Learning with Fun

Award Participants of GEMS NPS International School, Guwahati undertook an Adventurous Journey to Goreswar forest area. Goreswar is a town in Baksa district, situated on the north bank of river Brahmaputra, surrounded by Rangiya and Baihata in Assam. A report by Kannan T. (Award Leader).

We a group of 30 Award participants and 2 Leaders set on an adventurous trip on 24th of September 2017 to Goreshwar, in Assam. The planning for the trip was done one month in advance by making all the necessary arrangements for the trip and do the Preliminary Training and Preparation. On 23rd September one of the organisers of this trip Mriganka Sharma, from Assam Mountaineering Association briefed us about the trip, like what are the safety measures to be followed and what to be done in certain situations. One of his team members exhibited all the equipment which will be handled by the participants and he explained to us how to handle them. The school medical team explained us the procedure of first aid and how to use various items from the first aid box.

On 24th September we started from our school at 1.30 pm and reached the town of Goreshwar by 4.30 pm. From the town, we travelled another half an hour to reach the camping site which was located inside the forest. We were asked to set up the tents which we will be using for stay during this trip. After the tents were set up, we set up the bonfire. Some of us sat around the fire and played the guitar while others were involved in making and helping the cook in cooking.

Next morning after freshening up, we had our breakfast and went for trekking. The trekking was for 12 Km to a Buddha temple situated on the top of a mountain inside the forest. While trekking, the mentors explained about the terrain and the various flora and fauna available there. We returned to our campsite in the afternoon. After lunch, we went to a nearby area where the rappelling rope was fastened and kept ready. All of us did rappelling till evening and returned to our campsite.

Next day morning after breakfast we again went on a trekking for 3 Km. and reached Puthimari River. The mentors were already there ready with the rafts for us to do rafting. After a briefing, we wore our life jackets and helmets and in a group of 6 students each, we started the rafting. The rafting was for 6 Km and we had a thrilling experience. Till evening we were rafting and then we moved to our camp. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us where we experienced fun with learning. Click here for the pictures

Adventurous Journey help gain confidence

Silver level Award participants from Olcott Memorial School, Chennai completed their Adventurous Journey from 27th - 29th January 2017. A brief report on their AJ.

Forty-three, Silver level Award participants assembled at the school campus with great excitement on 27th January 2017 by 5.30 am, looking forward to spending the next three days at Amirthi forest by taking part in trekking and other adventurous activities under their Adventurous Journey section of their Award Programme.

The enthusiastic group of participants left the school for Vellore. On reaching the forest, participants were grouped and allotted accommodation. They were briefed about the Adventurous Journey Section and activities by the mentors. The activities started with participants trekking a few kilometres before commencing the river crossing activity. Every participant participated in this activity with great enthusiasm and vigor. This was followed by a short trek to a nearby village where participants interacted with the villagers and learned about their lifestyle and culture. After dinner, they had a circle time where each of them was asked to share about themselves and showcase their individual talents before going to bed.

The following day began with a physical exercise session. After breakfast, the participants commenced their 7 km long trek up a hill to reach a village. They enjoyed the natural scenic beauty, the flora, and fauna of the place before interacting with the local community to know about their lifestyle.

The third day also began with physical exercise. This inculcated a sort of discipline among the participants. After breakfast, they trekked along the river to climb a small mountain using ropes and enjoyed the rappelling activity. The participants also took part to river crossing activity in the river before trekking back to their campsite.

This Adventurous Journey, away from their home and routines helped the participants to gain confidence, improve their interpersonal skill and personality development. On 29th the group headed back to Chennai with fond memories and with a boost their self-confidence. Click to view pictures

Adventure Trip to Prashar Lake

Trilok Singh, Award Leader from Harvest International School, Ludhiana is sharing his report on the Bronze Level Adventurous Journey.

The nine-hour-long haul to Himachal started on 15th October 2016 at around 9.30 pm. Nine hours later journeying in two tempo travellers we reached our destination and base camp, Baggi, which is roughly 10 km from Prashar Lake. This group comprised two Award Leaders, two mentors and eighteen Bronze level aspirants.

The trekking adventure started immediately after breakfast, when the participants climbed the challenging track into a beautiful new world. The arduous climb presented many difficulties but operating as a team they made light work of it. The group took a well-earned break at the half-way point, stopping at a couple of houses where they were allowed to use the facilities. The participants made food for everyone with the limited available resources.

At 7.00 pm, as we dragged our weary limbs onto the shores of Prashar, its stunning beauty erased all our aches and pains. The participants set about pitching the tents immediately, before the sun could go down. The participants worked in three groups with one leader. With the help of the mentors and Award Leaders, the participants built fires and set about preparing the evening meal. This self cooked meal by the participants was enjoyed together, sitting on the ground around the campfire. After dinner the participants spent some time together discussing and planning the next day's activities.

The early morning sun heralded a fabulous day and spurred the participants to accomplish all the necessary camp tasks with alacrity. Soon the fire was lit for a breakfast, prepared as a group. The day was passed in many adventurous activities like practicing the tent pitching, rope activities, and understanding of camp craft and equipment. The mentors explained the navigation techniques to the participants.

In the evening the participants packed their tents and returned to base camp ’Baggi’. After reaching the base camp site, the participants pitched camp, lit a fire and enjoyed a small dance party; food was then prepared and eaten by firelight and then straight to sleep as an early start was required the next morning.

Next morning everyone was up at 6.00 am, ready to pack tents and load equipment into the tempo travellers again. It was challenging work for us since nobody wanted to break the spell the beautiful location cast upon us. It was a wonderful experience that gave us a new way to look and explore mother nature.

We truly discovered ourselves during this Adventurous Journey

Yashvi Agarwal, Bronze level participant from Modern High School for Girls’, Kolkata sharing her Adventurous Journey experiences with us.

With hearts full of enthusiasm and curiosity, forty nine girls from the IAYP Unit boarded the buses to set out for ‘Panchalingeshwar’ in the afternoon of 29th September, 2016. Panchalingeshwar happens to be located on the Eastern Ghats, Nilagiris to be precise. Located at a distance of 30km from Balasore in Orissa, its main claim to fame is the temple atop a hill that enshrines five Shivalingas.

Our training began early. Our very first session with Mr Mukhoty, the IAYP Programme Manager was a briefing on ‘Understanding Adventure’ and ‘Route Planning’. We learnt that self-discovery and acclimatization were the two most important aspects of adventure. This was followed by ‘The 6 km Trek’. It was quite an experience because the previous night, a herd of wild elephants had traversed the same path, leaving behind large footprints which were converted into small puddles due to the rain. The outskirts of the Singhbhum District was the end point of out trek. It was a place which had a small lake with a 20ft submerged temple built by Raja Singhavarma. This was located in the Buffer Zone of the forest of Simplipal- one of the seven tiger reserves in India. Mr Mukhoty also told us about the three most important things required for survival on a camp- food, shelter and fire. We acquired essential information about the varying types of shelters, tents and other requirements. After this each of us took active part in pitching tents which brought a feel of self satisfaction. We were then briefed on the different kinds of ropes and knots, and about the various equipments mainly throwing light on carabiners, zummers, descendeurs and pulleys. We ended our day with a session on First Aid, where we were taught that first aid was providing scientific aid to a medical victim.

The next day, we had to abstain from our daily morning activities due to heavy rain. We started our day with an interesting session on the Camping Code which included mountain manners, hut manners, etc. We learnt how important it was to respect the culture and customs of the local people of a place. This was followed by another session on the demonstration of all the important knots we had learnt about. Then we were engaged in an exciting activity- Zummering. It was an interesting experience as it was something new for most of us. Right after lunch we set out for another activity- Rappelling, some distance away from our guest house. A short session on maps and orientation was conducted before our thrilling experience of rappelling. This was followed by the camp night. We danced, we sang, we laughed, to sum up we had a gala time.

On the final morning of this very short expedition, we trekked some distance to visit the Panchalingeshwar Temple. We were told all about the beauty of the Simlipal Forest which was right next to the temple. Very soon, we headed back to the camp and having had our lunch we were ready to leave for Kolkata. Just as all good things come to an end, our camp was no exception, but I can very confidently say that we left Panchalingeshwar with memories and valuable lessons that would stay with us for a lifetime and a half. We learnt things that would help us in the future for situations we might unexpectedly encounter. We truly discovered ourselves on this journey. Thanks to all the teachers and Award Leaders who accompanied us. This trip was one of the most memorable experiences that we ever had. Click here for more pictures

Hello Bhutan!

Rose Goel, a Silver Award participant from Uttam School for Girls, Ghaziabad, shares her experiences of the Adventurous Journey.

The IAYP Adventurous / Exploration journey was an eye opener for us that changed our perspective towards life, culture, happiness, different nations and their uniqueness. Right from planning and preparing for journey, learning team spirit, exploring places, coordinating with mentors and friends, to moving out of comfort zone, overcoming cultural barriers, understanding culture, people and people were some of the things which this journey taught us and thus proved to be an experiential workshop for us.

We were all excited about our Adventurous Journey as we headed for our visit to Bhutan, which came as a surprise during our summer vacations in 2016. From the scorching hot weather of North India we reached Bhutan, a stunning Buddhist country sandwiched between two political giants -- India and China. Our visit to the country offered us a complete get away from our monotonous and stressful lifestyle. It was an exploratory journey where we understood and witnessed what makes the distinctive culture of a nation.

Bhutan,  often considered as an offbeat destination by many, surprises everyone with all that it has to offer. Exemplified as one of the first countries that adopts the concept of Gross National Happiness to measure its growth in terms of happiness quotient, where people’s happiness comes first, and then comes money, was interesting for us to take a note of.

It was encouraging to observe that in spite of being a constitutional monarchy, the people were extremely happy with the government and the king. That was evident from the hospitality of the locals and the playfulness of their young children. Both the rich and the poor enjoy equal status. Even the king of the country does not live in a luxurious palace but a small cottage, just large enough to accommodate his family. The love for The King and the Queen could be spotted everywhere, from tiny frames in shops and houses, to large posters on the roadsides. Unlike other countries, the people of Bhutan seemed to have been less influenced by the west. Their love and respect for their nation, the king and their culture generated reverence in our heart for the people and this nation.

We found that it was a place where the women were not born to be confined to houses but shoulder equal responsibilities as menfolk, be it in big hotels, airports, roadside shops, hospitals or other places. To see this status and regard for women was inspiring for all of us.

Besides rich cultural heritage, the country also boasts of its magical Himalayan kingdom, which is full of greenery, with beautiful landscapes dotted with bright flapping prayers flags and forests cloaked in clouds, thick with the scent of pine, garlanded with peach blossoms and with a remarkable abundance of flora and fauna. This all is a result of strong constitutional obligation and efforts made by the people to preserve and protect the environment, where at least 60% of the land is under forest cover. Added to this, is the fact that Bhutan is the only country in the world that has been declared carbon negative. Like the environment, the Bhutanese people also looked impeccable as they were always dressed in their traditional attire -- Gho for men and Kira for women. They wore it with pride and carried it with style. An important aspect that caught our attention was the use of public transport by people and very few private cars on the road, which resulted in smooth and well managed traffic.

Apart from gathering all this knowledge and observations we also understood that Bhutan is undoubtedly one of the most ethnic travel destinations where everything from the layout of the building to the god figures in monasteries was dictated by traditional Buddhist artworks. Religion pervaded all level of life in Bhutan, resulting in peaceful temples, red robed monks, deities and legends.

Some of the best places visited by us included the Buddha Dordenma Statue located in the capital, Thimphu. A scenic fortress Monastery, Punakha Dzong is framed by the confluence of two rivers and jacaranda trees in Punakha and the iconic Tiger nest monastery with golden pinnacles at its rooftops in Paro.

It goes without saying that the country was truly a slice of Himalayan heaven and was an eye opener for all of us. We realized the importance of contentment in life, how to be happy with simple things and be proud of one’s own culture and heritage. As a token of regard for this visit, we took a pledge to do our duty to protect and conserve the environment and save mother earth. We are extremely happy and grateful to our school and IAYP for giving us this opportunity to have such a wonderful learning experience. To appreciate and regard a nation as an outsider and then to look and admire what makes our country unique and distinctive was something that we all learnt.

Silver Level Camp to Dhana Kunna and Man

Silver Level Award aspirants of The Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai completed their Adventurous Journey at Dhana Kunna and Manali (Himachal Pradesh) from 21st May to 30th May 2016. N. Engineer (Award Leader) is sharing a report from a participant’s diary.

19 Silver aspirants left for Delhi on the 21st of May 2016, accompanied by two mentors and two volunteers from The Explorers. From Delhi we travelled to Mandi and continued on to Naggar in the Kullu Valley via bus. The bus journey was long and taxing but the scenic beauty along with singing and team building games made it quite enjoyable. In Naggar, we stayed in tents at the Trek India Base Camp. Initially for the first two days, we acclimatised ourselves by walks and small visits to the local area and Mela.

On the first day, we participated in activities such as Rock Climbing, Plank Walk, Commando Bridge and other Rope and Net activities. We even visited the Roerich Memorial, Art Gallery and their family house, where we learnt about this powerful and influential Russian family. On the second day, we engaged in River Crossing. It was a thrilling experience, done over a crystal clear river in the midst of the wilderness. After that, we watched an exciting adventure movie on Mt. Everest, after which we also had a very inspirational question and answer session with Mr. Sharma, who had trekked to the summit of Mt. Everest himself. In the evenings we'd play with the campsite dogs and played football. The nights were chilly, sometimes accompanied by rain. Very often we'd be freezing in our tents, but it certainly made us much tougher and the stay memorable.

On the third day, we left early and trekked to Stelling, the second campsite. It was a very challenging uphill journey. On the way, we'd stop and filled our bottles from the streams. At Stelling, we collected logs for the bonfire and played with the dogs, cows and sheep. The next day, we left early in the morning for Dhanna Kunnha, located at an altitude of 11,900 feet. The trek was exhausting, and on the way we endured sprains, bruises, bee stings, thirst and aching muscles. We arrived at the summit at 1:30 in the afternoon. The panoramic view was exhilarating, spanning the Himalayan range. We sensed a feeling of victory looking down at the world from that height. From there, we trekked down to Stelling. By the time we returned, every one of us was famished and exhausted, but with proud smiles on our faces. It was an amazing experience for all of us. The next day we trekked again to Naggar and spent another night there. In the evening we went for rapelling, which helped us conquer our fear of heights. Some of us even helped an old shepherdess carrying her tired rams.

An hour long bus journey brought us to Manali the following day, where we went for sightseeing places like a Tibetan Monastery, the Shiva Temple and the Hadimba temple. In the evening, we went shopping to the famous Mall street, where we bought typical Manali caps and shawls. 

The next day, we took a day long bus ride to Chandigarh. Once again, the bus journey proved to be a bonding experience. In Chandigarh, we visited the Sukhna Lake and the Nek Chand Rock Garden. Both were extremely beautiful in their own respects, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

After lunch, we boarded the bus once again, this time bound to the Delhi Airport from where we flew back to Mumbai. We returned with stronger calves, lower cholestrol levels, unforgettable memories and cherished friendships made in the humbling depths of the mountains. Click for more pictures

My Award Journey

Makesh Srinviasan, Bronze Level participant from Hiranandani Upscale School, Kelambakkam shares his Award Journey experience with us in his words. IAYP has helped me to grow from an ordinary person to someone who is respected, given importance and now seen in the world from a different perspective. The Award Programme brought many things into my schedule that helped me to improve myself in myriad ways. It shaped me not only to take up more responsibilities and challenges but also to handle them and be a citizen that a nation would be proud of. This journal records details of my experience in this course starting from July 2015 until today. As an IAYP participant, responsibilities were assigned to me by the school for the first couple of months. I was part of an adventurous trip to a hill station called Coorg. It was a three day fun-filled trip where adventurous activities were organised like zip lining, trekking, river rafting and swimming in the cold river. My main focus was to learn how to be independent, gain experience and provide valuable support to my companions. To move out of my comfort zone and challenge my own learning, fears and skills was the outcome of this adventure section. Next, in the service section of the Award, during the weekends, my friends and I provided education and basic computer knowledge to kids from the orphanage. We conducted regular and scheduled classes for them. Although during some weekends it wasn't possible for them to attend classes due to transportation trouble, national holidays, floods and rains, nevertheless, we managed to reschedule their classes on the availability of our time periods. Moreover, apart from teaching, I also worked for rescue and relief missions during the floods times in Chennai. Every day was very critical, and I used to spent many hours in preparing food, collecting clothes and gathering necessary items from shops. Eventually, we grew into a big association involving more than 50 members from our society. Together, we were able to help hundreds of poor families and kids. We provided food packages, medicines, water bottles, clothes and other necessary items, to about 1000 people in more than 5 different areas. Besides these, I had also been involved in taking photographs (for which I was given the responsibility) for an event that took place in my community. Compassion, communication and connect with the community were the cherished gifts that I saved from this section of the Award journey. My physical activity involved playing football. Being my favourite sport, I made good progress in it. I practiced regularly for about 2 to 3 hours on the ground and about 1 hour indoors to workout. During exams and flood time I was unable to play regularly. But apart from that, I was a very regular student and had shown progressive improvements in this sport. It is a sport that once broke my nose but still, I love playing football. In skills Section, my interests were mainly focused on playing instruments such as violin and piano, and I chose piano. From July till today, I have been practicing piano lessons regularly and with great interest. Although, due to some reasons my teacher couldn't continue, but I kept on practicing my lessons at home for about an hour or two almost every day. Eventually I found a new teacher but he insisted on starting the lessons from the basics. But even then, I did not feel discouraged. I love piano today as much as I loved it on my first day! Thanks IAYP for making me what I am today!Click here for more pictures