Do you remember the way you spent your summer hols? Well, for many of us it meant going home to a picturesque, but rural ancestral village and spending days doing nothing more than ambling around in a half-stupor. Of course, we also picked up on local gossip, met cousins and uncles and aunts, ran about in open fields and ate delicacies till our insides hurt. For the millennial child, however, a summer vacation means something completely different. Part of the reason could be that there are no more ancestral homes for many of us to return to anymore.
This however does not mean that your kid has to remain bereft of the joy of experiencing nature. If your child loves the outdoors, then he or she will love these wildlife summer camps in and around Bangalore:
- Vanamitra
Vanamitra is an NGO concerned with nature conservation and wildlife issues in Karnataka. The NGO regularly organises wildlife events in Bangalore and also has special wildlife awareness camps for kids above the age of 10. These camps can range from a single day to a whole weekend. The camps are held in the forests on the borders of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The camp teaches your child basic jungle survival skills and shows them how to recognise different animals and birds.
- Gerry Martin Project
Gerry Martin is a known herpetologist and his love for nature is legendary. He started a wildlife conservation project way back in 2008. Today, his project is also involved in running workshops and camps for young wildlife lovers that are held in the scenic greens of Chikmagalur and Mudumalai region. The camp is open to kids from the age of 9 to 19, and they are aimed at instilling in the child a love for the outdoors along with a disciplined approach towards exploring wildlife.
- Centre for Rainforest Ecology
An absolute treat for young kids, the Centre for Rainforest Ecology headed by renowned herpetologist Gowri Shankar is located in Agumbe. The Centre holds camps for youngsters all throughout the year and these camps can go on for as long as 15 days. The theme of the camp revolves around reptiles, and children are taught to identify and handle different species. So, if your kid is someone who would shriek at the sight of a snake or a monitor lizard, then you may want to reconsider this option. But if you think your kid might like the idea of a night walk to find nocturnal jungle life, then, by all means, send him to the centre.
Wildlife camps are a great way to educate little minds and bring them closer to nature. You should also know that these camps have charges, but the fee you pay would be worth the fun and adventure your kid will have. Also, all these camps are run by highly trained and skilled professionals so do not worry about sending your child away for a few days. Rest assured, they will have tons of amazing stories to recount when they’re back.
Author’s Bio: An engineer turned freelance writer, she is a blogger-mom who can’t get enough of travelling and reading P.G. Wodehouse. Bangalore since the early 2000s, she loves to find out more about her adopted city – from the latest events in Bangalore to hidden places no one has heard about. Find her blogs at www.eventshigh.com to know more about the things that interest her.
