Field trip to BRT for The Valley School

November 2010, Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Wildlife Sanctuary

ATREE organised a three day field intensive conservation education trip for students from The Valley School, Bangalore. 84 children and 8 teachers attended the programme. The aim of the programme was to introduce young minds to different perspectives of ecology and environment such as culture and ethics related to environment, wildlife, forest dependent and livelihood, food security and agricultural biodiversity.

They enjoyed the breath-taking view of the valley and the mountain ranges.

Day 2

Second day began with a nature discovery walk in the morning. Children discovered the world of birds, insects and mammals.

VGKK – Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra has worked with Soligas for several years. Children had a tour of its campus to understand the organisation’s engagement with Soliga tribe.

Interactive session at VGKK. Students from The Valley School were surprised to know the lifestyle differences between city dwellers and tribal children.

Children learning folk dance from tribal students of VGKK.

Second day evening was dedicated to Soliga’s cultural programme. A lot was conveyed about Soliga’s culture and their harmonious existence with nature through music and art.

Children and teachers performing with Soliga Kusumale Kala Sanga

Day 3

Lessons in ecology thought through conservation game web of life that allows children to discover how elements in nature are related to each other.

A visit was planned to a Podu

(Soliga word for village) where

children observed village setup

and also interacted with the

villagers.

Children observing a coffee bean shredder in Podu.

A wildlife safari was arranged on the last day of their trip in association with Karnataka Forest Department in K. Gudi, 18kms from BRT.

Day 4

The group left with enriched minds, filled with sense of responsibility and respect towards nature and an attachment towards BRT and its inhabitants.