The relationship between humans and trees is fast deteriorating. The glory of natural architecture is waning. There is a sense of alienation between man and the forest and the gulf poses a threat to the ecosystem. It is not just the green world that is being destroyed but with cold cruel human ambitions; human beings have encroached and invaded into animal territories aggressively wiping out their existence. Resultantly many of the rare species are now on the verge of extinction. It’s important we realize that the relationship between nature and man is interdependent.
We at Auro Mirra believe that nature is the best teacher. A child learns not only to respect nature but also to interact and coexist with it and build up a cordial relationship with its other inmates. This is done not through instructions or lectures but by making the children undergo the splendid experience by coming in close proximity with nature-picnic being one such way.
The Auro Mirra team of Primary students and faculty members went on a picnic to the Big Banyan Tree and Manchinebele Dam on the 5th of December 2012. On a beautiful sunny morning the team took off from to the Big Banyan Tree and children were overwhelmed seeing the ancient trees that were over 500 years old. The tangled roots, branches and trunks of the banyan trees symbolized unity in diversity and in a way immortality and continuity. The monkeys invited attention of the children through their agile and slithering acrobatics. It did take a while for the children and the monkeys to negotiate a friendly acceptance of each other and gradually a rapport was built up. The group then proceeded to Manchinebele Dam. They had to walk a stretch to reach the Dam and they were explained all about the Dam and its functions. The exhausted group then needed to refuel themselves. They had an appetizing meal comprising of vegetable kurma, chapattis and sweets and they quenched their thirst with some soft drinks. On the way back they visited a farm where the children got to see Emus-ostrich like birds and big goats of a special breed. The whole outing turned out to be an enriching experience for the children.
The Pre-Primary children went on a picnic to Bannerghatta zoo. They had the opportunity of seeing exotic birds and animals. For instance children related the white peacocks with the Kung Fu Pandas; elephants and zebras passed by them on the way. They were welcomed by the leopard with a big growl and to allay the initial reaction of fear on hearing the leopard’s cantankerous bellow. The zoo also housed ostriches, lion tailed macaques, langoors and grey parrots and scarlet macaws, budgerigars, colourful lovebirds and Indian gharials that were found sun basking that winter morning. The famished group treated themselves with a meal of fried rice and puri-saagu and on the way back most of the children slipped into a sweet siesta.
The outdoor trips are an important part of the curriculum providing hands on exposure. When children see what is taught in the classrooms or will be taught in due course, the subject not only becomes easy but it also enhances knowledge and creates an appetite to know more.
