BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association held its 5th Environmental Camp from May 30 until yesterday to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the association’s Tree Planting Day.

The three-day camp was held at the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association Tree Planting Project area at Km 12, Kampung Sungai Mau, Jalan Labi Liang, Mukim Bukit Sawat, Belait district.

Two hundred scout members, cub scouts, junior scouts, venture scouts and rover scouts from all four districts took part in the camp.

A press release from the association stated that the camp was introduced back in 2008 and was aimed to increase or spread awareness to the scout members on the importance of protecting and preserving the environment.

“The camp is also part of the Messenger of Peace Initiative, a global programme which involves scout members from different parts of the world. The members will come up with projects that can contribute to the concept of peace in their respective countries.”

Present as the guest of honour was the Co-Curriculum Education’s Director Pg Suhaimi Pg Hj Bakar.

In his speech, he lauded the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association’s initiative in supporting the implementation of programmes on continuous protection on the ecosystem and environment.

“Seventy-five per cent of our country’s landscape is filled with green forest covered with flora and fauna that serves to make a perfect ecosystem to supply fresh air and clean water.”

“This can be very useful knowledge for the campers. It is also in line with the Co-Curriculum Education Department’s aim to instill the values of education in curricular activities among students to achieve several goals such as solidarity and integration among the younger generation.

“To Improve the students’ discipline, to cultivate, nurture and provide initial training on leadership, character and community and to provide a balance between intellectual development (academic) with physical, spiritual and emotional development,” said Pg Suhaimi.

He added that the involvement of the association in green activities through the camping programme is unique because the approach taken does not only focus on tree planting activities alone but also project to monitoring them to ensure the real objective: the planted trees grow healthy and fresh.

Other activities that took place during the programme include cleaning and fertilising the area, hiking, and planting 350 Tulung-Tulung trees supplied by the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.

The tree planting activity is also part of an effort to replant trees that died during the forest fires that occurred in the area in May.

Also participating in the tree planting activities was the guest of honour and other guests and participants.

Also present were Scout Chief Commissioner Hj Awang Badar Hj Awang Ali, the Deputy Scout Chief Commissioner, Scout Commissioners, District Scout Commissioners, Executive Scout officers, Scout Leaders, Assistant Scout Leaders, Cub Scouts, Junior Scouts, Venture Scouts and Rover Scouts. - Rafidah Hamit

The Brunei Times