4th

National Nature Camping Programme

For Eco-Club School children of Himachal Pradesh

From 18-1-2019 to 20-1-2019

at Regional Water Sports Complex, Pong Dam, Kangra, H.P.

Organized By:

H.P. Council for Science, Technology & Environment (HIMCOSTE), Vigyan Bhawan,

Bemloe, Shimla-1, H.P.

Sponsored By:

Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEF&CC), Govt. of India,

New Delhi

Report on National Nature Camping Programme

Introduction

The National Nature Camps Programme is an initiative of the Ministry of

Environment and Forests in Environment Education, which is aimed at creating greater

awareness, understanding and empathy of children with and for the environment. Through

this initiative it is hoped that every child who goes through middle school (classes VI to X)

will get at least one opportunity for a 2-3 day camping experience during these years. The

‘Nature experience’ for children and teachers has huge potential to trigger their sensitivity

towards nature appreciation and conservation, leading to positive environmental actions at

different levels.

Himachal Pradesh Council for Science, Technology and Environment (HIMCOSTE)

as a State Nodal Agency has established more than 3000 Eco-Clubs in Schools and about 100

Eco-Clubs in Colleges under National Green Corps (NGC) programme in the State of

Himachal Pradesh. The Himachal Pradesh Council for Science, Technology and Environment

organized National Nature Camping programme in the State. Under National Nature

Camping Programme, field visits are being organised in different protected areas of the

country for 3 days to create awareness amongst school/college students on environment and

nature.

The camp’s duration is 3 days and 2 nights with the basic structure of the camp being nature

trails, nature games. The activities and nature trails in the camp were designed with the idea

of instilling a sense of personal relationship and responsibility towards nature. The schedule

was made in such a way that children get an opportunity to explore the nature through

activities like trekking, bird watching, and walks to learn the importance of nature and

biodiversity in their life along with reflecting on and discussing their learning through

presentations, interactive sessions, painting competitions and environmental games.

National Nature camping Programme at Regional Water Sports Complex, Pong Dam,

Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

The 3 days National Nature Camping programme was organized at Regional water Sports

Complex, Pong Dam, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh from 18-1-2019 to 20-1-2019. The

camping programme was inaugurated by the chief guest Mr. Krishan Kumar, IFS, Division

Forest Officer, Wildlife Division Hamirpur, H.P. Forest Department, Resource persons

Mr. Dinesh Sharma, Lecturer, Govt. Senior Secondary School Tang Narwana, Dharmshala,

Distt. Kangra, Mr. Rishabh Jaggi, Junior Research Biologist and staff welcomed by overall

programme co-ordinator Sh. Ravi Sharma, Senior Scientific Assistant. The day one of

camping programme was started with facilitation ceremony. District Science Supervisor, 40

Students and ten escort teachers, staff of forest department were present in nature camping

Programme.

DAY-1 (Technical session) Activities undertaken on 18-1-2019 at Water Sports

Complex, Pong Dam, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh

The Programme on National Nature camping for Eco-club school children include these

activities for the first day:-

Registration of students and Escort Teachers.

Camping kit distribution to the participants.

Theme introduction by Sh. Ravi Sharma, overall programme co-ordinator

Interaction of Mr. Krishan Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer with participants.

Presentation by Mr. Dinesh Sharma on Common Birds of Himachal Pradesh.

Firstly Mr. Ravi Sharma (senior scientific Assistant, National green Corps programme) told

the students about the three days National Nature camping programme. He told that this is 4th

camp organized by HP Council for Science, Technology and Environment. He told that these

types of camps are the golden opportunity for students to enjoy the camping programme. He

gave presentation on National Green Corps Programme and told that there are 3100 Eco-clubs

in schools and colleges, 250 Eco-clubs in each district of Himachal Pradesh.

He mentioned that Himachal Pradesh Council for Science Technology & Environment

(HIMCOSTE) organized a Riverfront Cleaning Campaign on the theme “Beat the Plastic

Pollution” the programme was run across the three Districts i.e. Mandi, Kullu (Manali) &

Bilaspur along the banks of the River Beas. He told on the World Environment Day 2018

Ashoka Eco-Club of Himachal Pradesh presented the exhibition on “Waste to Wealth

Products” made by the Eco-Club Members , from 1st to 5

th June at Vigyan Bhawan in New

Delhi.

Day-1 Presentation by Mr. Ravi Sharma

Mr. Krishan Kumar, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife Division Hamirpur interact with

participants and told them that we should not pollute our environment and polluter should pay for

pollution and we are responsible for our things and he appreciated the Himachal Pradesh Council

for Science, Technology and Environment for their tremendous work in the field of educating

students to protect environment. And he told that how students can do work to protect and clean

environment.

Mr. Krishan Kumar interacting with participants

Mr. Dinesh Sharma gave presentation on common birds of Himachal Pradesh, he told about birds

their body parts like crest, vent, eyes and how we can identify birds with the help of their color,

shape, size, posture, type of flight, and their behavior. He told that we need binocular, birds

identification guide, camera, notepad and pen at the time of bird watching, maximum numbers of

birds were present in the morning time this is the best time for bird watching, he mentioned about

wetlands, water that contains ecosystem is called wetland and wetlands are called as nature

kidney, and told that in 2002 pong dam declared as Ramsar wetland site and it was declared as

bird sanctuary in 1983, maximum migratory birds came here common birds are Barheaded geese,

Ruddy sheldeck, Eurasian coot, Egrets etc.

Presentation by Mr. Dinesh Sharma on day 1(19th

January 2019)

Day-2 Activities undertaken on 19-1-2019 at Water Sports Complex, Pong dam

Day-2 session starts with the bird watching, participants were taken on nature trail where they

learnt about the art of nature interpretation. The experts accompanying the students helped them

identify the flora and fauna. Students were divided into 3 groups with experts, many birds were

documented during nature trail some were Red Crested Pochard, Tufted duck, Little cormorant,

kingfisher, Common shelduck etc. and many plants were documented some were Mangifera

indica, Acacia catechu, Murraya koenigii etc. participants covered 8km track with the experts,

participants enjoyed about nature core and learned about birds and plants.

Activities done during Nature trail at Pong Dam, Kangra at day 2 (19th

January 2019)

In the evening cleanliness campaign was done by participants, 2km track was completed and

collection of plastic waste was done by participants the day is end with activities performed in

camp site quiz competition was organised for participants in which questions were based on

nature trail.

Cleanliness Campaign done by participants at day 2 (19th

January 2019)

Day-3 Activities undertaken on 20-01-2019 at Water Sports Complex, Pong dam

Day-3 starts with the participants writing of birds and plants name which they learn at the

time of nature trail, after that drawing competition was organised in which all students take

part and draw beautiful drawings, Vanshaj Kashyap comes 1st , Akshit comes 2

nd and Suhani

Kashyap comes 3rd

in drawing competition and Daksh Thakur comes 1st , Kalpana comes 2

nd

and Nitiza comes 3rd

in writing maximum numbers of plants and birds name. The day was

completed with valedictory session in which Mr. Ravi Sharma thanked District science

supervisor, escort teachers, Himachal Pradesh Council for Science, Technology and

Environment staff and Regional Water Sports complex staff and participants. All teachers

and participants gave fedback about camping programme and thanked for organizing such

type of camp and all knowledge they got from resource persons.

Drawing Competition by participants on day 3 (20th

January 2019)

Valedictory Session on day-3 (20th

January 2019)

Himachal Pradesh Council for Science, Technology & Environment, (HIMCOSTE)

Vigyan Bhawan, Bemloe, Shimla 171001 Phone: 0177-2656489 Fax: 0177-2814923, website: http://www.himcoste.hp.gov.in

Schedule of National Nature Camping Programme for Eco-club School Children of

Himachal Pradesh from 18-01-2019 to 20-01-2019 at Regional Water Sports Centre,

Pong Dam Distt. Kangra, H.P.

Day TIMING Activity

18.01.2019 01:00-

01:15PM

Registration of school children & escort teachers

01:15-

01:30PM

Introduction of National Nature Camping Programme-

Mr. Ravi Sharma, SSA-cum Project Coordinator Himachal

Pradesh Council for Science, Technology & Environment

(HIMCOSTE)

01:30-

01:40PM

Inauguration of the programme & Address of Chief Guest-

Mr. Krishan Kumar, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife

Division Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh Forest Department

01:40-

02:00PM

Presentation by the experts about the importance camping

site & Nature camps for the students- Mr. Dinesh Sharma,

Lecturer, Govt. Senior Secondary School, Tang Narwana,

Dharamshala, Kangra

2:45-3:00 PM Tea break

3:00- 3:45PM How to Document flora & fauna seen/spotted during nature

trail.

Do & Don’t of Bird watching- Mr. Rishabh Jaggi, Junior

Research Biologist

Mr. Sewa Singh, Range Office incharge, Dhameta H.P.

Forest Department

3:45-4:30PM Visit to the nearby forest area.

20.01.2019 7:30 -8:10AM Breakfast

8:30-2:00 PM Bird Watching activity for the participants-

Forest Department Staff of Himachal Pradesh Forest

Department, Wildlife Division, Hamirpur

2:00-2:45 Lunch

3:00-5:00PM Demonstration of camping activities

6:00-7:00PM Cultural activities.

24.01.2019 7:30-8:15AM Breakfast

8:15-9:45AM Bird watching activity for the Participants-

9:45-10:45AM Cleanliness campaign by the participants near the camping

site/venue-

Miss Akshita Sharma, Project Associate & Miss Dimple

Kumari, Data Entry Operator (NGC), Himachal Pradesh

Council for Science, Technology & Environment,

(HIMCOSTE)

10:45-

11:30AM

Green Pledge & Painting activities-

Miss Akshita Sharma, Project Associate & Miss Dimple,

DEO (NGC), Himachal Pradesh Council for Science,

Technology & Environment,(HIMCOSTE)

11:30-

12:00PM

School wise presentation on sharing of experiences of nature

camp and group discussions

12:00-1:00PM Valedictory session and certificate distribution followed by

lunch