BANGAR, 6th December 2024 – The Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER) at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) hosted Nature Camp at the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC) from 2 to 6 December 2024.
An innovative environmental education initiative aimed at cultivating a new generation of Bruneian sustainability champions, Nature Camp is a new immersive environmental educational programme, fully sponsored by Brunei Shell Petroleum Sdn Bhd (BSP). The inaugural Nature Camp brought together 13 secondary school students who demonstrated exceptional academic promise. Supported by the Department of Schools at the Ministry of Education (MOE), Nature Camp aims to deepen participants’ understanding of Brunei’s tropical rainforests and biodiversity and promote awareness of pressing global environmental issues such as climate change and sustainability.
Before the students’ departure to KBFSC, IBER held a flag-off event on 2nd December 2024 for the participants, attended by BSP’s Acting Communication & External Affairs Manager, Muhammad Haziq Abdullah Lim.
While at KBFSC, the participants of Nature Camp underwent a comprehensive educational experience, combining guided forest walks with workshops on biodiversity conservation, climate awareness, and sustainable practices, conducted by experienced facilitators and experts from IBER and BSP. Through hands-on activities, participants gained an immersive understanding of rainforest ecosystems and conservation strategies, fostering a sense of responsibility toward Brunei’s natural heritage. The camp reflected UBD’s Sustainability Pillar 2 by inspiring students to become sustainability champions through experiential learning, and Pillar 5 through community engagement, encouraging sustainable lifestyle practices.
BSP’s sponsorship of Nature Camp underscores the company’s commitment to fostering environmental stewardship and the development of Brunei’s future leaders. The company’s long-running support towards biodiversity initiatives at UBD made possible the set-up of KBFSC in the early 1990s, and BSP has continued to closely support IBER’s research activities.
The inaugural Nature Camp builds on successful IBER education and outreach initiatives such as the Tropical Research Experience (TREx), Nature Classroom, Biodiversity Watch, and the Environmental Education Programme at KBFSC. Together, these programmes underscore IBER’s dedication and contributions to national and international sustainability goals, including Wawasan 2035 and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. The success of this inaugural Nature Camp underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in raising environmental awareness and elevating nature learning experiences for Brunei’s youth.
