Nature Walk for school students 

Chandigarh, February 7, 2024: In a bid to foster a deeper connection with nature and promote environmental consciousness and sensitivity among the society, Panjab University, Chandigarh, organized a Nature Walk for school students on Wednesday. 

This initiative was taken by  Dr Jaspreet Kaur, Dept. of Botany, and Dr Gaurav Gaur, Centre for Social Work, through the Environment Education Program of MoEF&CC with Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST), Chandigarh, as the nodal agency. The nature walk was aimed to provide an experience beyond the classroom teaching, allowing students to explore and appreciate the natural world around them. The event started from a visit to the Chandigarh Bird Park, a walk down the Lake Reserve Forest, known for its biodiversity and scenic beauty, and culminated at the Garden of Silence.

Fifty one students of Govt. High School, Balongi (SAS Nagar, Mohali), accompanied by their teachers and mentors, embarked on an enriching journey through forest tracks. ‘Throughout the day, the students were encouraged to actively engage with their surroundings, identifying various flora and fauna species and learning about their ecological significance’, says Dr Jaspreet.

Dr Gaurav believes that this activity of observing, sharing, and participating, fosters a collaborative and dynamic learning environment and ensures creative wellness.

Dr Anju Suri, Honorary Director, HRDC, Panjab University, complemented the efforts of the organizers who designed this Nature Walk with the ideology that experiences like this would help in shaping environmentally conscious young minds who will become stewards of our planet.

This initiative was powered by IFM Fincoach, an organization with a mission to Educate and Empower young minds through financial literacy & skill development to ensure Employability.

Amanjot Kaur, Director, IFM Fincoach, emphasized that by instilling a sense of responsibility towards nature from a young age, they hope to cultivate a generation of eco-conscious leaders who will drive positive change in their communities.

The event was facilitated by Amol from Centre for Catalyzing Change.

Prof. Kang from Panjab University, also graced the occasion.

The Nature Walk concluded with a reflection session, where students had the opportunity to share their thoughts and insights gained from the experience. Participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to connect with nature and pledged to adopt more sustainable practices in their daily lives.