We have learnt to think independently

The Award participants of Sanjay Ghodawat International School, Kolhapur, visited the Narveli Caves and nearby villages for their Adventurous Journey section. Mr Sasi Krishnan, an Award Leader from SGI School, narrates the experience of the trip, highlighting insights that the participants gained, both about their surroundings as well as themselves.

Sanjay Ghodavat International School aspires to nurture each child as a skilled personality. Here, we lay equal emphasis on academics and activities like field trips, trekking, bird-watching, nature walks and adventure camps. These outdoor activities are organized at regular intervals to provide the students with opportunities for experiential learning.

As part of IAYP’s Adventurous Journey section, a camp was organized for two days and a night for Bronze participants, three days and two nights for Silver participants, and four days and three nights for Gold participants. The participants, accompanied by nine members of the teaching staff and four attenders, journeyed to the Narveli caves and temple, a reserved forest area, Brobet village and Gaganbawda, around 85 km away from the school. The journey was operated by an adventure team ‘Kolhapur Hikers’, assisted by IAYP Award Leaders Mr Venkat and Mr Dushyanth.

The participants were pumped up to commence the journey on 23rd November 2018. The team carried all the necessary items like rice, vegetables, flour, spices, utensils, lights, sound systems, etc. After reaching our planned destination at 11:30 in the morning, the participants cleaned the area and set up 27 tents. Having been divided into eleven groups, the participants, along with the staff, trekked towards the Narveli caves. The trekking distance was about 8 kilometres up and down and we returned at 7:30 p.m. At around 9:00 p.m. we lit the bonfire, which was followed by playing games, singing songs, narrating stories and dancing. Our Director Principal was kind enough to join us on our Adventurous Journey on that day. The next day commenced with the participants preparing for another trek. During the trek, the participants engaged in a multitude of activities like bird-watching, discovering rare plants, peacock feather collection, etc. Post lunch, games like the treasure hunt, essay writing and sketching were organized. The journey concluded at 4:00 p.m. and the Bronze Award participants prepared for their return, while the other participants stayed back.

The journey was a life-changing experience for most participants. They have learnt teamwork, independent thinking, creativity, and dignity of labour. Most importantly, they have emboldened themselves, learning to take on the challenges of life with indomitable courage. Click here for more pictures

Cleanliness Drive

Sasi Krishnan (Award Leader), Sanjay Ghodawat International School, Atigre, Kolhapur, Maharashtra is sharing a report on Cleanliness Drive.

Award participants of Sanjay Ghodawat International School, Atigre have undertaken a project in the village of Hatkanangale in the Old Market Area on 29th July 2017. All the 96 Bronze and 8 Silver participants were involved in this activities, supported by 15 teachers. The project is towards the Service Section of the Award programme. The main aim was to undertake a cleanliness drive to clean the open drains and thereby prevent the spread of various communicable diseases.

Initially, the team found the task difficult, because the drains had never been cleaned after they were made. They were stinking and choked with polythene and surrounded by tall grass. But with the cooperation of Mr Santhosh Redekar, one of the Ward Members of the Hatkanangale Gram Panchayat, the team managed to take up the drive and arranged sickles and baskets to clean the garbage.

Another problem that the team came across was finding a place to throw the garbage, as there was no bin kept for the garbage! Every house threw their garbage in the open space outside their house. The IAYP team first tried to convince people not to throw litter everywhere. The next problem was pulling up grass grown inside the drains -- this procedure was quite a challenge because the filth from the drain came out along with the grass; so the team got masks and gloves for the job. Once the team started doing it they got acquainted with the task and the villagers helped by providing tools like spades, water, sickles and sticks, etc. It took nearly three hours to clean the drains. It was a satisfying job to carry out the cleanliness drive regularly. The work was appreciated by the village folk and the elected Sarpanch of the village Mrs Anuradha Anil Kadam promised to lay out the sewerage line. Click here to check more pictures...

A Great Learning Experience

A Report on Adventurous Journey by Sasikrishnan, IAYP Coordinator

Sanjay Ghodawat International School, Kolhapur aspires to nurture each child as a well-rounded personality. The school lays equal emphasis on outdoor activities like field trips, trekking, bird watching, nature walks and adventure camps. These outdoor activities are organised at regular intervals to provide experiential learning to students. As part of the IAYP programme the participants enthusiastically took part in different Adventurous Journey related activities.

An Adventurous Journey Preliminary Training and Practice Journey Camp was organised to provide a great learning experience for the participants. The practice journey was planned for two days and one night. The students were accompanied by six teaching staff and four attendees. The journey was led by the school’s physical education HOD I. Y. Kenchennavar.

Afer the successful completion of the Practice Journey, the Qualifying Adventurous Journey was planned for 12th and 13th November, 2016. As the day of the journey approached the participants were very excited. The venue was the Reserve Forest near Ramling Temple, which is around 12 km away from the school. The place is an idyllic spot surrounded by lush greenery and perfect for an adventurous journey. The team carried all necessary items like rice, vegetables, flour, spices, utensils, lights, etc.

After reaching the venue in the morning, the group cleaned the area and pitched five tents. The participants showed aesthetic sense by decorating the tents with flowers and green leaves. The participants were divided into three groups Zinghat, The Squad and Bampatjal. Different activities like rope exercise, SOS and other team building activities were performed during the day. Later the students brought firewood. At night all the students lit the camp fire. The students played games, sang songs, narrated stories and danced around the fire. At 10 PM students had dinner and rested for the day.

The next day, the participants woke up at 5 AM and went on a trek. During the trek, the participants were involved in many activities like bird watching, collecting rare plants, peacock feather collection, etc. They returned to the tent at 10 AM. After breakfast, many team building games were organised like a treasure hunt, essay writing, drawings, etc.

This Adventurous Journey was a great learning experience for participants. The participants learnt teamwork, independent thinking, creativity, and dignity of labour and most importantly, to face the tough life. Click for more pictures