DEHRA DUN AND MUSSOORIE 4 ECONOMY TRAVELLERS

2009-08-06T00:21:00.000-07:00

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS' HOUSE,

14-A, CIRCULAR ROAD, DEHRA DUN
TEL: +919897531965 LAND LINE 0091-135-2653400
E-MAIL: sharatsindhwani@yahoo.com
Book London Hostels

DEHRA DUN is the capital city of the newly formed Himalayan state of Uttranchal now called Uttrakhand.
Known for it's public schools and important institutions like the Forest Research Institute(FRI), Wild Life Institute of India, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology etc it also houses some Central Government Research oganisations like the Anthropological, Botanical, Geological, Zoological Surveys of India as well as the Eco Task Force.
Dehra Dun is also famous for Tibetan Stupas and Institutes of Tibetan Culture and a centers for Tibetan medicine

LOCATION & ACCESS FROM DELHI: Dehra Dun is within one hour's drive from Mussoorie and Rishikesh and as such serves as the best nucleous point for your stay to give you a varied experience of Yoga, Meditation, Naturopathy, Alternative Medicine, Adventure like Wild life at Chila, Religious experiences at Rishikesh and Haridwar White water Rafting, many treks to it's surrounding villages which offer organic farming experiences.
DEHRA DUN is well connected by air, rail and road. There is an hourly service from ISBT(Inter State Bus Terminal) Kashmiri Gate N. Delhi to ISBT Dehra Dun, the journey is cheap by ordinary buses around Rs125/- and by Deluxe bus it is fromRs.250- Rs350. Air travel is a bit expensive and eratic as it depends upon weather conditions but is trouble- free from OCT to APR. The Shatabadi and Jan Shatabadi trains offer an excellent connection bothways for a price of Rs125/- by JANSHATABADI as food is available on the train on extra payment and Rs450 by Shatabadi as this price includes meals. There are two trains per day. One leaving Dehra Dun at 0500 hrs reaching Delhi at 1100 hrs and vice versa. The other leaves Delhi at 1500 hrs reaching Dehra Dun at 2100 hrs and vice versa timings should should be checked. These tickets can be bought on the computer at the site irctc.com and you can pay by credit card.
WHERE TO STAY? The International Students' House at 14-A, Circular Road, Dehra Dun 248001 Tel: +919897531965 or 0091-135-2653400 E Mail: natureparkindia2000@rediffmail.com offers you a stay with Indian vegetarian meals from $6/- per head per night to $8 (including non-vegetarian meals laundry and local transport as per convenience of the host/management). You can also do intercity journeys to nearby places by sharing the petrol expenses etc with the host at mutually convenient times.
GOOGLE MAP LINK: You can take a print out for your road guidance by clicking on the link below.

View Larger Map

WHAT DOES INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS' HOUSE LOOK LIKE?

DRIVE INTO THE PROPERTY-LEECHI ORCHARD ROAD

THE PARTY PLACE - BAR BE QUE -CAMP FIRE

THE LAWN

THE MAIN HOUSE

Can accommodate upto two couples sharing a large room
with attached shower/bucket bath and toilet.

THE COTTAGE(LEFT) AND THE GAZIBO (RIGHT)
Thatched roof office/sitting area. Cottage in the background
can accommodate upto four members if required. Normally
accommodates two, with dining table, kitchen, bath, toilet,
air cooled.

THE LAWN
OTHER FACILITIES: There are three twin sharing rooms
with common bath and toilet facilities.

MEALS:

Indian Breakfast constitutes of Parathas, pickle and tea
Continental: Corn Flakes/Porridge Egg (as preffered) and toast with tea/coffee

MAIN MEALS: Indian Veg. Rice, Dal(Pulses), Seasonal Vegetable, Yogurt, salad Roti/Chapati=Bread followed by fruit at lunch and a dessert at dinner time. Non vegetarian curry on request.

SIGHT SEEING/HINDI LANGUAGE COURSE/YOGA/MEDITATION/TREKKING/WHITE WATER RAFTING/WILD LIFE TOURS ETC ARRANGED ON REQUEST.
Book cheap hostels at Hostelbookers.com

UNITING ALL SCHOOLS

2007-10-30T03:12:00.000-07:00

COME AND MEET THESE BEAUTIFUL PHEASANTS AND BUTTERFLIES IN THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINOUS SURROUNDINGS OF THE HIMALAYAS

VISIT US AS TOURISTS OR VOLUNTEER WITH US ON SOCIAL PROJECTS
VISITING SCHOOL GROUPS:

Come individually, with friends or come with your school group this will be a trip of a lifetime.

Exchange views and ideas while you enjoy your holiday.

All you have to do is :-

Reach Delhi from anywhere in the world and leave the rest to us OR take a train the Shatabadi/Jan Shatabadi Express and reach Dehra Dun from where we take over and give you

full board and lodgings in tents/rooms starting from Rs.500/- (USDollars 15 approx. per night) or Rs.750 per head (US Dollars 18-20) per head in a group of 25+ including a chartered bus!!

You will be staying at the Nature Park Kempty Falls as well as the village and seeing all that is shown in the itinerary and in the pictures and movie clips that follow you can have a lot of fun trekking, campfire, meeting tribal cultures where till recently an unusual tradition of POLYANDRY(One woman married to five men) was followed!!

PLUS

discuss some serious issues too which concern all humanity.

Discuss and debate whatever comes to your mind. Help create a meaningful international student activity and movement by uniting the schools of all regions of the globe.

Student groups can follow the following suggested itinerary to make it a multi - interest tour:-

DAY I Arrive Delhi at your convenience as per airline schedule. Spend the day sight seeing at Delhi. Spend the night at the Youth Hostel or International Students House OR India International Centre
DAY II: Leave for Dehra Dun by the Jan Shatabadi or Shatabadi express train. Arrive at Haridwar Railway Station(180 Kms nrth of Delhi). Visit the temples and ashrams of this holy Hindu city, enjoy a holy dip in the Ganges and experience the extra ordinary AARTI. Leave for the Forest Rest House for dinner and overnight stay.
DAYIII: Early morning go for a safari on elephant back to see the wild life of Rajaji Sanctuary and after breakfast leave for Rishikesh(20 Kms) and beyond to have a White water rafting experience.
Enjoy Lunch on the sandy beaches of the Holy Ganges stay a night in tents OR leave for Dehra Dun(35 Kms from Rishikesh-capital of the State of Uttaranchal famous for it's public schools) for Dinner and overnight stay.
DAY IV: After breakfast interact with fellow students in a school see their life style there. Half day sight seeing of Dehra Dun.Picnic Lunch at Sahastradhara. Leave for Nature Park and Village Bhatoli for a dinner and cultural dance - sing song. Over night at the Village.
DAY VI: After breakfast spend time with the village youth on their farm and experience a tribal village lifestyle. Time at leisure at the village or spend time at the Nature Park working on habitat building by in-situ rehabilitation of endangered endemic plants.Dinner and overnight at the village OR at Nature Park, Kempty Falls.
DAY VII: Breakfast. Leave for a picnic lunch to River Yamuna to study the health of rivers of the region and the aquatic life support systems. Return to Village Bhatoli for dinner and overnight stay.
DAY VIII: Time at leisure trekking to a nearby village of your choice. Overnight at the Village.
DAY IX: Visit other places or return to Mussoorie and Delhi as per your time availability.You can tailor make your itinerary or write to us for assistance.
FOR LONG TERM ECO-VOLUNTEERING: (A) If you wish to stay longer and volunteer to help in the program your boarding and lodgings at the village will cost you nothing but to stay as tourists it costs you Rs.200 per night (US$5 per night) (B) If you undertake to talk to students at local schools and promote their eco-awareness tours to the Nature Park your stay is not only free but you get pocket money too!!.
You can work on social farming projects and prolong your stay and trek to neigbouring villages and spread awareness on eco issues or help them make souvenirs for sale. You can undertake a Glacier trek or visit to Chakrata optionally during your off days. Details on getting your program details. You can bring students groups from all over the world to us.We can accommodate upto 100 students at a time in tents. Remember this earning goes to our Nature Conservation and rural development fund.
BOOK YOUR TOUR/ACCOMMODATION NOW BY CLICKING THE PAYPAL BUTTON WHICH FOLLOWS:-

http://stepglobalwarming.blogspot.com/ has more details of the objectives of this sustainable tourism project.

Choose your project you wish to volunteer for from any of the following:-

1) Help in preparing plans to encourage mass participation in eco matters involve more corporate executives, general public, bring more school groups to see the wild life habitat deteriotion in the mountainous region which provides fresh drinking water

2) Help in making saplings of profitable agricultural products to be grown by village people to alleviate poverty.

3) Bring more tourist groups to Himalayan villages to inject tourism money in their economic blood stream and to create positive impact and encourage village youth to conserve their cultural values and remain in the village and help in it's upliftment to curb the evil of the money-order economy.

Your gap year or volunteering effort will be well rewarded.Your visit gives you an opportunity to experience Indian Village lifestyles, discuss and exchange views with eminent scientists from our member organisations some questions are mentioned below:-
WHERE ARE THESE BEAUTIFUL BIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES DISAPPEARING?

WHY IS WILD LIFE LEAVING THE FORESTS AND LOOKING FOR FOOD IN HUMAN HABITATS?

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT IT MEANS TO HUMAN AND OUR PLANET'S FUTURE?

IS IT WISE FOR US TO CHANGE THE LIFESTYLES OF THE VILLAGE PEOPLE IN THE NAME OF DEVELOPMENT?
SOME READER'S VIEWS FOLLOW:-
Why are wild animals heading towards the city?
Domestic animals like cows, horses and buffalos are being allowed to graze in the forest areas reserved for wild life. Deer find no grass to graze on so come towards the town attracting tigers with them. When tigers come to town they find they can get better food without much effort so instead of chasing high speed runners like deer they settle for the slower goats. Once in a while they see the human being. Though humans being the only vertical animals act as ghosts for the horizontal leopards but they soon realize that the human is a coward and has no claws, teeth nor the ability to run fast so tigers tend to become man eaters. Basic animal instincts are EAT AND REPROCRATE. The number of deer grow, the grass lands reduce, migration starts towards the city resulting in forest/city conficts.

In the village scenario their pastoral lifestyle brings about specialized jobs like wood collectors, leaf collectors and grass cutters, in the absence of fodder for animals and gas for fire. More than this herb dealers depute the village people to collect herbs which they need for commercial exploitation which are never replenished in the areas which have been exploited thereby disturbing the habitat for many an insect as well as butterflies and birds who feed on them.

The answer lies in convincing the politicians not to play for Hindu votes by allowing cow grazing in the forest areas. Stop herb exploitation and replenish the exploited herbs to reinstate the habitat.

City area food be it vegetarian or non vegetarian is rich in poisonous fertilizers which affects the health of various forest animals when they consume these. Above all the deer family too can catch the famous foot and mouth disease and die in hundreds.

So man "IS" disturbing natures balance and "IS" responsible for accelerating the natural process of global warming. To say that global warming is ONLY a natural process is not true.Man's mismanagement of planet earth IS responsible through over population, reducing forest cover to meet increasing demands.Earth’s hot gases are being trapped within the thick polluted layer in the air depriving earth of essential sun’s radiation which may reverse the process and bring about an era of extreme cold rather than warmth the same way as inflation caries the seed of deflation in it!! Once the cancerous cell of environmental deay sets in it will be so fast that it will be difficult to control the situation. Let us awaken before it happens so.
LOCATE US WHERE WE ARE

View Larger Map
HOW DOES IT MATTER WHETHER THEY LIVE OR DIE?

A SENIOR SCIENTIST'S MESSAGE FOR STUDENTS OF TODAY, RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS OF TOMORROW .

"God helps those who help themselves" is an old saying.

The natural sine curve too has proved that life events repeat in various cycles of different time intervals.

Be it the Hindu Mythology, Biblical predictions or predictions of Nostradamus there is some element of truth in them all. Where there is smoke there is fire.

As per Hindu mythology and predictions we are now passing through KALYUG a period where humans will behave like hungry hounds. Killing each other for money and will reverse earlier preachings of SERVICE BEFORE SELF.
Democratically we all have a right to think and voice our opinions. Some say "GLOBAL WARMING IS A NATURAL CYCLE MAN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT !!" While others say "I am OK but that man or country is responsible for the depletion of the Ozone layer!!"
BUT there is something quite uncommon...common sense which says
"A tumbler of 200ML capacity can only contain 200ML of liquid NO MORE. There is a tolerance limit to everything.

POPULATION: We are breeding like guinea pigs on Earth. Man is manufacturing unnecessary itmes, releasing heat and fumes, over- crowding streets with cars.Five to Ten cars per family or no cars at all !!Some intelligent ones will say "So, it evens out doesn't it?"

This desparity leads to frustration and terrorism.Mismanagement of Earth affairs and denial of Rights to Mother Earth.Exploitation of natural resources beyond Her capacity. Breaking all bounds of nature's tolerance limits. Not replenishing the damage caused, is like using a bullock's neck to carry burden, cause him deep wounds and not let his wounds heal. The bullock will suffer and the poor beast of burden will die.

What does it all display? Breakdown of the norms of "the Family of nations" "family of humanity" etc. What does this finally mean? Lack of concern for posterity??!!
LET THE CHILDREN OF TODAY AND "THEIR" CHILDREN OF TOMORROW LIVE A PEACEFUL AND HEALTHY LIFE.

The missionaries of peace, friendship and
environmental care from Sweden.

THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE "RESPONSIBLE SENIOR CITIZEN" OF TODAY
IT SEEMS, WE ARE BACK AGAIN IN THE STONE AGE!! YOU HAVE TO GROW UP STRONG TO DEFEND YOURSELVES AGAINST THE DAMAGES DONE BY THE BIG POLITICIANS, BEAUROCRATS AND THEIR BROTHERS.....TERRORISTS who are busy making hay while their sun shines and will leave you in tomorrow's darkness. In your own interest "unite and exchange" views how to counter habitat erosion. Habitats for all living beings, good and bad......even politicians!!
Get your teachers and yourselves to work on common minimum programs the world over. If any part of the body gets cancer pain is felt by the whole body. No country can remain isolated. When disaster befalls it does not ask questions or consider age, religion etc..Global warming may not affect President Bush but ask the islanders of the Pacific whose island is sinking!!
The pity is that some educational instutions are owned by businessmen who only want profit and quality of value based education takes the back bench. They talk of SUPW ("Socially" useful and productive work) but do quite the opposite ("Personally" useful and productive work).

How do we do it? Now these are our suggestions BUT the saying goes "Two heads are better than one" So please share your head with ours and send your suggestions.

OUR SUCCESS STORY
Photogallery of a visit by a Swedish School OUR INAUGURAL INTERNATIONAL TOUR:

THE THREE VISITING SWEDISH AMBASSADORS!!
AND THEIR TEAM BELOW

GROUP WITH THE ECO TASK FORCE

AT THE VILLAGE WATER WORKS AND LAUNDRETTE

TRADITIONAL WELCOME

TRADITIONAL WELCOME AT THE VILLAGE

ATTENTENTIVE AUDIENCE WATCHING THEM DANCE

MEDITATING WHILE WATCHING!!

JOYFUL ENCORE

VILLAGE BELLE AND ADMIRER

SURPRISED GRAND MAMAs??

Cabaret Entertainment plus Food

MOVIE CLIP
CULTURE AN EXPORTABLE COMMODITY?

SPORTY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE HUT

INTER-HUT COMMUNICATION

THE PROUD HOST AND HOSTESS WITH GUESTS

WALK TO THE FARMLANDS & SCHOOL

AT THE VILLAGE SCHOOL

BHATOLI RESIDENTS WITH THEIR SWEDISH FRIENDS

THE "INTERNATIONAL" ECO-CULTURAL TEAM AT WORK!!

How can we unite the schools of the world? Lets take our example:

How we successfully tried to unite the schools under one head :-
By requesting the Principals to take up a membership a smaller body compared to the over subscribed world bodies (whose job is now to guide the smaller ones) who actually do work on the grass root level themselves. Let there be an exchange of school children who join these eco clubs. We sent letters like the one that follows:

NATURE PARK

THEME CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS PROGRAMME: 15 MAR –15 DEC (EVERY YEAR)
UTTRANCHAL’S FIRST JOINT ECO AWARENESS EFFORT* THEME FOR 2000+ “SAVE HIMALAYAN PHEASANTS”
Admn. H.O. 14-A, Circular Road,
Dehra Dun, Uttaranchal
Tel: 2653400, 9319988666

SUBJECT: Your Institutional Membership of Nature Park Eco Group 2005

Dear Principal,

This is to remind you that this public participation programme was initiated by all the schools and government offices of Dehra Dun District in 1990 and revived on declaration of this new state. Many schools from other states also joined this movement to serve a common cause to work towards Earth Rights and had promised to send student groups to the park during their mid term holidays in support of UNEP programs by selecting a subject of their choice for which the government agencies participating promised to send their experts to guide students. Your school’s participation in this programme to serve a common human cause is solicited.You would obviously like to know as to what is expected of the school member?
Each school has to (a) make an eco club in their school (b) appoint a member of staff as to coordinate eco activities at the Nature Park (c) The school has to incorporate these activities in their “school calendars” and (d) add a page in their respective websites on environmental activities undertaken by the school and (e) provide a link to the Nature Park website

We are pleased to enclose your membership certificate and look forward to your school joining this common effort.

With best wishes and regards,
Yours Sincerely
For Nature Park
Cultural &Environmental Awareness Programme
Sharat C. Sindhwani
HonoraryProgramme Coordinator

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS PROGRAMME IN PUBLIC INTEREST
An ideal example of: NGO – Government - Public cooperation
14-A, Circular Road, Dehra Dun 248001 Tel:2653400 E-Mail: natureparkindia2000@rediffmail.com
in association with:
Eco Task Force, Anthropological /Botanical/Zoological Surveys of India , Deptts. of Tourism, Irrigation, Forest, CSWCRTI, CBRI, COA, WIHG, FRI, WII, Jal Sansthan, , UREDA,UDASP, Flex Foods Ltd.
Schools of D. Dun: The Doon School, St.Joseph’s Academy, Scholars Home, Cambrian Hall, Marshalls School, Riverdale High School, Doon Intl. School, Drona Intl. School, Bala Hissar Academy, Guru Nanak Academy, Convent of Jesus & Mary , St.Agnes High School
Mussoorie Schools: Waverly Convent, St. George’s College, Wynberg Allen School, Sri Gurunanak Fifth Centenary (Boys) School, SGFC(Girls) School, Manav Bharti India International School, Mussoorie Modern School, St.Lawrence High School,
Nirmala High School. Schools of NOIDA,Punjab,Haryana,Himachal,Delhi
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THEN WE ISSUED THEM A MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATE

Theme Cultural & Environmental Awareness Programme
(A PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROGRAMME)
AT
NATURE PARK
KEMPTY FALLS – Village Bungalow ki kandi

WELCOMES
_________________

as an Active Institutional Member of this programme

Aims & Objects

1) To create awareness in the minds of school children towards issues relating to conservation of nature and cultural heritage of India.

2) To make students feel a part of the developmental process of the newly formed state of Uttaranchal, and to realise the importance of Eco Tourism as a vocation for the state and the country.

*As an institutional member of the programme the school management is expected to help to make a calendar of events for the park to suit school children and to encourage their active participation in the park’s activities from time to time, by sending student groups to the Park during mid term holidays or as per the convenience of the school.

NAMES OF PARTICPATING ORGANISATIONS
Anthropological, Botanical, Zoological Surveys of India, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Wild Life Institute of India, Forest Research Institute, Central Building Research Institute, Indian Council of Architecture, Eco Task Force, Non Conventional Energy Development Authority, Departments of Forest, Irrigation and Tourism, Jal Sansthan, Flex Foods Ltd., Actionline for India’s Development, Schools of Dehra Dun, Mussoorie, Himachal, Punjab,UP.

WHAT THE SCHOOL MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO DO?

1) Form an eco club in the school, (Please see exhibits below.)
2) Appoint a staff member as the eco activities coordinator who will request the Program Coordinator to arrange talks by scientists from member organisations on given subjects, and arrange outings to nature park in fulfilment of socially responsible programs. (Please see exhibits below)
3) Add a page on eco activities in the school website (See Sample below) and provide a link on it to the Nature Park Website 4) Working together on a common issue that effects mankind has a different meaning to working within the school campus and planting trees. Each member school can maintain an exotic display of plants in their name say and orchidarium, bugonea enclosure etc or make a road, tent, provide dust bins, or provide park ornamentation etc like the ASI , BSI, GSI, ZSI, WII Eco Task Force have done. Welham Boys School Lane and SLHS Waverly Convent lanes exist in the Park made from the profits earned from the tours they gave to the Nature Park’s Eco Tourism Institute Students.
5) Each Member School is expected to send his suggestions and news to the school eco club secretary Mr.S.S.Khaira of Welham Boys School which will be included in the e-news letter of Nature Park.(Sample follows).
6) Each student attending a given activity is given a certificate which could help him in his Bronze, Silver or Gold Medal Program of Duke of Edinburgh or similar.(Sample follows)
7) FINANCIAL MATTERS: Each school is requested to pay a token Rs.300/- per month membership fee OR RS.2,500 per annum to help Nature Park meet the salaries of staff appointed Mali, Cook, bearer, Camp supervisor as well as meet the expenses of the telephone, electricity, water and conduct annual repairs to the park. Compassionate Schools are however free to donate more in cash or kind.
8) By sending school groups to the Nature Park, the Nature Park saves some money which automatically helps towards it’s upkeep.
9) Purchase of souvenirs made by the village folk for the Nature Park provides the village people with earnings as well as gives income to the Nature Park.
SUGGESTIONS RECEIVED FROM SCHOOL ECO CLUB COORDINATORS BASED ON WHICH THE PARK’s ACTIVITY CALENDER IS MADE
SUBJECT
(A) CULTURAL ISSUES:
1) To make a photo gallery to display the lifestyles of Gujjars, Jaunsaris and Garhwalis
with the help of ASI
2) To make model huts to reflect the exact lifestyles of these three communities of this
area and equipping these with artefacts of these people.
3) To make a restaurant offering cuisine of the above mentioned village people
4) To organise CULTURAL DANCES of the above mentioned
5) To make a data base of their folk lore, poetry etc through visiting school groups and
scientists in collaboration with ASI.
(B) VILLAGE WELFARE AND NATURAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS:
1. To make models of earthquake resistant huts of different price range for display at the Nature Park with the help of Central Building Research Institute and India Council of Architects and to help build one model in each village with the help of students of SUPW to give them a practical feel of their participation in nation building
2. Display informative material on EARTHQUAKES, FLASH FLOODS, LANDSLIDES etc in the Photo gallery for the information of the general public with the help of WIGH
3. To arrange nukar dramas in villages for public awareness on important issues
4. To display rural drinking water units by Jal Sansthan to be installed in villages to prevent water borne diseases in villages and to install a power generation model in each village with the help of NEDA in the event of earth quake
5. Have a HAM Radio set for communication in the event of a disaster in this ZONE V
(C) NATURE CONSERVATION: (Botanical issues)
(1) To prepare models for natural habitat for pheasants, water shed etc
(2) To make bamboo huts and display ornamental plants like Orchids, Fucias etc
(3) To conduct identification of trees and shrubs available at the park with the help
of FRI, BSI and the Forest Department
(4) To work on ex - situ preservation of endangered endemic herbs at the park
(5) To work on in - situ rehabilitation of endangered endemic species of plant life with the help of the forest department and assist in planting trees with Eco Task Force and Forest Department.
D) ZOOLOGICAL ISSUES:
(i) To display samples of butterflies, fish, insects and reptilia etc of the region with the help of the ZSI and WII for the information of the general public
(ii) To display models on other themes such as the food chain, fish rain etc
(iii) To make a butterfly farm at the park
MOST IMPORTANT: SUGGESTIONS FOR FUND GENERATION TO MAKE THIS PROJECT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE:
Organise visits by school children, arrange their mid term holidays sale of T- shirts, stickers, greeting cards etc made by the village folk to generate employment for them. To sell greeting cards with samples of dried herbs being grown at the park under the rural poverty alleviation program.
NOTE: Schools Principals are requested to send more suggestions to be recorded.
Schools can also suggest which activities they would like their students’ groups to participate in.Every participating student is given a certificate which will help him in his career or getting International Youth Program Awards like the Duke of Edinburgh Awards etc.
SAMPLE WEB PAGE IN SCHOOL’S WEBSITE
OUR SCHOOL PRODUCES “RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS”
In an effort to make the student of today a “responsible citizen” of tomorrow the schools of the Doon Valley decided to give them value based education as per the expectations of the international organizations and their programs to bring them at par with schools of advanced countries to bring about a standardized level of environmental and cultural education for the students which is only possible with their interaction with the rural world which lies outside the school campus. This joint effort by schools lead to the setting up of a common activities center where ideas from each school could be implemented and environmental knowledge shared between schools with the help of scientists from some government agencies like ASI, BSI, GSI, ZSI etc. In order to understand what sustainable development means; it was important to choose a location declared as “backward region” by the government, easily accessible to these schools so that their SUPW could be accomplished within a day or two without upsetting the school’s strict educational curriculum, as such, Kempty Falls was chosen and a Nature Park established with the help of some philanthropists. Our students have contributed to this joint effort and taken part in:
1) Making nurseries for threatened and endangered species of endemic plants
2) Students have conducted in-situ rehabilitation of these plants in areas allotted to them by the forest department
3) Helped local farmers make beds for planting herbs for higher incomes
4) Helped farmers grow these herbs with assured buyback facilities and potential of making a village level industry for making aromatic volatile oils
5) Visited the Yamuna river to study the life support systems of fish
6) Conducted various experiments in pH, turbidity and temperature to study the migratory patterns of fish and their factors leading to their propagation and availability of food like algae, etc
7) Visited and interacted with the village adopted by the program to be made into an ideal and model village for cultural tourism development to generate employment for them and give them higher incomes
8) Our students have visited various geological fault areas and also learnt how to identify various factors of metamorphosis and rock/mineral identification
9) Identified and made a herbarium of endemic plants to study their usefulness to man and medicine
10) Identified many species of insects, birds and butterflies found in the region and studied their requirements of a healthy habitat
11) Taken part in lectures by experts to understand the meaning and importance of sustainable development.
12) Taken lectures in responsible tourism and learnt about the importance of tourism and it’s role in the economic development of the state.
Many more programs are on the list and will keep growing in line with the guidance of the UNEP Year of the Mountain, Fresh Water Conservation, Save Rivers and Lakes of Uttaranchal etc and World Tourism Organization programs such as ST-EP Sustainable Tourism_ leads to_ Elimination of Poverty.
CERTIFICATE
NATURE PARK KEMPTY FALLS
(Centre for students’ cultural, environmental and adventure education and activities)
is proud to certify that
Mast/Ms_____________
Student of class_______
at
Cambrian Hall School, Dehra Dun
(an Active Institutional Member of this programme)

has successfully completed a basic residential two day workshop on Cultural preservation, Environmental Awareness, and adventure covering the following activities:-
CULTURAL ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL
Tibetan Lifestyle. Endangered plants of Mussoorie region Herb farming and village level industry for
poverty alleviation
Jaunsari lifestyle Basic identification of plant, insect and aquatic life
ADVENTURE
Cycling(25 Kms) Camping (Night out) Trekking (15 Kms)

Signed by those organisng the tour program
_______________________________________________________
How each member can help?

Each time a coordinator or a Principal changes the coordinator’s job becomes difficult as he has to start explaining this program all over again!! The program needs some basic funds to sustain itself which is recovered from members as membership fees.

It would be great injustice to the compassionate NIRs who contributed to make this park if the schools back out each time there is a change in their staff/management. It is requested that each coordinator briefs his successor and Principal before leaving and each school pays the membership fees and send groups as decided jointly and severally.

Please think, in the absence of your support to your own program who is expected to foot the bills... the Secretary a salaried school staff or the Honorary Program Coordinator who is a retired individual?

1) HAVE YOU DECIDED WHAT ECO ACTIVITY TO UNDERTAKE ?

2) HAVE YOU FIXED THE DATES FOR YOUR SCHOOL’S ECO CLUB TO VISIT THE PARK?

3) HAVE YOU INFORMED THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR OF THE SERVICES REQUIRED BY YOU?

SAMPLE : NATURE PARK CALENDER OF EVENTS 2005
(In fulfilment of our commitment to maintain the ecology of the Hiamalayas made during the
“UNITED NATIONS’ YEAR OF THE MOUNTAIN” THROUGH AWARENESS AND REHABILITATION
STEP (I)=MUSSOORIE HILLS STEP (II) SIMLA HILLS STEP (III) (NAINITAL HILLS)
FEBRUARY: 16th SCHOOL - NATURE PARK coordinators’ meeting
23rd Travel agents’/Tour Operators’/ Transporters’ meeting

MARCH: 09/10th Germ plasm for threatened species
15th /16th Butterfly farm setting up of basic structure
17-18th School groups to visit Jaunsari Villages enroute to Chakrata
22nd/23rd Grafting and herb farm interaction with local farmers
29th/30th WII to introduce Butterfly eggs in Butterfly Farm

APRIL: 05th/06th School groups activities in situ planting of saplings
12th/13th Schools Groups arrive for the week
14-16th Visit Yamunotri with Nature Camp as base
18th River rafting on the Yamuna
19th/20th School groups to visit Dhanolti area for plant identification
26th/27th Visit by foreign cultural troupe
28th-29th Parasailing

01MAY: SUMMER YOUTH CAMP
Vocational Course in Tourism (Cultural/Eco/Adventure/Health)
TO Short Courses in Disaster Management, Rural Development
Visits to villages for donating water filtration units, making earthquake
resistant huts, interaction with farmers and youth of villages World Environment Day 5-7th June
15 JULY: Horse Riding, River Crossing, Rock Climbing, Trekking, Picnic lunches
Bird, insect, plant identification
Elocution/debates and group discussions/Etiquette/Personality
Development/ cooking and domestic electricity repairing and plumbing
JULY 16: Farmers’ training begins for herb farming – off campus
TO Resident course in Eco Tourism Management – in campus
30th Entrepreneurship Development Programme
SEPTEMBER: Souvenier Making for village women World Tourism Day25-27th Sept.
OCTOBER World Environment week. Mid term Holidays which include all activities TILL from adventure to cultural visits to villages, working with village
DECEMBER farmers and village women as well as rural/urban youth interaction
Programmes

Please send in your suggestions for more activities and programmes which you find through your experience are useful and of interest to students.

IMPORTANT: Please book your students’ group well in advance to avoid disappointment.

_______________________________________________________

OTHER ACTIVITIES

1) NEWSLETTER EXCHANGE:

2) Discussion panel:

3) Suggestion Message board: What activities you recommend and when, comments etc?

Message from Vice Chairman, G.M.V.N.
Garhwal Regions Premier Developmental Agency
Inaugural Package Tour
8th June 2005
Mr. Rajendra Singh Bhandari at the village
ABOUT OUR JOINT PROPOSAL

The world has acknowledged the tourism industry as the biggest employer during peace time and has recommended Eco/Cultural Tourism as the premier industry for states that have no industry or export potential. Uttaranchal has a tremendous scope in eco cultural tourism and the government is committed to make it the premier tourism state of India.

The visiting tourist to Dehra Dun and Mussoorie hardly ever gets a chance to know the lifestyles of the local people or the handicrafts produced by them. We are proud to introduce a package tour which has been jointly operated by Nature Park and GMVN and has the following good points viz.:
1) The tourist who is bored for lack of mental occupation during his stay in Mussoorie tends to shorten his stay. By availing this tour he gets to know about Himalayan Ecology and cultural heritage of the residents of Garhwal.

2) By taking this tour he extends his stay in Mussoorie by at least one night adding to the earned revenue of the hotel owners. I congratulate the hotel owners of Mussoorie to have taken the lead in this direction along with Nature Park to have provided such a program, which GMVN is proud to support.

3) The souvenirs bought by the tourist gives added earning to the local village resident. The ethnic foods offered in the villages to the visiting tourist gives higher incomes to the rural youth. This further encourages the youth not to migrate to bigger cities in search of jobs and provides a pedestal to reverse the “money order economy”

I find the wide spectrum of public participation in the Nature Park program a great boon to society as it spreads from experts of Government Departments like Anthropological, Botanical, Geological, Zoological Surveys of India , Wild Life Institute of India, Eco Task Force etc. to the beneficiaries i.e. school children and other members of the industrial and commercial world. I am proud to support this humanitarian effort which will address the present day concern of global warming as well.

What could be a better gift to the society of Uttaranchal on the occasion of the World Tourism Day 2005 (5/6/2005 celebrated by us today), with the joint efforts of the hotel community, Nature Park and Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam. I once again congratulate the participants and promoters of this creative program and wish them all success.
ITINERARY (TOUR No:1 INTRODUCTORY)

TIME
ACTIVITIES
0700
Leave from ISBT picking up passengers from all member Hotels enroute
0900
Reach Mussoorie pick up passengers from Library
1100
Reach Yamuna Bridge for Picnic. Light snacks served. Brief introduction to aquatic life support systems. Pebble identification and collection etc for children
1300
Leave for Village Bhatoli To enjoy ethnic dances and songs while you enjoy Garhwali food. Buy Souvenirs made by village residents.
1500
Leave for Nature Park. Tea and eco show * See Project below
1700
Visit the Kempty Falls (Optional)
1800
Leave for Mussoorie to enjoy the cool breeze and walk in the market
2000 hrs leave for Dehra Dun from Picture Palace side where the bus will wait

TOUR COST: Rs.450/- per head INCLUDING TRANSPORT AND MEALS AS MENTIONED IN THE ITINERARY.

NOTE:
* TWO TICKETS WILL BE ISSUED: ONE FOR TRANSPORT (BY GMVN) Rs.200/-
THE OTHER FOR MEALS AND ENTERTAINMENT.Rs.250/-

** CHILDREN (BELOW 12) Rs 100/- AND Rs.125 = Rs 225/- per head

***: EARNINGS FROM THIS TOUR GO TOWARDS
Those desirous of camping overnight at the village or the park please ask for details.VILLAGE BHATOLI DEVELOPMENT FUND.
………………………………………………………………………………………………

SAMPLE MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATES

SAMPLE INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP CERTIFICATE AND LETTERS