Raising the Cubs Together!

I've planned the following Environmental Education Program that will happen in India while we're there. It's one of many that will take place, so please leave comments, suggestions or encouragements after you've looked it over. Sorry it's a little long...

Landscapes of Hope

Planning Outline for Exchange Program at Kanha Jungle Lodge: 23 - 24 March 2011
Who: Clemson Students (15) and Vasant Valley Students (16) students (3 Teachers, 2 vols)

Goals:
1. To create a strong connection between the students and the wildlife and their habitats based on environmental education & fostering a sustainable connection to the Tiger Trust.
2. To balance learning materials and hands-on workshops & activities
3. To develop awareness, knowledge, thinking skills and a lifetime commitment to conservation

Objectives:
1. To create “problem solvers” by making informed decisions for the future
2. To instill a sense of pride in country and self
3. To inspire constructive action to conserve wildlife and the environment
The activities for the students include tours of the National Park and the following educational “attractions” during lunch and dinner gatherings. After Hours activities will take place informally.

22 March 2011

6:20pm Gather all students at Kanha Jungle Lodge
6:30 Welcome by Tiger Trust Anjana Gosain (10 mins)
Includes Park Update: What the animals are doing, new park project updates, Interesting Ranger sightings, poaching concerns, etc
6:40 Ice Breaker game lead by Clemson Students (20 mins)
Break students and adults by table to ensure cross-cultural exchange
7:00 Dinner (Informal discussions)
7:30 Presentation by Clemson Students (10 mins-see below)
7:40 Delhi Students presentation (10 mins)
7:50 Film: “Journey of the Indian Tiger”
8:30 Close this portion of the program

Optional evening activities with students:
Have an “Open Mic session” for participants to share their expectations, thoughts, impressions of the evening program, discuss the film, brainstorm solutions. (limit 4 mins per speaker to keep things moving). Each participant should keep a journal of their daily activities.

Discussions based on conservation topics: Terrestrial, Marine, Energy, etc. Letting participants choose which topic they want to discuss in detail.

Discussion based on “What made you interested in environmental conservation?” “If you could run a huge company that would change the world, what kind of company would it be?”

23 March 2011

After our 1st morning visit to the Park

11:20 am Gather everyone together and enjoy lunch while doing the program
11:30 What we saw this morning report by group leaders (~10 groups, 1 min each)
11:40 Present T4T activities (10-15 mins) & encourage club formation at the high school) Then, while eating lunch engage in discussions per table, provide a list of discussion questions on each table.
“How to promote Conservation and Awareness to more people?”
“What made you interested in Environmental topics to begin with?”
“What are some activities you want to initiate at your school?”
“What is the environmental challenge you think is the biggest problem for India/USA”
“Why do you think our parents did not solve these problems? How can our generation solve these problems?”
12:40 Summary of Discussion Topics per Table – Share and record these ideas for later use (5 mins per table)
1: 25 Delhi students presentation (less than 30 mins)
1:55 Game Time! Possible interactive sport events explained below
2:25 Change gypsy groups or keep them the same? Optional group change
2:30 Close this portion of the program

Evening Program
6:30pm Pick a card to be in a group by table (to divide groups)
6:35 – 45 Short Ice breaker activity lead by Clemson Students (10 mins)
6:45 – 8:15 “Commercials” Activity #1 (~1 hr) Groups present
7:00 Discussions continue into dinner time “How to set up school club”
8:15 – 8:30 Concrete Action Plan for students when they return
8:30 – 9:00 Wrap up Closing words by Tonkyn, Delhi teachers, and/or Anajana
9:00 pm Close this portion of the program

Optional evening activities:
Open Mic Session to share impressions, “Best Sighting” what you saw in the park, What you can take back to your peers and family about this trip. Read journal entries to each other & share deep thoughts.

Planning how to keep this exchange going, even after you get home: Write down some goals you would like to accomplish within the year on a piece of paper. Put it in the envelope with your own address on the front. Takako will mail these to you about 2 months after your trip, reminding you of what your goals were and to encourage yourself to stay focused on your goals!


Clemson Presentation
A presentation about conservation efforts in the USA, as an example (Bald Eagle & Wolves) for India. For the first presentation, the tone should be serious and educational, in order for there to be a meaningful cultural exchange. The method of delivery can of course be fun! The Delhi students will prepare something similar with updates on the tigers and conservation planning happening in India.

Activity #1 Commercials
(40 mins) The students will be asked to create a 60 second commercial, developing a theme and based on topics studied during this trip or during the exchange program. A written version of the skits can be prepared before the exchange program, so supplemental materials can be prepared if needed. Perhaps a few props could be used that will enhance the skit, which can be left with the students in case they want to re-create the performance for their peers, later on.

The idea of this is to enable the students to teach their peers what they learned, when they have returned to their respective schools. Most people need a 30-60 second story to capture their attention, move them to think one way or another and then to take action based on that information. This is good practice for being in front of others and sharing a concept.(2 mins each, total: 20 mins) Presentation time:(30 mins)

During the meal discussion sessions, the topics would be based on the issues brought up in the program. Three topics could be expanded upon by the college students, to the grade school students. This could be adjusted if time limitations do not permit. In order to encourage an interactive session, this could take the form of games, quizzes, or power points, according to the topics. This will be planned in Feb after the skits have been created. Takako can support enhancing this section. (Total Time: 1:00 hr)

Optional Discussion time could cover topics such as:
-Water Conservation
-Reforestation/Restoration of Wildlife Habitats
-Corridors and importance of connecting the Parks on a landscape level
-Global Issues: Climate Change, Endangered Tigers, Illegal Trade, Economy’s affect on Conservation

Sports Section

Possible games w/a ball: Select a preferred activity or recommend your own!

1. “Word Volley” The games will each have around 6 participants at a time. They will ask a question of each other. Tossing the ball to the grade school students, they will shout the first answer that pops in their head and pass the ball to the next questioner as quickly as possible. Then the next participant will ask the next question. Eg. Player 1: While throwing ball: “favorite sport?” Player 2: Catches ball, replies quickly “cricket!” and throws ball back to player 3. I can come up with sample questions to help get things started.

2. Another option would be to divide the group into teams, naming them after one of the tigress’ in Kanha. They could battle each other in a elimination soccer game w/someone as the referee. We can see which Tigress Team ends up being the alpha Tigress!

3. Water balloon or Ball toss – Pair up (should be random). One line of people moves backwards after every toss. The people who are the farthest away and can throw their ball without dropping it is the winner! Perhaps the top three pairs get a special prize.

4. Other Sport Ideas: Soccer, Cricket, Volleyball, Rover-Red-Rover, Duck Duck Goose, etc