Sunway’s Explorer Rangers Shapes Young Minds Through Experiential Education

SUBANG JAYA, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- 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.

Rather than relying solely on classroom-based instruction, he said 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.

“Explorer Rangers is structured 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 said in an exclusive interview with Bernama recently.

Calvin also 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, we broaden their perspective on the many ways they can contribute meaningfully to society in the future,” he said.

He added that while the outcomes of such programmes may not always be immediately visible, the long-term impact remains significant.

“At its core, Explorer Rangers is about shaping mindsets. If these experiences encourage children to grow up valuing conservation, safety and sustainability and later carry those values into their careers or decision-making that, in itself, is a meaningful outcome,” he said.

Beyond wildlife education, Explorer Rangers incorporates lessons on responsibility, teamwork and safety through structured, hands-on activities. Children are introduced to essential practices such as bio-security procedures, helping them understand how individual 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, where they were introduced to fire safety and emergency response.

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,” he said.

The highlight came when children were allowed to practise using fire extinguishers under close supervision, turning theory into action and transforming safety lessons into lasting memories.

The collaboration, supported by a two-year memorandum 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.

-- BERNAMA