Braving the army of macaques

On 8 & 9 April, we wrapped up another Biomimicry Kids Invention Camp at Thomson Nature Park.

We met our four young participants at the park entrance, where Erika and I kicked things off—not with a typical safety briefing, but with something a little different.

Instead of telling the children what to do (or more often, what not to do), we handed the responsibility to them.

We asked:

• “What can you do to keep yourself and your friends safe?”
• “What can you do to keep the plants and animals safe?”

As the children shared their ideas, they weren’t just listening—they were taking ownership. The rules became theirs, not ours. And that made all the difference.

This approach truly proved its value later on.

At one point during our walk, we found ourselves surrounded by an army of macaques—at least 20 of them. The children were leading the group. Instead of panicking, they stayed calm and walked past quietly.

Why? Because during the briefing, they themselves had suggested:

• not staring at the macaques
• moving calmly and giving them space

And in that moment, they followed through.

It was incredible to watch—and I couldn’t have been more proud.

We’ll be launching a new series of Biomimicry Kids Invention Camps this June and July.
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- Han