Field Day 8 at Zoo Negara!

On May 10th, we were given the once-in-a-lifetime chance by Zoo Negara to go behind-the-scenes and work on an Enrichment Program for the Sun Bears, the Sumatran Tigers and the Lions. First, the girls helped clean the enclosure of the animals before 'hiding' the tantalizing ice-lollipops, lemangs, and the meat.

Then, after watching the bears eat the lollipops and the lemangs, the girls had a wonderful opportunity to feed the bears fresh (um, dead but fresh) fish! One of the trainers helped demonstrate how to cue the bear before pitching the fish. Then the girls had a go. The bears sure enjoyed the fish! :)

Over at the Big Cats enclosure, the girls placed cut fresh (yup, dead but fresh) meat in hidden places so that the lions and tigers will have a treasure hunt!

One of the Sumatran tigers beat the other to the punch and was rewarded with a whole chicken.

After a much deserved rest and a hearty, delicious meal, which was supplied by the Sri Emas caterers, the girls found a cozy spot near the bears' enclosure to carry out SEL 8 activities, which involved the importance of identifying and managing our emotions. We got to do some creative activities in exploring emotions difficult for us to express, and to talk about how we feel most of the time.

One area we discussed is ways to cope with feelings so as it does not destroy ourselves or others. It was a long day, but the smiling faces at the end (both from people and animals) proved its worth, and its specialness. We were indebted to Eddy & Aswad from Zoo Negara for their help on this day.

:)
Usha & Dr. Brendan

Field Day 7

It's Field Day 7 and the focus was on discovering and building upon one's positive values, and on reaching out to help others.

Mentees got to reach back into their memories on people they have helped recently, and people who have helped them recently. They then traced their hands and cut them out. Then, once cut, they hung them so that they could see their peers' work, too.

All of us then got to see for ourselves how much we have helped and how much we've been helped in our lives. We got to think about how it felt to be helped by others.
It's Banana Dance time!!! The mentors did a quick demo of this cool dance, and then the girls had loads of fun 'going bananas!' More importantly, we got to think about how we can help others, and the values expressed.

Mentees discussed about whom in their families they would like to help and how they would like to help them. They then wrote their ideas down in a coupon, whereby the receiver can 'redeem' the favor whenever they need it.

:)
Usha & Dr. Brendan

Mentors to Zoo day!

May 6th was a day for the mentors to have fun & work hard in preparing for the mentees Zoo Day on May 10. It was also an opportunity to learn from the experts at Zoo Negara, so as this could be shared with the mentees later. Part of the anumal enrichment program that Zoo Negara had planned with us was to prepare special goodies for the bears, lions and tigers! Growl!
On our way to the Zoo kitchens, we encountered a cute mother-and-child hippo, who were busy drying in the sun after a cool dip in the pool.
Once we got to the kitchens, the mentors started slicing and dicing the succulent fruits which would be ingredients in the lollipops....
Some of the mentors helped fill the clean water bottles with syrup-flavored water....
while the others washed up gunny sacks and hung them to dry.

After placing the lollipops in the freezer, we were then taken to the big cats' enclosure, where Education Officers at Zoo Negara briefed us on what was going to be done when we returned on My 10.
:)
Usha & Dr. Brendan

Field Day 6

"What's Great About Me?!" Here's something we don't always chat about. So, today, we decided to help everyone discover the beauty they have in themselves.

The girls were then challenged to identify characteristics special to themselves, and then had a great time running from mentor to mentor when a certain characteristic was called out.

The other group had a 'catwalk' when the girls identified their characteristics, and although at first they were shy, they were soon having a blast!



Mentees creatively drew and colored images that described how special each of them were.

Through artwork, teens recognized and identified different facets in their lives, such as things they are good at, their dreams, their family, feelings, and accomplishments.

We discovered the beauty that lay in each person, how special we are, and how similar we are.


:)
Usha & Dr. Brendan