Fieldtrip fun to Sg. Tekala

They're at it again!  The final batch of schools participating in TrEES' Connecting Schools to Taman Negeri Selangor Programme are having a fantastic time experiencing the wonders of the Park through the fieldtrips, sponsored by CIMB Foundation!

After a lot of hard work spreading the message of the importance of Taman Negeri Selangor, the student project teams are able to enjoy the beauty of the Park!  Students on today's trip were from SMK Putrajaya Precinct 16(1) and SMK PP 11(2), SMK Taman Melawati and Wangsa Melawati.

Activities included a 2 hour jungle trek, stream ecology and river swim.  The rain didn't deter any of the students from having a great time.  In fact, many of the students seem to really enjoy hiking and wading in the river, in the rain!

This Thursday will see the final batch of schools under the programme enjoy their fieldtrip - SMK PP11(1), SMK PP 9(2), SMK BUD3 and SMK Section 18.

Many thanks to the programme partners - the Selangor Forestry Department, Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (LUAS), and to the funders, CIMB Foundation Community Links Programme.

And many thanks to the students, teachers and schools for all their hard work and dedication.

 

Site of the Month - Sungai Tekala Recreation Forest

Sungai Tekala Recreation Forest is a charming picnic spot located at the southern most end of the Park, near the Semenyih Dam, in Hulu Langat.  The site is famous for the lovely river, Sungai Tekala, that flows through the site, and for the magnificent forest that surrounds it.   (see also recreation sites in & around the Park )

The river itself is rough in some places, with a few small falls and pools. But there is also a large area where the river flattens out and makes for a very gentle, shallow swimming area - making it a perfect location for family outings.

The forests within Sg. Tekala Recreation Forest are beautiful, with some magnificent old growth trees including Jelutong, Chengal and other individuals, some that are well over 100 years old!  In 2003 there was an exciting addition to science with the discovery of a new stream-side adapted dipterocarp tree species Vatica yeechongii found growing in the Sg. Tekala Recreation Forest area.

The site is managed by the Selangor Forestry Department.  They do a very good job keeping the area clean - especially given Malaysian's bad littering habit!  The site also has basic changing and toilet facilities.

There is a small auditorium and forest species garden plot, available only for pre-arranged group visits, that makes the site an excellent place for school fieldtrips.  Treat Every Environment Special (TrEES), together with the Forestry Department, has run over 20 fieldtrips at Sg. Tekala over the past few years, with the schools that participate in TrEES' Taman Negeri Selangor School Programme.

The Sg. Tekala Recreation Forest is open everyday to the public.  Weekends and public holidays the site can get very crowded.  There is a small admission fee, to help maintain the cleanliness of the area.  For more information on visiting the site, contact the Selangor Forestry Department.  For more information on the school programme, contact Treat Every Environment Special (TrEES).

So the next time you want a family outing, skip the shopping mall and take a drive to Sg. Tekala Recreation Forest, Taman Negeri Selangor, and experience your living heritage!

GPS Coordinates:

3°03'31.9"N 101°52'22.2"E

Want to read more about Sg. Tekala Recreation Forest:
safiansaidi.blogspot.my - TWNS Sg Tekala

Hikes to Waterfalls in the Park

Waterfall Survivors are organising trips to waterfall sites in the Park, in the Hulu Langat region.  One is the Perdik Falls on Sunday, 26 Sept at 7 am.  The other trip is to Lepok Falls on Saturday, 2 Oct. also at 7am.

You can visit their site on Facebook at waterfall.survivors  for more information.

You can also visit Waterfalls of Malaysia for more details on the two waterfalls.  The photos below are from Waterfalls of Malaysia.