Latest news with #HomeTeamNS
Business Times
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Times
Best places to blow off steam for men
[SINGAPORE] In a city that moves at breakneck speed, carving out space to let loose with your boys is not just a luxury – it's essential maintenance. Whether you're a high-strung, high-flyer in finance or a manic creative, here are seven spots across Singapore where you can reconnect with yourself and your mates. Axe Factor There's something incredibly satisfying – and oddly meditative – about hurling a steel axe at a wooden target. Whether you're battling burnout or bonding with the boys, Axe Factor channels your inner lumberjack/Viking in a safe competitive setting. 2 Gunner Lane, #02-04/05 Mess Hall Sentosa (Blk 17), Singapore 099567 Tel: 8923 8945 HomeTeamNS Enjoy adventure time at HomeTeamNS. PHOTO; HOMETEAMNS Playgrounds aren't just for kids – HomeTeamNS has grown-up versions for men who want to sweat, scream and strategise. From Action Motion (a gamified obstacle arena with scoring sensors) and Adventure HQ (featuring Singapore's longest indoor slide and aerial obstacle course), to TactSim (a realistic tactical simulator for airsoft-style missions) and even a paintball arena, the facilities are all about high-energy bonding. 'Through the missions and challenges, [players] get to create new memories with friends,' says Ang Han Wee, assistant director of business development. 'For NS cohesion groups, it's about reuniting and reliving shared memories in a new, dynamic setting.' Multiple locations including Bedok Reservoir, Bukit Batok and Khatib; refer to website for details A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Red Dynasty Paintball Park Bond over a paintball session. PHOTO: RED DYNASTY PAINTBALL PARK Suit up, lock and load. Paintball isn't just a shoot-and-run game; it's tactical, intense and surprisingly therapeutic. 'While action and strategy are big draws, it's really the camaraderie that keeps male players coming back,' says founder Benjamin Seow. 'It's a way to switch off and be in the moment with friends.' Orchid Country Club, 1 Orchid Club Road, Singapore 769162 Tel: 6659 4782 Sandbox VR Strap on a VR headset, haptic vests, motion capture trackers and even prop guns – you'll step into immersive, multi-sensory worlds from haunted houses to alien worlds. 'Surviving a zombie apocalypse together makes you feel bonded,' says Michael Hampden, Sandbox's senior vice-president of content and creative director. 'For many men, it's a rare space where play, presence, and camaraderie intersect – and that's powerful. 181 Orchard Road, #05-31/32 Orchard Central, Singapore 238896. Tel: 9832 5988 Splat Paint House Channel your inner Pollock in this splatter-art studio where expression gets messy – you're encouraged to toss, flick or drip paint across your canvas any way you like. Think of it as an emotional release with a creative twist, whether you're de-stressing solo or with your band of brothers. 207a Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574346 Tel: 8882 0839 The Fragment Room Singapore's first rage room (it opened in 2017) lets you smash glassware, plates, electronics and furniture to your heart's content. Release that pent-up aggression in a safe space, then leave lighter (and maybe a little sweatier). 'For conservative men, the norm is to 'man up'. Eventually that boils over – often into vices,' says Ian Chew, co-owner. 'We offer an alternative. The ones who go all out – screaming or crying – do feel better in general.' 490 MacPherson Rd, Singapore 368198 Tel: 6970 0343 VOS Men Not into smashing or sweating? How about some harmony over havoc – VOS Men is an all-male vocal group that's redefining masculinity through music. 'The choir provides a rare opportunity for men to embrace their feelings openly,' says founder Justin Goh. 'Our recent overseas competition in KL gave members a chance to bond while representing Singapore.' Think of it as group therapy, but with better acoustics. Auditions by appointment or
Independent Singapore
06-06-2025
- General
- Independent Singapore
'Death by a thousand cuts': Bukit Batok forest faces imminent axe despite wildlife warnings and public outcry
SINGAPORE: A young forest tucked behind the HomeTeamNS Adventure Centre in Bukit Batok is set to be mostly cleared for housing development, despite warnings from environmentalists and a recently released Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) urging caution. The forest, which grew naturally on cleared land since the 1960s, has become a key habitat and corridor for endangered species, including the critically endangered straw-headed bulbul—one of the rarest songbirds in the world. Singapore is its last global stronghold, and the Bukit Batok plot is one of its few remaining footholds in the west. A patch too small? Only 0.48 hectares of the forest—less than 10 per cent of the existing vegetation—will be retained as a 'stepping stone' for wildlife movement between the western green spaces and the Central Nature Reserves. The rest of the 5.5-hectare forest will be cleared to make way for a 14.5-hectare housing estate at the junction of Bukit Batok Road and Bukit Batok West Avenue 5. The plot includes the current Bukit Batok Driving Centre and nearby scrubland. See also Why did HDB hire US based lawyers when it is in deficit? To compensate, the report proposes greening the new estate with native flora and creating a forest-like vertical structure to support flying fauna. For ground-based wildlife, NParks is exploring the possibility of dedicated crossings. But the measures haven't gone far enough for conservationists. 'This is a very small patch with decent butterfly diversity, which suggests it's well connected to surrounding forests,' said ecologist Dr Anuj Jain, who has studied the area. 'It's like death by a thousand cuts' Youth nature group, Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity (SYVB), called for more decisive action. Outreach head Jayden Kang raised concerns over the limited forest retention in Bukit Batok. He noted that developments like Tengah had already affected the western ecological network, and suggested that further clearing could worsen the impact. He likened the current pattern of fragmented development to 'death by a thousand cuts.' The ecological implications go beyond Bukit Batok. Experts warn that Singapore's wildlife relies on forest corridors to move, breed, and maintain genetic diversity. If these green links are severed, it could lead to population crashes among already fragile species. See also "Superman" spotted in Singapore! Reports about this development acknowledged that construction will likely cause 'noticeable stress' on flora and flying fauna, even with mitigation in place. Backlash on World Environment Day On June 5—World Environment Day—the Instagram account of Woodlands Botanical Gardens published a scathing response. 'It is incredibly disgusting how they try to cheat the people by saying they will retain a tiny bit of forest,' the post read. 'There is not enough buffer zone to minimise impact. Even when the EIA says it's not a good idea, you still go ahead. So what then is the use of an EIA?' The post also questioned the sincerity of the public consultation process, accusing agencies of offering feedback opportunities only to 'show face'—not to meaningfully engage. 'Stop trying to placate the people with cheap tactics,' the group added. 'Walk the talk you falsely showcase to the world.' In a pointed remark, the group proposed an alternative: demolish underutilised Good Class Bungalows (GCBs) instead of natural forests if the aim is truly to house more people. See also Singapore Catholic churches offer shelter to homeless people 'GCBs house four or five. HDBs house hundreds. If housing is a basic need, then prioritise it where it matters.' What happens next? While there is no official timeline yet, signs point to redevelopment beginning in the next decade. The Bukit Batok Driving Centre's lease has been extended till the end of 2028, and a new clubhouse replacing HomeTeamNS' facilities is expected by 2031. Public feedback on the EIA is open until June 15 at 6 p.m. on the HDB website. But many in the nature community are already sceptical of whether public sentiment will sway planning outcomes. For now, the future of the Bukit Batok forest—and the wildlife that calls it home—remains hanging in the balance. What is clear is that trust in the system has been shaken. And once the trees fall, there may be no going back.
