The Taipei City Government is holding the “2011 Summer in Taipei” summer series of events under the theme “Nature’s Beauty, Slow Travel with Loved Ones,” inviting families to explore together and experience the beauty of Taipei’s ecology, industries, culture, and leisure.

To showcase Taipei’s natural features, the city government has divided the series into four major themes: “Ecological Conservation,” “Agricultural Experience,” “Industrial Pulse,” and “Gardening & Greening,” featuring a total of 48 activities. These comprise 187 sessions with 7,800 spots in total, inviting the public to choose and participate based on their interests for a slow-paced tour of Taipei.

Among them, the “Agricultural Experience” theme allows participants to experience various aspects of traditional farming life in Taipei, such as rice cultivation, tea culture, green bamboo shoots, organic farming, and irrigation channels. The “Ecological Conservation” theme takes participants on an exploration of butterflies, eagles, rare insects, and wetland wildlife in Taipei.

The “Gardening & Greening” theme, through DIY activities, teaches participants how to care for plants, helping everyone become a green-fingered expert. As for the “Industrial Pulse” theme, it offers an in-depth look at how resources used in daily life—such as petroleum and natural gas—are produced and supplied, how fruits, vegetables, fish, and shrimp are transported and auctioned, and how technology industries and commercial designs operate.

The activities range from short half-day sessions like the “Pingding Ancient Irrigation Channel Countryside Cultural Experience” and the “Eagle Youth Raptor Experience Camp,” to longer three-day-two-night programs like the “Guandu Wetland Egg-Hatching Class.” Formats vary from static indoor lessons to dynamic outdoor activities, with 23 of them completely free of charge.

For more details, visit http://mht.culture2u.org/kiss-summer2011/.

If your preferred session is fully booked online, the city government has reserved some spots for on-site registration at the “Opening Fair” at Huashan 1914 Creative Park’s Yuanshan Plaza on June 25 at 2:30 PM. Registration is also on a first-come, first-served basis until all spots are filled.