage or General Guide.
The main downside was the location - RP in Woodlands. The long commute left me exhausted over the three-day course. Most of our time was spent in the field at Admiralty Park, preparing for the final day when we delivered commentary guides to our classmates. My nine-minute presentation on sunbirds was fun. I genuinely enjoyed sharing my passion for these vibrant birds.
The classroom lectures, however, were dry and kind of boring. Being out in nature, observing and discussing, was far more enjoyable and meaningful. As the only birder in a class full of plant and tree enthusiasts, I felt a bit like the odd one out, but it didn’t dampen my enthusiasm.
One area for improvement is the course’s marketing. It currently seems tailored to NParks officers, but with better outreach, it could attract a wider audience of nature enthusiasts. Overall, the experience was rewarding, reinforcing my love for nature and my desire to share it with others.
And this is the last of my Skillsfuture credits. 😅