The Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH), Bhopal, conducted a series of engaging and educational activities on June 14 as part of its Summer Nature Study Programmes — Green Cub and Green Teen — to raise environmental awareness among young participants.
An Environmental Game session was organized for Green Cub participants to help them understand the significance of different environmental components. Dilip Kumar Chakravarty, Environmental Education Officer from EPCO, led the activity. He introduced the children to interactive games such as Web of Life, Segregation of Waste, Water Conservation, Mission LiFE, and Who Am I, aimed at fostering a fun yet educational understanding of environmental concepts. A total of 19 students took part in this session.
Simultaneously, a Tree Identification session was held for Green Teen participants. The session was conducted by Dr. Sudesh Waghmare, Former Deputy Conservator of Forests, who explained the fundamental aspects of identifying tree species through characteristics such as tree size, canopy structure, leaf shape, bark texture, flowers, and fruit.
Dr. Waghmare also educated participants about the ecological importance of trees, not only for humans but also for various life forms including insects, birds, and mammals. During a hands-on observational walk, students were guided to identify a wide range of tree species including Indian Elm, East Indian Walnut, Copper Pod, Rosewood, Cassia, Jatropha, Sacred Fig, Margosa, Banyan, Eucalyptus, Arjun, Mulberry, Indian Gooseberry, Drumstick Tree, and many others. He also shared memory techniques to help students retain key identification markers of these species.
Manik Lal Gupta, Scientist-C and Coordinator of the programme, concluded the event by urging all participants to plant and conserve trees for a sustainable and greener future.
The day-long activities reflected the museum’s ongoing commitment to environmental education and nature-based learning for the younger generation.