Outbound Learning Expedition (OLE) of Grade 3

Our youngest to embark on OLE returned yesterday with wondrous tales, exuding joy of togetherness -Sumitra Hazra, Vijay Laxmi, Aakanksha, Harjinder Kumar, Ekta Jain, Tanvi Mishra and Aradhana Singh

The eight-year olds who had graduated out of the single day residency at school last year, signed up to a four-day trip this time. The trip undertaken over last week to Dehradun, provided them with an opportunity to see a new side of nature, express themselves creatively through art forms, and hone life skills of self-organisation. We stayed at Bodhigram, a venue imbued in serenity and lush flora.

From Dawn to Dusk

Every morning began with a session on meditation, allowing learners to ground themselves and start the day with focus and mindfulness. It helped them cultivate inner peace, balance, and awareness throughout the trip. Our learners enchanted hearts of the visitors to Bodhigram with their “strotam”.

The meditation typically was followed by a session of stretching or yoga.

Discovering in Nature

At the Bodhigram campus itself, the learners admired some herbs and plants and learnt their names like “Sehra bel”, a unique blue Aparajita. They also learnt that “rudraksh” grows on trees.

While visiting the mustard and sugarcane fields students explored the local vegetation and also learnt about the ecosystem that supports it. They discovered the common vegetables growing on earth in ways they had never imagined.

Building Strength on Treks

The learners completed a two-hour jungle trek with ease. The hike not only offered them a chance to engage with the landscape but also helped build physical endurance and teamwork. They navigated through the paths and learned about the ecological diversity of the area. They collected pebbles and small rocks on the way which they used for their rock painting activity.

In the evening, we would watch the sunset quietly and admire the colours:

Afterwards, the learners participated in engaging discussions, fostering a deeper understanding of the what all they did during the day and why they did it. There were a couple of extended activities that mesmerized the learners:

I. Creative Movement

In the Flow with music session, the learners expressed themselves through movement and rhythm. Learners also participated in a tapping and movement session where they explored the various points in their body which could help them relieve any disturbing or not so pleasant emotion as anger, fear etc. They learnt that those points were called magical points in our body and these points work when tapped (click on the hyperlinks to see the session video clips).

II. Expressing through Rock Art

A particularly creative activity was rock painting, where students expressed their thoughts and emotions through art. This allowed them to show their creative side and appreciate the natural surroundings in their personal ways (watch sharing by all learners in the hyperlinked videos).

A Surprise Meeting

Our learners enjoyed the unexpected meeting with a Member of Parialiment from Uttarakhand, Mr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank. He educated them on Lekhak gaon and Navgrah Vaatika, which has nine types of medicinal trees, each with its special benefits, just like the nine planets. The most exciting part was that each tree would tell them about their special qualities as one went near them.

Self-Organisation

The learners woke up early each day, walked and stretched, took bath before breakfast and in the morning made their own beds and finally, took care of their belongings independently while packing.

Learners’ Reflection

At the close of the trip, the learners expressed their thoughts on paper, quiet moments that helped them express their emotions freely. Their reflection conveyed a stronger sense of resilience and joy in exploration: “I loved rock painting the most in the day”; “I was scared of the Chutki, the dog”; “I would love to go for trips but the same one”; “I am very happy because we climbed the mountain and stayed in a room of bamboo and wood with my friends”…

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Dear Parents,

We are humbled by the gratitude you have so generously bestowed upon us for undertaking this trip. Our purpose, as educators, is to work on developing harmony in the whole-child being of our learners and OLEs are an endeavour in this direction, made possible only through your support. We request you to continue taking your child(ren) on deep exploration in nature and travelling with minimalism so that they learn to appreciate the beauty around them without distraction.