Kuala lumpur:<Text>

For many children, learning often begins with a screen. However, for those enrolled in Sunway Theme Parks' Explorer Rangers, education starts face-to-face, through wildlife encounters, real-world professionals, and hands-on experiences that leave lasting impressions. Sunway Theme Parks chief executive officer, Calvin Ho, said the programme was designed around the belief that learning is most effective when children are actively engaged with their surroundings.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, rather than relying solely on classroom-based instruction, Explorer Rangers allows children to interact directly with animals, professionals, and real-life environments, helping lessons resonate more deeply and remain memorable. The programme goes beyond introducing wildlife, as it seeks to nurture empathy, sustainability awareness, and a broader understanding of global challenges from a young age.

Calvin Ho explained that Explorer Rangers is structu red to help children understand that animals and nature exist within a wider ecosystem that requires responsibility and care. These early experiences play a role in shaping how they view sustainability and stewardship in the long run. He highlighted that career exposure is a key component of the programme, offering children insights into professions that may not traditionally be visible to them.

By exposing children to fields such as veterinary science, conservation, and environmental management, the programme broadens their perspective on the many ways they can contribute meaningfully to society in the future. While the outcomes of such programmes may not always be immediately visible, the long-term impact remains significant.

Beyond wildlife education, Explorer Rangers incorporates lessons on responsibility, teamwork, and safety through structured, hands-on activities. Children learn essential practices such as bio-security procedures, helping them understand how individu al actions can directly affect animal health and well-being. The programme also extends learning beyond the theme park environment.

In its most recent sessions, participants visited the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia at the Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue Station. Under the guidance of station chief Muhammad Iskandar Zul Akbar Abdul Aziz and his team, children stepped into the world of firefighters and learned how to identify fire hazards, stay calm during emergencies, contact the fire department correctly, and use fire extinguishers under supervision.

Early fire safety education builds awareness and habits that can potentially save lives. Practical exposure helps children understand risks more clearly than theory alone. The highlight came when children were allowed to practice using fire extinguishers under close supervision, turning theory into action and transforming safety lessons into lasting memories.

The collaboration, supported by a two-year me morandum of understanding, reflects a shared mission to build a community that is alert, informed, and prepared from a young age. Explorer Rangers is part of Sunway Theme Parks' broader commitment to community, education, and sustainability under its ESG framework.

Through strategic partnerships with organisations including Sunway Medical Centre, Pos Malaysia, University Malaya, Sunway X Farms, the Royal Malaysia Police, and the Fire and Rescue Department, the programme equips children with essential life skills, from safety awareness and teamwork to environmental stewardship. For the children who take part, learning does not end when the programme does; it continues in the questions they ask, the values they carry, and the futures they begin to imagine.