SG60 List: Asia’s First ZooSchool Opens—And It’s Right Here in Singapore

As part of the SG60 List, we celebrate not just what Singapore has achieved in six decades, but what we build for the next generation. In June 2025, Singapore once again led the region by launching Asia’s first ZooSchool—a partnership between Mandai Wildlife Group and NTUC First Campus—setting a new standard in outdoor learning.

Nature as the Classroom

ZooSchool is built within a 1,300 m² purpose-built facility at Mandai Wildlife Reserve, with indoor spaces modelled after rainforest, freshwater, and savannah habitats, plus a multi-level adventure playground. Starting June, children aged 3 to 12 can join half-day workshops or immersive three-day “Wild Rescue Rangers” camps, guided by wildlife experts, vets, and educators.

Life Skills in the Wild

Participants learn practical skills—knot-tying, map reading, and first aiding—through hands-on sessions and wildlife encounters. In one activity, children helped keep fennec foxes mentally stimulated by filling egg-shell planters with mealworms. It’s more than fun—it’s resilience, curiosity, and stewardship in action.

A Milestone for SG60 Education

ZooSchool isn’t just another addition; it’s a flagship SG60 initiative. It celebrates the creativity and ambition of a nation that believes education begins the moment a child spots a leaf under the canopy. By bringing wildlife, play, science, and values together, Singapore is nurturing the next wave of guardians for our planet.

What Comes Next

From July to September, the “Wild Rescue Rangers” holiday camps run full-day, three-day programmes featuring survival and conservation skills. Shorter “Wild Wonders” sessions and preschool modules will roll out later in 2025. ZooSchool also gifts every preschool in Singapore a mandai-themed Top Trumps card game, encouraging wildlife awareness from a young age.

SG60 Spirit in Every Step

At 60, Singapore isn’t just reflecting on its past—it’s actively shaping the future. ZooSchool is where learning meets living, where conservation is hands-on, and where our children aren’t only educated—they’re empowered. This is Singapore’s blueprint for its next 60 years: bold, rooted, and green.

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Written by

Gio Adriano

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