Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Program

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Godwin Cobb
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1 Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Program May 2012

Key Program Partners Juniper Outdoor Pursuits Centre is a culmination of long exposure and experience in mountaineering, the outdoors and conservation of the Himalayan environment.

understand the culture of those who inhabit; and learn about its biodiversity.

2 Key Program Partners Juniper Outdoor Pursuits Centre is a culmination of long exposure and experience in mountaineering, the outdoors and conservation of the Himalayan environment. The Centre was founded with a purpose to offer outdoor leadership programmes to children and adults in the Himalayas apart from inculcating fondness, appreciation and respect for the mountains; understand the culture of those who inhabit; and learn about its biodiversity. The Centre organizes treks and expeditions in the Himalayas apart from training individuals and organizations in the art and craft of outdoor leadership skills. Hanifl Centre is the home of Woodstock School s outdoor education and environmental study program. The stunning Himalayan setting of Mussoorie provides an ideal base for outdoor activities such as hikes, field trips, rock climbing, natural history, environmental education, first aid training and camping. It has classrooms, a 32-bed dormitory, a well furnished kitchen, and a range of supportive resources, such as a library, maps and audiovisual equipment, besides a computer lab with internet access. WWF has made its presence felt through a sustained effort not only towards nature and wildlife conservation, but by sensitising people and creating awareness through capacity building and enviro-legal activism. A challenging, constructive, science-based organisation, WWF addresses issues like the survival of species and habitats, climate change and environmental education. Historically, WWF-India started as a wildlife conservation organisation, focused on protecting particular flora and fauna species. Over the years, the perspective broadened to reflect a more holistic understanding of conservation issues in the country. The Green Hiker campaign aimed at reducing the human footprint in the fragile Himalayan region is a part of WWF s initiative to conserve Himalayan high altitude wetlands.!

Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Program The Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Program seeks to achieve two objectives: * To create an atmosphere of learning in the outdoors, where participants appreciate

3 Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Program The Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Program seeks to achieve two objectives: * To create an atmosphere of learning in the outdoors, where participants appreciate and enjoy the environment while being guided by their peers and instructors. * To use this opportunity to learn leadership, teamwork and outdoor living skills that can be used in daily life. The program begins at New Delhi from where participants will travel to Woodstock School s Hanifl Centre at Mussoorie. Following an orientation, discussing program expectations and packing equipment, the team will travel to the road head. The expedition format of moving from camp to camp every day will provide participants an opportunity to learn the basics of living comfortably in the outdoors, work as contributing team members and be exposed to different leadership styles. With the change in terrain and altitude gain, participants will acquire a variety of outdoor skills in camping, map reading and trekking techniques. Exposure to the local culture, customs and awareness of the environmental issues faced by local people will enrich each participant s experience. As the program progresses, there will be opportunities to discuss issues related to group dynamics & behavior, and learn about factors that lead to good decision making. The goals of the program are to achieve multiple objectives as stated above. Participants should possess a good level of fitness to truly enjoy the course. The program is designed to ensure that participants will trek for 4-5 hours a day and yet have sufficient time at camp for exploration, participation in various activities including group games. Participants will be awarded a certificate on successful completion of the program.

4 Program Outline & Highlights Key Program Outline Details Program Dates 18th to 24th May, 2012 Duration of program ex Delhi 6 nights and 7 days. Program Fee Rs. 15,000 inclusive of tax. Eligibility years or Classes 7-10 Maximum Group Size 24 participants Key Program Objectives Starting from Srikot Village start the climb of Nag Tibba from the north side. Over two days climb to the top of Nag Tibba at 10,000 feet. After reaching the top descend towards the south side of the mountain to complete the trek. En route learn and put to use a variety of outdoor skills, understand how to stay healthy in the mountains, acquaint oneself with the local environment. Why the Nag Tibba Traverse? Elements covered during the Program When done across 4 days the Nag Tibba Traverse is an ideal beginners trek with easy stages. In addition the route passes through several mountain villages, offering amazing mountain views, sprawling meadow stretches and opportunity to cross a mountain stream. Climb to the top of Nag Tibba. Variety of Outdoor Living Skills. Leadership & Teamwork. Environmental Studies.

5 Handout for Participants Each program participant will also receive the Field Guide Written & edited by Stephen Alter The Field Guide is intended for visitors to the Mussoorie and Landour area. It contains 70 illustrations and descriptions of mammals, birds, insects, trees, shrubs, plants, flowers and ferns found in the area. Safety and Care of Participants Discussion about safety in the outdoors is a critical aspect of the program. The actual implementation of various aspects related with safety is thus critical to the learning process. Background of Instructors : Certi<ied and trained instructors make a big difference in maintaining high safety standards. Instructors selected to lead these programs are men and women who have trained at mountaineering schools like the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering Uttarkashi and Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling India s most respected mountaineering schools. These institutions have been operating for the last 40 years and as a result an excellent resource pool has been created to support adventure sports. Equipment : For this program the entire technical equipment has been supplied by companies considered leaders in the manufacturing of outdoor equipment. Selection of Program Area : The Nag Tibba Traverse has a well marked trail and offers safe campsites. Woodstock School students have done this trek a number of times. Emergency and First Aid : Instructors selected for this program are pro<icient in wilderness <irst aid and will be carrying an elaborate <irst aid kit.

6 Information about the Region Himalaya : Much more than just Mount Everest. Much more than just the world s highest peaks. Hidden in the Himalaya, the greatest mountain range on earth, are hundreds of distinct, vibrant cultures, large areas of untouched wilderness, and the source of rivers which support the lives of a third of the world s population - the Ganges, the Brahmaputra, the Indus, the Mekong, and the Yangtze. Mussoorie is known as the Queen of the Hills and lies along a ridge at 6,600 feet in the foothills of the Himalaya. Mussoorie is a popular town, once said to present a fairyland atmosphere to tourists. Above Mussoorie lies the older and quieter settlement of Landour, <irst established as a British military station in the eighteenth century. Woodstock School and the Hani<l Centre is located at Landour, on the outskirts of Mussoorie. Woodstock School : Established in 1854, Woodstock School has seen over 150 years of exploration in its backyard, the Himalaya. A diverse student population from 22 different nations live on its campus at 7000 feet. The school offers an ideal environment for cultural environmental and outdoor education. Its extensive library, modern gymnasium and hillside location will provide plenty of opportunity to hone the mind and body throughout the program. Hani(l Centre : The Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Program will be based at the Hani<l Centre, the home of Woodstock s outdoor education and environmental study program. It has a large campground, dormitories, classrooms, kitchen & dining areas as well as a well stocked equipment storage room with camping and hiking equipment. The stunning Himalayan setting of the centre provides an ideal base for outdoor activities such as hikes, <ield trips, rock climbing, natural history, environmental education, <irst aid and camping. The Turner Organic Garden is managed by the Hani<l Centre. Here students will get a hands on experience on methods of organic farming, with a special emphasis on farming on steep mountain terrain.

Program Directors Maninder Kohli was drawn to the mountains at an early age inspired by his father, Captain MS Kohli, who led India s path breaking climb of Everest in 1965.

Maninder currently runs the Juniper Outdoor Pursuits Centre and is based in Delhi.

Maninder is a strong advocate of people taking to the outdoors and feels that it is a great value add if each youngster is is given the right introduction to adventure. K.

He is currently the Head of Outdoor & Environmental Education at Woodstock and Director of the Hanifl Centre.

7 Program Directors Maninder Kohli was drawn to the mountains at an early age inspired by his father, Captain MS Kohli, who led India s path breaking climb of Everest in Over the years, his travels have taken him across the Himalaya and to several locations around the world climbing, trekking, skiing, rafting and mountain biking. Maninder currently runs the Juniper Outdoor Pursuits Centre and is based in Delhi. He has previously worked with Citibank for 20 years and has found that outdoor adventure is a great way to unwind from the stress of modern corporate life. Maninder is a strong advocate of people taking to the outdoors and feels that it is a great value add if each youngster is is given the right introduction to adventure. K. Krishnan Kutty joined Woodstock School in 2009, after 20 years of working at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) a US based outdoor school. He is currently the Head of Outdoor & Environmental Education at Woodstock and Director of the Hanifl Centre. He has vast experience in leading groups in the wilderness apart from the administrative background of working as the NOLS India Program Director. Kutty is an accomplished mountaineer, having been on numerous expeditions in the Indian Himalaya, and leading mountaineering courses for NOLS in Wyoming, Alaska, Kenya, and Chile. In 1994, he co-led the Indian-American expedition to Nanda Devi (East) He has trekked extensively in the Himalaya and in the western ghats of southern India. As life member of the Himalayan Club, and its newly appointed honorary local secretary for Mussoorie, he has close ties with the mountaineering community. Mita Nangia Goswami is the Director,Environment Education, WWF-India. An educationist (Lecturer in English) who moved to the Development Sector in 1995, she has worked at the grass roots on gender, reproductive health and nature conservation. Her work includes building capacity in Education for Sustainable Development, publishing books on wild life for children and young adults as well as creating opportunities for wilderness exposure for them. A member of the North-East Writers Forum, she has penned short stories, essays and poems and her work has been published by Penguin. An avid reader, she believes we create our selfhoods only through our interaction with Nature and there is nothing which is not Copyright Nature.

8 Outdoor Leadership & Adventure Program Itinerary Day Schedule Day 1 Leave Delhi early and drive to Mussoorie, arriving at the Hani<l Centre of Woodstock School by lunch time. Spend the rest of day exploring the Hani<l Centre and organizing gear required for the trek to Nag Tibba. Day 2 Day 2 is devoted to enjoying the facilities of the Woodstock School and building up the <itness level. Walk to Sisters Bazar and Char Dukan of Landour, understanding the history of this area that dates back to Visit Woodstock School and its state of the art gym that has a climbing wall. Complete the day by walking to the Turner Organic Garden for an exposure to organic farming. Day 3 Drive to Srikot Village located on the north side of Nag Tibba through Kempty falls. Trek 3 hours and tent up at Mauriyana, a meadow with seasonal cattle shelters next to a mountain stream. After setting up camp participate in a variety of fun camp games. Day 4 Climb another 3 hours to the Forest Rest House situated near the Nag Devta temple and 300 m below Jhandi - the summit of Nag Tibba, take a break and post lunch climb to the top and return back to camp. Day 5 On the return trek descend down a steep ridge on the South side to the village of Ontar and then on to Deolsari Village. This is considered a most delightful campsite offering panoramic views of the Mussoorie area. Day 6 Walk down to Thatyur across a couple of hours and to complete the traverse of Nag Tibba. Drive back to The Hani<l Centre at the Woodstock School by lunch. Day 7 Return back to Delhi to complete the Program. Booking and Information For booking and more information please call or visit us at

The Issue. The Solution

The Issue. The Solution The Issue The Solution Cooking right across the Himalaya still continues using the traditional open fire system Benefits of Clean Cooking Stoves Up to 80% reduction in harmful emissions 65% less wood requirement