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| Home > Activities > Adventure > Vanshala |
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| Vanshala (A School in the Jungle) |
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Adventure is an exciting and remarkable experience that involves uncertain outcomes and acceptable risks.Copuled with careful instruction and preparation, in such adventure activities inspires self esteem, Self-reliance, concern for others and care for the
environment through responsible
risk-talking and hands on involment. Social
and enviormental responsibility instills in students a
sense of integrity that results in choice and actions that have a positive effect on society and the environment.
In adventure activities a student learns from experience
lane. Learning through experience is an educational process based action and
reflection. Experience are intentionally designated, presented, and reflected upon to instill values and promote skill mastery.
Vanshala, or "a school in the jungle.The venue for the camp this year was Kanva Ashram near Kotdwar. Kanva Ashram lies in a
true jungle setting about 12 kilometers from Kotdwar and accessible only on foot from the main road which passes through fields and dense
Sal forest.
This year 76 students and 15 teachers from all Aided and Unaided Ramjas Schools participated in the camp. |
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The day begins with a "Sarvdharma" prayer along
with some warm up exercises. Then student
cleaned their tents and they were evaluated
regularly. Usually morning were reserved for
lecture, discussions and talks about the flora
and fauna of the region and various regional
tribes and people residing nearby. The
excitement began in the afternoon. One group
goes jungle roving to observe and collect
specimens of the flora they were told of
earlier. Another group visited the nearby
village to observe the local lifestyles of the
area; an educational trip to the village
school, a local home, the farms and
cultivation around the village. The outing
gives the urban dweller an insight into the
living conditions of the people, their methods
of farming and cultivation, their lifestyles,
and above all gives the opportunity to
interact with the local folks. Yet another
group visits the jungle. A 'bird watchers'
haven, Rajaji National park is also noted for
its avian variety besides wild elephants. One
group remained behind on camp duty.
Jungle roving was also one of the most
awaited activities by all of us. The group
that went into the jungle visited Sigaddi Srot,
noted for its variety of deer and several
species of birds. The walk was through the
dense forest where they hunted game in this
sub-Himalayan wilderness. The jungle walk in
the company of an experienced guide through
the dense undergrowth of the forest revealed
pug marks of both tiger and leopard on the
forest paths and dry river beds, as well as
close sightings of their prey species, which
include the graceful chital or spotted deer,
sambhar and the wild boar. Loner elephants
also pass through the forests from time to
time and were encountered on certain
occasions.
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After dinner
finally it was time for the event for
which every camper looked forwards the "campfire". It
is the moment where each group share their
experiences of the whole day with the
other groups and the group on duty
entertained everyone with a repertoire of
songs, dance and skits.
The real excitement began when we
were ceremonially sent on a jungle trek
to charak a village some fifteen miles
away on top of a ridge. Camping there
overnight was the crowning moment of the
camp. We made our dinner ourselves with
the help of our teachers and spent the
whole night there. it was the most
adventurous and unforgettable experience
of mine.
Then finally came the day when we
all had to return to Delhi. With a heavy
heart and tears in our eyes we all
parted from each other.
It was the most beautiful and
educational experience of my life, which
taught me to value.
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| Yet another group visits the Corbett National Park or whichever national park is situated near the camp. The safari was through the through the national park gives them a glimpse of wild life in its own natural habitat. They hunt game (with their cameras and binoculars of course!) in this wilderness.
A jungle walk in the company of an experienced guide through the dense undergrowth of the forest reveals pug marks of both tiger and leopard on the forest paths and dry river beds, as well as close sightings of their prey species, which include the graceful chital or spotted deer, sambhar and the wild boar. Loner elephants also pass through the forests from time to time and are encountered on certain occasions. |
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Return to camp at sunset. It is also the time to exchange the day’s news over a steaming cup of tea. Then, huddled in their tents they plan their next day’s activities. It is then time for dinner and then the event a camper looks forward to the entire day - the campfire! The group on duty entertains all with a repertoire of songs, dance and skits.
A trek to a village some fifteen miles away on top of a ridge or some other equally exciting and camping there overnight is the crowning moment of the camp.
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| The camp has its memorable moments too, such as occasions when two huge tuskers came visiting the camp one night! Needless to say the jumbos took everyone
by surprise and made everyone scurry into the shelter of the rest house building! |
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Finally, it’s time to return to Delhi. As one student put it,
“We came away happy and humbled by the sheer beauty of this wilderness, a magical creation of nature that human hands had nothing at all to do with.” |
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