As many as 18 prospective members of Student Nature Enthusiasts of Universitas Gadjah Mada (Indonesian acronym: MAPAGAMA) held a mountain climbing at Merbabu Mount, Central Java. The event was held from March 3 until 5, 2017.
This mountain climbing was one of the educational activities held by MAPAGAMA for its prospective members. In this event, those 18 prospective members were divided into four teams based on the hiking trails which are Tekelan, Swanting, Selo, and Wekas. During the hiking, each team was assisted by 3 to 4 junior members and the full members.
The Leader of MAPAGAMA, Manto Sitindaon, said this event was purposely held to train and enhance the skill of prospective members of MAPAGAMA including skills of mountain climbing, implementing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of survival in mountain and forest, nutrition management, observing the ecosystem in mountain and forest, introducing and treating several diseases that may happen during mountain climbing, implementing their knowledge on field, map, advanced compass, as well as advanced event management.
“The prospective members are also required to be able to conduct community service programme around the hiking trails. Moreover, they also observe existing issues and find the solutions,” said Manto.
Ayyas, one of the prospective members who joined the Wekas team, said in the event they also had an opportunity to perform an educational programme for society who lives around the hiking trails. He and his team invited the society in Tidar, Magelang to reduce the use of plastic waste as a form of awareness on environment.
“We also distributed guava seeds to the society,” said Ayyas.
On the other hand, Laily and her team said they conducted community services by trying to clean the environment along the hiking trail. They picked up trash scattered along the trail.
Similar to the Tekelan team, the Swanting and Selo teams also picked up the trash along their hiking trails. By conducting community services, the prospective members are expected to do their task as an academician who prioritizes the University’s mission.