Taipei City Geotechnical Engineering Office

Last year the Neishuangxi Nature Center, which was planned and organized by the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Taipei City Government’s Public Works Department, earned the environmental educational accreditation awarded by the Executive Yuan’s Environmental Protection Administration. According to Huang Li-Yuan, the Office director, the Nature Center, with its distinctive ecosystem and abundant plant, animal, geological and hydrological resources, garnered this accreditation on Oct. 31, 2013, becoming the City’s first forest-based educational site. Utilizing its forest’s ecological resources, the Center planned several multi-function, educational programs, in an attempt to establish professional development in the field of environmental education. A total of 43 course sessions were provided in 2013, attracting 1,360 participants.

He Ming-Yu, the chief of the Forest’s Recreation Section, revealed that in 2013, the Center offered diversified and small-group learning experiences through the theme “Get moving to protect the forest.” With this program, children and adults were invited to experience nature and safeguard the forest through different environmental educational courses. Beginning in April 2014, the Center will continue to provide theme courses covering field teaching and promoting environmental education in schools; these have been well received by many teachers and children. The courses include: “A date with nighttime animals in mid-summer”, a program that children requested fervently, for observing insects and “Secrets of tree seeds”, a program that aroused both the parents and children’s curiosity. In addition, the Center also offers a vacation program for adults. For more information about courses offered by the Center, visit the “Neishuangxi Nature Center Blog” at http://neishuangxi.blogspot.tw/(Chinese).

The Center also provides guided tours on water and soil conservation for groups of 15 people or more. However, interested parties need to apply for this service two weeks in advance. The tour is offered from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For more information, please visit the Geotechnical Engineering Office website at http://www.tcge.taipei.gov.tw (Chinese). The medicinal plant park is open to the public on weekends and holidays.

Now, have a look and find out how exciting the 2013 forest learning was! 

Field teaching at the “Diverse forest community”:

Aimed at 3rd- and 6th-graders, this program was designed with content easy to comprehend, while also granting access to the great outdoors. Here, by walking along the Neishuangxi forest trail, students got to know the balance of nature through food chains and biological webs, and to observe creatures in the field. In the end, the students created a habitat map for forest creatures, and learned that all living things are closely and inseparably related to one another.

Creating a biological web on the white board~

Observation challenge! Where are the small creatures hiding?

Field teaching at the “Forest backpacker’s tavern”:

Aimed at 5th- to 6th-graders, this program taught students how forest creatures develop their survival skills in order to compete in their struggle for existence. Through hands-on observations and operations, students observed and recorded the park’s animals’ and plants’ secret weapons. Students were divided into groups, each investigating and exploring a designated topic. Afterwards, students came back to the classroom to show their findings and share their experiences with other groups. Students found that in order to adapt to the natural environment, creatures have evolved unique survival skills. Everything in nature is closely connected to a creature’s survival.

Students observed Littoral Spinegrass tumbling on the desk.

Students worked hard preparing for their demonstrations.

Promoting the “Diverse forest community” in schools:

Based on classes, the program designed half-day activities for school programs. Utilizing the campus’s natural environment as well as the hands-on indoor operations, students understood the close connection between the forest’s creatures and the importance of a balanced ecosystem to humans.

Students drew a huge biological web on the black board.

Students worked together to construct a forest community.

Professional workshop of “Watery Neishuangxi”:

This professional workshop invited teachers and those who were interested in promoting environmental education to participate in the observation of an aquatic environment, and to practice lesson plans on the Shuangxi’s riverbanks and at the teaching center. Through their survey of the river’s ecology, workshop members learned about the close connection between aquatic creatures and their habitats, as well as methods to investigate these creatures and promote nature education. Through the workshop, the members developed and broadened their imagination for promoting future environmental education, and were inspired to convey the importance of Taiwan’s water resources.

Using the observation box to observe animals in the water

What will a dream water homeland look like?

Parents and children’s theme activity: “A date with nighttime animals in midsummer”:

In the teaching center and on the Bixi nature trail, parents and children were shown how to observe the animals’ daytime and nocturnal behavior in their natural environment, especially insects and frogs. The participants were instructed to observe animals in a gentle way that was meant to convey the importance of accumulating biological information.

Field observation to search for a variety of insects	Night observations
Group picture of the second session’s members	Group picture of the first session’s members

Adult theme activity – “Forest in your palm – a little gardening trip”:

People were taught basic D.I.Y. and gardening skills. Participants used their hands to experience the pleasures of gardening, and as a way to improve their mental and physical health. Experienced lecturers taught them how different plants favor different seasons and require different care techniques. Participants were happy to get their hands dirty, and carry out daily maintenance jobs such as sowing, pot changing, cutting, etc.

The lecturer explained gardening skills and precautions.	Taking care of the Center’s colorful potted plants
Group picture of the first session’s members	Group picture of the second session’s members

Children and Parents’ theme activity – the “Secrets of tree seeds”:

Through games, observation and experimental operations, participants learned about the characteristics of various plant seeds and the secrets of forest ecology. Furthermore, this activity connected our daily lives with seeds through a simulation of agricultural production, to demonstrate the importance of crop diversity.

A beautiful sunny day to kick off our learning	An interactive small theater to tell more seed stories
Groups competed in barrier games to move various seeds.	Parent-child brain storming to experience a farmers’ pleasure in planting seeds

Special planning- “Forest health examination center – how healthy is the forest?”:

By hiking and playing barrier games, people were invited to perform various fun checks on the forest’s health. The games gave participants the opportunity to exercise and stretch. Both children and adults were instructed about a forest’s health indicators and to understand the various important services provided by a forest.

Embrace today’s mission in the best spirits!

These little helpers know a lot about how to recognize a healthy forest!

※ Neishuangxi Nature Center traffic information※
1. Location: No. 27, Ln. 150, Sec. 3, Zhishan Rd., Shilin Dist., Taipei City.

2. Traffic information:
(1) By car: From downtown Taipei, drive in the direction of Waishuangxi to Sec. 3, Zhishan Road, and along the Bixi Industrial Road to the mountain area (a parking lot is available).
(2) By public transportation: Transfer at the MRT Jiantan station and:
a. Take city mini-bus No. 1 and get off at the Xishan Nursery stop, or
b. Take city mini-bus No. 18 and get off at the Bixi Bridge, then walk 30 minutes to the Neishuangxi Nature Center.

3. Given that parking spaces at the Nature Center are limited, public transportation is recommended for getting to the mountain. We appreciate your cooperation, thank you!