Last weekend we had the 7th and 8th standard students from Vidya Shilp School join us for a 3 day 2 night camping trek in Kodaikanal.
It is the first time they are trekking with us and our major objective was to introduce them to the outdoors, build on team work (which is already a major focus of their school) and plant the seed for a love of adventure.
For most students, these three days included many firsts. First trek, first camping experience, first multi day trip with their classmates, first time washing their own dishes and first time seeing so many stars in the night sky!
Our programme design worked wonderfully and lots of elements came across as beautiful surprises for the students. Little moments of celebration that they weren't expecting. For example, we timed our star gazing session to begin with the moon rise (something they had never witnessed before), they weren't expecting cake at the summit and neither did they know how much they would learn through games and play. They recognised that the three days were by design, intentional in the progression of activities.
For the team that went from office, the highlight was the reflection session on day 3.
Students mentioned that by the end of the trek, they realised how rewarding the struggle was to climb to the top. Many said that they realised they are more capable than they thought and that this is something they can carry forward in their life back in school. Many students mentioned how adventurous they felt throughout their time in Kodaikanal by trying so many new things and bonding better with their friends.
They loved the thrill of the outdoors and for many of them, the stargazing session was the highlight, both for the stories and for the opportunity to see such a starry sky, which they have never seen in their city life. Many of them marvelled at how peaceful, quiet and beautiful their surroundings were. We could see them fall in love with the place, and with just being outdoors. We left space everyday for them to just do this: enjoy their surroundings, play in the sun, explore whatever intrigued them.
