Reported by Alicia Chan Wen Si, Aw Bao Fang Chloe, and Chua Kai Lin Alyssa
E-race it away! is a creative approach where participants used the Goosechase mobile application, which enabled real-time mission updates coordinated through the facilitators’ phones, while doing several missions. The missions ranged from reflective tasks—such as considering how plastic pollution affects marine life—to nature-focused challenges like identifying local plant species to deepen their appreciation of Singapore’s biodiversity. These activities encouraged participants to be more observant and mindful of the environment around them.
Key takeaways
- Cultivating environmental empathy through nature-based activities: Participants were encouraged to develop a deeper sense of empathy for the environment through interactive nature-appreciation activities—such as identifying plant species and photographing local wildlife. These hands-on experiences helped them recognize the richness of biodiversity in their surroundings and reinforced the importance of valuing and protecting Singapore’s green spaces.
- Empowering youth to take immediate environmental action: Through engaging games focused on practical, everyday eco-friendly habits, participants learned that meaningful environmental improvements could begin with small, personal actions. A facilitated reflection session at the end of the event further strengthened this message, guiding participants to consider how they can adopt more sustainable behaviours and contribute to positive change.
- Building teamwork and leadership through collaborative missions: Participants were placed in mixed groups led by experienced facilitators, allowing them to connect with new peers while working together to complete missions and station-based challenges. This structure promoted teamwork, communication, and leadership, as groups strategized which stations to attempt and how to manage their time. The experience created a supportive learning environment where participants bonded while building essential collaborative skills.
Event information
- Date: 1st and 15th November
- Venue: Coney Island
- Co-organizers: Outward Bound Singapore (OBS)
- Participants: previous participants of OBS courses (OBS alumni)
- No. of participants: 31 (1st) and 32 (15th)
Activities implemented
Participants completed a series of interactive challenges using the Goosechase app, which provided real-time updates and missions such as reflecting on the impacts of plastic pollution and identifying local plant species to deepen their appreciation of nature. Alongside the app-based tasks, three game stations—Eco Jenga, Basketball Trash, and Treasure Hunt—combined fun activities with environmental learning, encouraging participants to test their knowledge and reflect on how their daily actions affect the environment.
Beyond the Goosechase missions, participants also engaged in three interactive game stations: Eco Jenga, Basketball Trash, and Treasure Hunt. Each station was designed to blend fun with learning by challenging participants’ environmental knowledge and prompting them to reflect on how their daily actions contribute to environmental impact. These games not only reinforced key messages about sustainability but also created an engaging and memorable learning experience for everyone involved.
The event was held over a three-hour programme that began with an introduction of the team and the project, helping participants centre their intentions and understand the purpose of their involvement. This was followed by a two-hour race around Coney Island, where participants engaged in a series of games and activities at various checkpoints. At the end of the race, everyone gathered at a common area for a guided reflection and debrief session to consolidate their learning and share their experiences.
The race operated on a point-based system in which participants earned points by completing missions and performing well at the game stations. To encourage enthusiasm and teamwork, participants were grouped and motivated to compete for the highest score to win a prize.
Outcomes
At the end of the race, the top-performing group was awarded prizes, including exclusive OBS zip pullers, adding an exciting incentive to the overall learning experience.
Feedback (include quotes from participants or responses from feedback form)
At the end of the day, participants were asked about their key takeaways from E-RACE It Away. Many participants shared thoughtful reflections on the environment. One participant expressed that they learned “to respect the environment and to play an active role in keeping it clean for others and for the earth”. Another highlighted “the importance of environmental conservation”, while several mentioned practical insights such as “recycling”. Others appreciated the experiential learning element of the programme, with one participant noting, “I was finally able to explore the island and see the many different kinds of wildlife and their habitats”.
Regarding areas for improvement, many participants indicated full satisfaction with the programme, offering comments like “All good, kudos to the planning team and [facils]!!” and “It was really good [alr]”. Among those who suggested enhancements, the most common request was for additional time to engage in the activities. This suggests that participants found the experience highly enjoyable and would have welcomed an extended programme duration.
