Largest OBS campus opens on Coney Island, with wheelchair-accessible high-adventure elements

The 12-ha campus is OBS’ largest, featuring over 70 high-adventure elements and more than 30 team-based challenges.

ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Published Sep 11, 2026, 11:30 AM

Updated Sep 11, 2026, 11:30 AM

The new 12-ha Outward Bound Singapore campus on Coney Island is the largest, featuring over 70 high-adventure elements including wheelchair-accessible activities for students with disabilities.

By 2030, all Secondary 3 students will attend the camp, which promotes teamwork, resilience, and leadership, with plans to expand other OBS programmes to older students from ITE, polytechnics, and universities.

The campus was designed with sustainability and inclusivity in mind, retaining much of the natural environment and incorporating energy-saving features, while encouraging social bonding across diverse student groups.

SINGAPORE - The new Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) campus on Coney Island has officially opened on Sept 11 , allowing all Secondary 3 students to experience an outdoor adventure camp by 2030.

Nestled in the eastern side of the tree-lined island off Punggol, the 12-ha campus is OBS’ largest, featuring over 70 high-adventure elements and more than 30 team-based challenges.

These include wheelchair-accessible elements, so students with disabilities - who were excluded from some activities previously - can join their peers.

The new facility was opened by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. He was accompanied by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Education David Neo, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth, and Sustainability and the Environment, Goh Hanyan.

At the campus’ official opening on Sept 11, PM Wong said opportunities will be expanded for older students from the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics and universities to try OBS’ leadership programmes, so it would “become a rite of passage for every young Singaporean”.

Building young people’s characters has become even more important in a more complex and volatile world, he said.

“We cannot shield young people from every setback or difficulty, but we must continue to equip them with the capabilities and the ability to face adversity with confidence and grit, and that is exactly what OBS is designed to do,” said PM Wong.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Education David Neo, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth, and Sustainability and the Environment Goh Hanyan balancing on a see-saw structure at the Outward Bound Singapore campus on Coney Island on Sept 11. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and Second Minister for Education David Neo, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth, and Sustainability and the Environment Goh Hanyan balancing on a see-saw structure at the Outward Bound Singapore campus on Coney Island on Sept 11.

Beyond the expeditions and obstacle courses it is associated with, OBS is about discovering capabilities when stretched beyond comfort zones and what a group can achieve together, he said.

The Coney Island facility is OBS’ third campus. PM Wong said its location creates new possibilities for expeditions linking Coney Island with existing OBS sites at Pulau Ubin and East Coast.

OBS runs the MOE - OBS Challenge programme, a five-day outdoor adventure camp launched in 2017 for Secondary 3 students to build their life skills, confidence and resilience.

It also creates chances for interaction across schools, as students from three to four schools are grouped into teams of 12 to 14 for each programme run.

Currently, not all students get to participate due to limited space at OBS’ Pulau Ubin campus . In 2025, 18,000 Secondary 3 students, or about 65 per cent of the cohort, were enrolled.

With the new Coney Island campus, OBS can finally accommodate the entire cohort by 2030. About 800 students will join each camp, which will run up to 32 times per year.

The OBS Coney Campus has been a decade in the making. It was first announced in 2016 and scheduled to be completed in 2020, but faced delays due to issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic, and the need to ensure construction methods minimised environmental impact. The project had a $250 million budget.

OBS executive director Nicholas Conceicao said: “We want to encourage all Secondary 3 students from all schools to come together, have a shared experience at Outward Bound, make new friends, build confidence and learn to work as a team.”

With the new Coney Island campus, OBS can finally accommodate the entire cohort by 2030. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

With the new Coney Island campus, OBS can finally accommodate the entire cohort by 2030.

Sheltered high-adventure elements

Against a backdrop of less diverse and shrinking friendship circles among youth , National Youth Council chief executive David Chua said the camp could encourage young people to build bonds across different backgrounds.

When media visited the OBS Coney Campus on Sept 8, a course was underway for students from Catholic High School, Peicai Secondary School, Woodlands Secondary School and Jurongville Secondary School.

They were easily spotted with their bright orange OBS hats and bulky backpacks, with some clutching wooden camping sticks , trekking across the grounds or deep in discussion. Not a single mobile phone was in sight.

The campus’ high-adventure elements can accommodate four people at a time, putting more emphasis on teamwork, unlike those in Pulau Ubin which are designed for individuals or pairs, said Conceicao.

These challenge ropes courses are in both open-air and sheltered spaces, so activities can continue regardless of rain or shine. Other low-adventure elements - such as a see-saw structure where students have to work together t o find their balance - dot the landscape.

PM Wong manoeuvring an obstacle at the OBS Coney Campus on Sept 11. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

PM Wong manoeuvring an obstacle at the OBS Coney Campus on Sept 11.

A 23-metre outdoor cliff wall offers advanced features like a rockface climbing route with obstacles. The campus also has a Sea Operations Centre for water-based expeditions such as kayaking, rowing or sailing.

Some students will get to explore both the Pulau Ubin and Coney campuses over the five-day course. They sleep in tents outdoors while on expeditions, and use sleeping bags in the sheltered lodges - sans aircon - when in the campus.

Inclusive and sustainable features

To design features tailored for students with disabilities - a first among the OBS campuses here - OBS engaged persons with disabilities and consulted experts in industrial safety processes.

In one high-adventure activity, both the student and a specialised wheelchair are secured to overhead cables with a harness and have to navigate across tilting panels with their teammates’ help.

In one high-adventure activity, both the student and a specialised wheelchair are secured to overhead cables with a harness and have to navigate across tilting panels with their teammates’ help. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

The move towards inclusivity was gradual. OBS first started adapting its programme for deaf students by inviting teachers fluent in sign language to communicate vital information such as safety briefings.

OBS instructor Faizal Nordin recalled conducting a course for a team which had four deaf students. He said they initially felt nervous and did not want to be a “burden”.

One night, he saw other students trying to learn sign language from their deaf group mates. They warmed to each other, and the students with disabilities subsequently started contributing in activities like land expeditions and outdoor cooking.

“They were happy that the rest of the group wanted to learn from them too,” said Faizal.

Several members of the public had been concerned that the natural environment, including the island’s iconic airy Casuarina trees with needle-like twigs, would be disrupted with the new campus.

Jacky Pan, design director of architectural firm Henning Larsen, said its planting strategy maintained the immersive and rustic character of the island. He noted that a “significant part” of the existing vegetation - particularly the established Casuarina woodland - was retained and incorporated into the overall campus structure.

About 120 plant species were brought together in the landscape, including about 4,500 new trees, and different planting layers were designed to establish a “more connected and resilient ecological system over time,” said Pan.

The campus’ buildings are designed with ventilation louvres and solar panels to minimise energy consumption. Rainwater is also used for irrigation and washing of equipment.

The rest of Coney Island, which is connected to the mainland by two bridges on its western and eastern ends, remains open to the public.

Christine Tan is a correspondent at The Straits Times reporting on social affairs and issues of justice in Singapore.

Education and schools

National Youth Council

Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth

这个占地 12 公顷的园区是 OBS 最大的园区，拥有 70 多个高难度冒险项目和 30 多个团队挑战项目。

《海峡时报》照片：张马克

发布于2026年9月11日上午11:30

更新于2026年9月11日上午11:30

位于康尼岛的全新新加坡户外拓展训练中心占地 12 公顷，是规模最大的，拥有 70 多个高难度冒险项目，包括为残疾学生提供的轮椅无障碍活动。

到 2030 年，所有中三学生都将参加该营地，该营地旨在培养团队合作、韧性和领导能力，并计划将其他 OBS 项目扩展到来自工艺教育学院、理工学院和大学的高年级学生。

校园的设计以可持续性和包容性为核心，保留了大部分自然环境，并融入了节能功能，同时鼓励不同学生群体之间的社交联系。

新加坡——位于康尼岛的新加坡户外拓展训练营（OBS）新校区已于9月11日正式开放，到2030年，所有中三学生都将有机会体验户外探险营。

OBS 位于榜鹅附近绿树成荫的小岛东侧，占地 12 公顷，是 OBS 最大的校园，拥有 70 多个高难度冒险项目和 30 多个团队挑战项目。

其中包括轮椅无障碍设施，以便以前被排除在一些活动之外的残疾学生可以与同龄人一起参加活动。

新设施由总理黄循财揭幕。陪同他出席的有文化、社区及青年部长兼教育部第二部长梁振英，以及文化、社区及青年部兼永续发展及环境部高级政务次长吴汉彦。

在9月11日校园正式开放仪式上，黄循财总理表示，将扩大工艺教育学院、理工学院和大学的高年级学生尝试OBS领导力课程的机会，使其成为“每个新加坡年轻人的必经之路”。

他表示，在当今这个更加复杂多变的世界里，培养年轻人的品格变得更加重要。

黄循财总理表示：“我们无法保护年轻人免受每一次挫折或困难，但我们必须继续培养他们的能力，使他们能够自信、坚韧地面对逆境，而这正是OBS项目旨在实现的目标。”

9月11日，总理黄循财、文化、社区及青年部长兼教育部第二部长梁振英，以及文化、社区及青年部兼永续发展及环境部高级政务次长吴汉彦在康尼岛新加坡户外拓展训练中心体验跷跷板。照片由《海峡时报》摄影：张马克

9月11日，总理黄循财、文化、社区及青年部长兼教育部第二部长梁振英，以及文化、社区及青年部兼永续发展及环境部高级政务次长吴汉彦在康尼岛的新加坡户外拓展训练中心的跷跷板上保持平衡。

他说，除了与探险和障碍赛相关的活动之外，OBS 的意义还在于发现人们在走出舒适区后的能力，以及一个团队能够共同取得的成就。

科尼岛设施是海洋生物科学研究所（OBS）的第三个园区。黄英贤总理表示，该设施的地理位置为科尼岛与OBS位于乌敏岛和东海岸的现有站点之间的考察活动创造了新的可能性。

OBS 运营教育部 - OBS 挑战计划，这是一个为期五天的户外探险营，于 2017 年推出，旨在帮助中三学生培养生活技能、自信心和韧性。

它还创造了跨学校互动的机会，因为每次项目活动都会将来自三到四所学校的学生分成 12 到 14 人的小组。

目前，由于OBS乌敏岛校区场地有限，并非所有学生都能参加。2025年，共有18000名中三学生（约占该届学生总数的65%）入学。

随着康尼岛新校区的落成，到 2030 年，OBS 终于可以容纳所有学员。届时，每个夏令营将招收约 800 名学生，每年最多举办 32 次。

OBS Coney校区历时十年建成。该项目于2016年首次公布，原计划于2020年竣工，但由于新冠疫情等问题以及需要确保施工方法最大限度地减少对环境的影响，工期有所延误。该项目预算为2.5亿美元。

OBS执行董事Nicholas Conceicao表示：“我们希望鼓励所有学校的中三学生齐聚一堂，在户外拓展训练中获得共同的体验，结交新朋友，建立自信，并学习团队合作。”

随着康尼岛新校区的落成，OBS 终于能够在 2030 年前容纳全部学生。ST 摄影：MARK CHEONG

随着康尼岛新校区的落成，到 2030 年，OBS 终于可以容纳所有学生了。

受保护的高冒险元素

在青少年朋友圈日益萎缩、多样性降低的背景下，国家青年理事会首席执行官蔡大卫表示，该夏令营可以鼓励年轻人跨越不同背景建立联系。

9月8日，媒体到访OBS Coney校区时，学校正在为天主教中学、培财中学、兀兰中学和裕廊中学的学生开设课程。

他们戴着亮橙色的OBS帽子，背着笨重的背包，很容易辨认。有些人手里还拿着木制露营杖，有的在营地里跋涉，有的则在热烈地讨论着什么。周围一个人影也看不到。

康塞桑表示，该校园的高冒险项目一次可容纳四人，更加注重团队合作，这与乌敏岛上专为个人或两人设计的项目不同。

这些挑战性绳索课程既有露天的，也有室内的，因此无论晴雨都能进行活动。此外，还有一些难度较低的项目，例如需要学生合作保持平衡的跷跷板，也点缀在场地各处。

9月11日，黄循财总理在OBS康尼校区绕过障碍物。（海峡时报摄影：张马克）

9月11日，黄英贤总理在OBS Coney校区绕过障碍物。

一堵23米高的户外峭壁设有高级攀岩路线，并配备各种障碍物。校园内还设有海上作业中心，可开展皮划艇、划船或帆船等水上探险活动。

在为期五天的课程中，部分学生将有机会探索乌敏岛和科尼岛两个校区。他们在户外探险时睡帐篷，在校内住宿时则睡在没有空调的遮蔽式小屋里，使用睡袋。

包容性和可持续性特征

为了设计专为残疾学生量身定制的功能（这在 OBS 的校园中尚属首次），OBS 与残疾人士合作，并咨询了工业安全流程方面的专家。

在一项高难度冒险活动中，学生和一辆特制轮椅都用安全带固定在头顶的钢索上，必须在队友的帮助下穿过倾斜的面板。

在一项高难度冒险活动中，学生和一辆特制轮椅都通过安全带固定在高架钢索上，需要在队友的帮助下穿过倾斜的面板。（海峡时报摄影：MARK CHEONG）

包容性的转变是一个渐进的过程。OBS 首先开始调整其课程，以适应聋哑学生的需求，邀请精通手语的教师来传达安全须知等重要信息。

OBS讲师费萨尔·诺丁回忆起曾为一个有四名聋哑学生的团队授课。他说，他们起初感到紧张，不想成为别人的“负担”。

一天晚上，他看到其他学生正在向聋哑同学学习手语。他们彼此熟悉起来，残疾学生随后也开始参与到诸如陆地探险和户外烹饪等活动中。

“他们很高兴小组其他成员也想向他们学习，”费萨尔说。

一些公众人士担心，新校区的建设会破坏自然环境，包括岛上标志性的枝条如针般轻盈的木麻黄树。

亨宁·拉森建筑事务所的设计总监杰基·潘表示，他们的植物种植策略保留了岛屿沉浸式的乡村风貌。他指出，现有植被的“很大一部分”——特别是已成型的木麻黄林——被保留下来，并融入到校园的整体结构中。

潘表示，景观中汇集了约 120 种植物，包括约 4500 棵新树，并设计了不同的种植层次，以“随着时间的推移建立一个联系更紧密、更具韧性的生态系统”。

校园建筑采用通风百叶窗和太阳能电池板设计，以最大限度地减少能源消耗。雨水也用于灌溉和设备清洗。

康尼岛的其余部分通过东西两端的两座桥梁与大陆相连，仍然对公众开放。

克里斯汀·谭是《海峡时报》的记者，报道新加坡的社会事务和司法问题。

教育和学校

全国青年理事会

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