New Outward Bound Singapore Campus Opens on Coney Island

The new Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) campus on Coney Island officially opened on September 11. The 12 hectare facility is the largest OBS campus and features over 70 high adventure elements and more than 30 low adventure or team based challenges. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong opened the campus, stating that the facility will allow OBS to offer the MOE OBS programme to all Secondary 3 students by 2030. Currently, about 65 percent of the Secondary 3 cohort participates in the programme. Prime Minister Wong also noted that opportunities will be expanded for older students from the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics, and universities to make the experience a rite of passage for all young Singaporeans.

A key feature of the new campus is the inclusion of wheelchair accessible high adventure elements. These were developed through consultation with people with disabilities and industrial safety experts to ensure students with disabilities can participate alongside their peers. The campus also includes a 1.2 hectare sea operations centre with a 170 meter long jetty, which enables expeditions linking Coney Island with Pulau Ubin and the mainland.

The project had a budget of 250 million Singapore dollars. While first announced in 2016, the timeline was revised due to the COVID 19 pandemic and the need to minimize environmental impact during construction. The facility incorporates sustainability features such as solar panels, ventilation louvres, and rain gardens to treat rainwater for irrigation and equipment washing.

Both reports maintain a generally positive tone regarding the expansion. The center leaning coverage emphasizes the specific technical design and the progressive nature of the challenges, while the center right leaning coverage highlights the camp's role in fostering leadership and social bonding in a volatile world.