A growing tribe of adventure enthusiasts especially kids in the city are embarking on trekking trails to be close to nature and unravel the hidden mysteries of history from amidst the dense trails.
Schools in the city have started taking kids closure to nature by organising adventure trips to nearby hills. In an effort to provide school-going children an opportunity for all-round development, the Adventure Club of Loyola School recently organised a camp for schoolchildren of class 4 and 5. The club led by the school teachers Priyanka Mayer Chauhan and Parvinder Dhanjal embarked the adventure trip to Dalma Hills.
At the send-off function, Father Michael Fernandes, Vice Principal, Loyola School and Vineeta F Ekka, Vice Principal of junior section of Loyola School extended their best wishes to the team.
“We took the children of our school for this adventure camp at Dalma because they can learn a lot of things and have fun at the same time. I feel such camps will help children on environmental studies. Moreover, camps like these also help in the over-all development of a child as it provides them a wider perspective of life which cannot be learnt in classrooms,” said a teacher. She informed that they have plans to organize more such trips for other classes too.
Savak Patel, treasurer of Loyola Alumni Association (LAA), who was part of the trip, said that the adventure camp offers children various types of sports like trekking and rock climbing. “We have no fixed itinerary for children who come for this adventure camp. They went up to Dalma Hill and on their way they learnt about the importance of team work, cleanliness and need of conservation of environment. They also learnt how to cook food for themselves at the time of need. The kids also participated in different activities aimed at building team work and fitness,” he informed.
Several other schools in the city are also organising such camps. “I feel that both trekking and mountaineering are ideal and ultimate tests of human endurance. It is the best place to discover one-self and it removes the entire ego. It is only when one meets with challenges and critical situations that one will exercise their brains to their maximum and also exert them fully physically,” said another school principal.
Even B-schools like XLRI offers leadership expedition for their students to expose them to life of hardship to help them understand the importance of team work and spirit of unity.
The programme has received overwhelming response in the campus. “We strive to encourage the students to realise a unique harmony not only with the outer environment but also with their inner-self. To unleash the love for nature among XLers and to bring out various out-door leadership and team building skills essential for all B-school students, a major endeavor of XLRI Adventure and Nature Club (XLANC) organises of adventure sports activities,” said an office bearer of the club.