Nature Connect

A day at SACON

By

ORIENTATION PROGRAMME FOR NATURE CONNECT STUDENTS

LOCATION – SACON, ANAIKATTI

DATE – 21-08-2014

SCHOOLS – KMG, PALANIAMMAL, NACHIAR VIDYALAYAM

A group of 93 students belonging to the NATURE CONNECT initiative by The Anamalai’s Nature History Society proceeded from their respective schools to SACON, in Anaikatti for their orientation programme, before they commenced their scientific study of birds in their habitats. The students were accompanied by teachers from respective schools, who will overlook and guide the children during the scientific study.

After reaching the SACON campus at 11 am, Dr. Pramod welcomed the students and engaged in an interactive session with them to kick start the event.

A Day at SACON

The students seemed to have done their homework and found it easy to get right into the scheme of the day by answering the questions posed at them with enthusiasm.  For instance, when asked the meaning of Ornithology, almost everybody seemed to know the answer. Though it seemed a simple one, the active participation set the tone right for the events to follow.

After a brief lecture on forest etiquette and statutes to observe during the conduct of study, a small walk was arranged around the campus. Accompanied by Dr.Pramod’s assistants Muhil and Divya, students were organized into two different groups for the walk inside the campus.

A Day at SACON

The excitement among the students was so imminent and every sighting of a bird, or an insect or a butterfly seemed like a wonder-moment. Hush-hushes , questions and doubts came around from all corners, some leaving the guide and teachers make clueless sorry faces! The end seemed to have been achieved – to kindle the fire from within towards birds and nature.

A Day at SACON

Despite the early start to the day and the travel, a one-hour walk in the scorching sun didn’t seem to drain their energy, much to the teachers’ apathy who were complaining that they haven’t seen such enthusiasm during science classes at school.

The students were re-assembled at the conference hall once again, this time for an interactive session with Dr.Pramod, group wise. This session allowed students to speak up and pose queries to the SACON team. As observed during previous interactions with students, Dr. Pramod once again had his day’s share of intriguing questions posed at him.

The session gave students a rough idea on how to conduct the study, while the rest of the students were lectured by Divya on how to update their observations, feed the data and how to post their queries at SACON EDUCATION website.

The access of website seemed a necessity as it provides these students an excellent opportunity to interact with their counterparts from remaining parts of India who are doing similar projects. It surely is a great platform to launch out of, towards the quest for nature.

It was then time for the Vote of Thanks and the ANHS co-coordinator for the day – Pravin, delivered the gratitude of appreciation to Dr. Pramod and his team at SACON, highlighted by a big roar of THANK YOU SIR from the students.All’s well that begins well – the programme sure served its purpose, inspiring young minds to explore Nature! The interest kindled was so evident, that some students were seen making a fair copy of the rough notes earlier taken.

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Pravin Shanmughanandam
Written By

An enthusiast at heart, Pravin considers himself a Nature lover, dreamer and God's child. Through The Pollachi Papyrus, he aspires to offer a platform where like-minded travel enthusiasts can come together, collaborate and contribute towards efficiently documenting and creatively publishing the richness of the bio-cultural diversity, the land of Pollachi and the Anamalais hosts!

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