Adventure Trek in Coorg

Award participants from Sarala Birla Academy, Bangalore took part in the Adventure Trek in Coorg area from 22nd to 25th June 2017. A report by K S Biradar (Award Leader).

A group of forty-six Award participants along with three mentors departed from Sarala Birla Academy in two buses for Kudraimukh on an early morning. With our high spirit and enthusiasm, we travelled for 8 long hours witnessing beautiful scenery and lush green areas, before reaching our destination at 3:30 PM. We explored the place and its flora and fauna.

Next morning after daily routine activities the group boarded their buses to take us to our trekking destination. It took an hour to reach our destination and begin our trek.

The weather was chilly and it was also drizzling. We walked on the tar road in the cool weather for 3 km and then we reached a spot where we started to enter the muddy rocky pathway, with one guide at the front and the other at the back and our teachers interspersing the students in the line. Before we started the trek instructions were given to us about the leeches and the precautions to be taken in a forest like taking care of slippery rocks and steep cliffs, etc.

As we walked we went deep into the lush green forest where the sunlight got thinner. It was a challenging trek with many big slippery and loose rocks to climb over, but at last, we reached an old fort after a tiring trek and realised that it was absolutely worth it. In the afternoon, we continued our trek to one of Karnataka’s highest peaks. It was one of the toughest treks we had ever witnessed and after completing it we felt very proud and were mesmerised by the view there. It seemed as if the clouds were all around us with tiny water droplets spraying our face.

We began our descent in the evening and finally boarded our buses and safely reached Nammamane ("my house"), where we were staying. As it was our last day we built a campfire with music around it and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves over there.

Next morning, we boarded the bus by 10:30 am for our return journey back to school. Overall this IAYP trek was very enriching and filled with a lot of learning aspects for the young participants. This has given us a lot of memories and also taught us a number of wonderful things.

Adventurous Journey Report

Gaurav Jalan, a Bronze Award participant from Sarala Birla Academy, Bangalore, shares his Adventurous Journey report with us.

Fifty-eight Award participants of the Bronze Level, escorted by four mentors set out to Kabby Coorg on 11th June 2016 at 8 A.M. The journey was of about 7 to 8 hours including some stops for lunch and snacks. We reached the camp site “The Coorg Institute of Adventure" by 5 P.M. It was a beautiful place with a facility to play volleyball and do other trekking activities. Soon after arriving, we had evening snacks, after which we settled ourselves in our dormitory while some were engaged in playing volleyball and some others in admiring the beauties and bounties of nature. After dinner we had a bonfire around which we sat and had a gala time.

Our next day was scheduled for trekking. We got ready with our backpacks and set out to the trekking point “Chomkund” which was 25 Km from the campsite. Before we started trekking, we were given some safety instructions and necessary trekking advice which would help us in carrying out the task smoothly and safely. After all the preparation we started trekking. It was quite steep and we experienced cold windy weather and torrential rainfall while retreating.

Some of us were privileged to help others in their difficulties. Everyone reached back safely, though many of us had leech bites. But the overall experience was worth remembering and full of learning for us. We faced our fears, pushed ourselves out of our limiting zones and helped each other by experiencing the true spirit of teammanship. Evening was the resting time given to all of us, a time when we relaxed and deeply introspected on our outside the class memorable lessons.

Next day, after the breakfast, we had zip-line activity planned at the campsite. After doing that we packed our luggage and started our journey back to school. Overall we had a good time. All of us enjoyed and had a great experience. The purpose with which we had taken up the activity was served well. Click here for Pictures

Award Leaders training workshop at Bangalore and Lovedale

The NAA organised two Award Leader training workshops at Sarala Birla Academy, Bangalore and The Lawrence School, Lovedale, Ooty. The first workshop was conducted at Sarala Birla Academy, Bangalore on 21st & 22nd July 2015.  Eighteen participants attended from five YES Centres - Sarala Birla Academy, Bangalore; Jain Heritage School, Bangalore; Karumbiah's Academy for Learning, Gonikoppal; Sanjay Ghodawat International School, Kolhapur and Edu Asia New Delhi Public School, Bangalore.  Kapil Bhalla (National Director), Bivujit Mukhoty (Programme Manager) and K S Biradar (Member, National Training Panel) lead the workshop.

The Second workshop was conducted at The Lawrence School, Lovedale, Ooty on 24th & 25th July 2015. Twelve participants from The Lawrence School, Lovedale; Good Shepherd International School, Ooty and Riverside Public School, Kotagiri participated in the workshop. Kapil Bhalla (National Director), Bivujit Mukhoty (Programme Manager) and Jacob P A Matthews (Member, National Training Panel) headed the workshop.  The training modules included the details about the four pillars of the Award i.e. Skills, Service, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey.  Apart from these there were sessions about the Residential Project, Risk Management, Volunteering and Brand guidelines.  Click here for pictures from Bangalore and Lovedale

IAYP Adventurous Journey Trek

On 27th February Award participants of Sarala Birla Academy, Bangalore escorted by three school teachers and two professional trainers left the school after breakfast at 8:30 and headed towards Kudremukh near Chikmagalur, which was our trekking destination. We reached there at about 7:30 in the evening.

Next morning assembled at 6:30 and after breakfast we left for our trekking spot. We trekked for 18km-20km up and down a hill. Although our trek was tiring, all of us manged to complete it successfully. We also clicked some elegant pictures on the way. We had a bonfire that we enjoyed, listening to songs and chatting with friends. We had a sumptuous dinner and went to bed by 10:00 as we were rather tired.

Next day after the breakfast we went to play volleyball in muddy water and it was great fun. We got ready by 11:30 and had an early lunch and by 12:30 we left the place and headed back to Bangalore. Thanks to our school authorities and the teachers incharge for organising this trek. Without their support it would not have been possible to experience this wonderful rous Adventusuch Journey. Click for pictures

Meet the water boy

Michael Phelps started swimming when he was still seven and ended up winning 22 Olympics medal, and hence the most decorated sportsperson in the history of Olympics. Shashwat Khemani also started swimming when he was seven and hence has a great future ahead in Indian Swimming. Read what he has to say about his passion:

An hour long swim routine for me is anything but tiring or exhausting it is in fact refreshing. I have been swimming for past twelve years.  I am from Sarala Birla Academy, Bangalore an all-boys residential school located in Bannerghata region of Bangalore. Under the able guidance of my coach Mr. Shashi, I have been able to win many laurels and merits in various inter-school and state level swimming championships conducted throughout Bangalore. I also represented a famous swimming club of Kolkata, the Calcutta Swimming Club participating in the intra-club swimming tournament. I have successfully participated in the swim-a-mile contest hosted by Calcutta Swimming Club on the occasion of Independence Day.  I have won the silver and the bronze medals at the Karnataka ICSE Schools Association (KISA) State level swimming competition, which was hosted by The Ryan International School in 2012 and Sports Mentor in 2013. After having successfully getting the bronze and silver stage, I am currently pursuing the Gold Award for International Award for Young People.