Camp boosts students’ knowledge on aquatic ecosystems

KOTA KINABALU: Thirty-five secondary school students from throughout the state participated in a three- day Friends of Rivers and Ocean Camp (FROC) that helped boost their knowledge on the importance of aquatic ecosystems (ocean and rivers).

The outdoor camping activities, which were conducted at Shallom Valley Park, Inanam from Aug 25 to 27, included environmental talks on ecology, marine conservation, water quality, waste management, team building and leadership skills.

The students, aged between 13 and 17, were also involved in handson activities including frogging, mud ball making and water quality testing.

They later spent several hours collecting coastal rubbish at Tanjung Lipat Beach 2, along the Kota Kinabalu-Likas coastal highway. The FROC camp was organised by Little Feet Initiative (LFI), a soon-to-be registered nongovernmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with EcoCampus Management Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

LFI, a newly formed body which is derived from the Young Southeast Asia Leaders Initiative ( YSEALI), connects youths to conduct impactful programmes mainly for the community and environment.

FROC Camp manager Maroline Favius Marcus said ocean conservation has become one of the crucial actions to be taken as a cause in the environment mitigation movement.