Nature Camp can sooth every Psych: Sakhi in Nature II

Jeevan's class

Residential Camps in which the participants stay over night have dual benefits. It simply gives more time for every session as well as isolates the participant from their mundane life.  Students not only get intimate with the teachers but develop interest in the subject. There are a several more of advantages for both the teacher and the taught in residential camps. The participants are known to develop stronger bonds among themselves, show higher tolerance levels and more readily socializing. Team building games enable the individuals accept one another and work together. Individual activities and of the kind of ‘Lone in the jungle’ makes any person think about oneself and the world he lives in.

The aim of the workshop was to expose youngsters to Nature. Unlike many other camps were only the urban and privileged kids join in for a fad or recreation of a different sort, this was for the exclusively downtrodden youngsters who had failed to hear to the poetry of Nature. So that even they realize the every-day sort of magic in nature- the inexplicable connectedness they should not miss to experience with places, people and the world.

Sakhi Team

Though many activities were designed impromptu, the organizing team felt content of reaching out to these first generation learners. The motherly Organizing secretary of Sakhi Mrs. Bhagyamma felt that it was a very meaningful and most intimate nature camp she had ever involved. She felt happy that the participants could learn lessons about nature. She opined that "feeling " nature is more helpful than "talking " about nature. She could watch the participants blossom like flowers who were like unopened buds. Presentation on "women in conservation" was the most appealing to her. She could see the participants getting bolder, more practical in their approach and more independent. She looks forward to have more and more of such workshops for the underprivileged.

  

Here are some of the experiences of the happy participants from Sakhi, who are in the process of becoming teachers in their communities.

Gayatri:

The workshop was unique, and gave a different experience. Living in the tents was most exciting and joyous. The most powerful and the most favorite experience was " lone in the jungle". The opening session taught useful techniques of self control and the importance of facial expressions during communication. Could come out of the familial pressure. Wants to attend such nature camps again and leaves the decision of designing the sessions to the coordinator, Mr. Manu, for being creative. Learnt the importance of " doing and learning" rather than " teaching and learning".

Shilpa:

First ever experience of a nature camp, that too a residential camp. Elated to learn the interrelationship of different organisms and living and non living things in nature. Learnt to be more independent, felt intimate with nature. Living in the tent was an unforgettable experience. " lone in the jungle " was exploratory, both inwardly as well as in nature. Could overcome the inferiority complex that she couldn't draw pictures like her sister, after realizing the ability to draw a landscape. Able to understand the real meaning of environment after attending the camp. Samad sir's session was the most inspiring  and thinking of carrying out the conservation activity in her locality. She learnt how to watch a documentary and analyse it after attending audio-visual sessions with Manu sir. She has become a source of inspiration to her siblings as well as the children in her neighborhood.