Youreka Training Children to become Instructors

The Financial Express reports on how Youreka, iDiscoveri is training children to become more productive and useful:

Kiddie junctions

Posted: 2006-04-30 00:02:40+05:30 IST
Updated: Apr 30, 2006 at 0002 hrs IST

: IF parents see summer workshops as a break from their little brats’ vacation at home, then it’s time for you to know more. With a range of summer workshops ready to be launched in May, the season of camping holds more than just fun.

Youreka! too has done a few value additions in its summer workshops this year. It has invited Chris Agnew, a faculty from NOLS (known for their outdoor education in US).

The camp will also introduce a new graded system to pave the way for kids to become outdoor instructors. To achieve this, it has introduced Youreka! awards —bronze, silver and gold. The bronze award will go to kids (between 9 and 11 years) camping at Sitlakhet, Coorg; silver for kids (between 12 and 14 years) at Tirthan, Coorg, Kollur, and gold for grown ups (15-16 years) at Tons, Kollur.

“As these are our permanent locations for camping. Usually, the kids begin from the camps where we have the bronze award, graduating later to higher metals. So, in a way, we get kids visiting us again, and we also find something new for them,” says Anubhav Das, partner iDiscoveri Education, which conducts the camps.

And if you are still hesitant, go for shorter ones. Like, the one at the Shiamak Davar’s Institute for Performing Arts (SDIPA), which conducts Summer Funk in all leading metros in India. The finale of the Funk will be a professional show where all the participants perform. “So, it is about learning and busting the stress while having loads of fun,” says Gowri Prakash, manager, SDIPA.

At some of the camps, even parents can assist the kids. Like the one organised at Trident Hilton Hotels in Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur. The Kids Club is equipped with books, comics, toys, videos, play stations and even a splash pool: an ideal location for children aged 4-12. The package even has outdoor pursuits like badminton matches, walks and camel rides.

“It is ideal for very young children who cannot travel independently to camps, and where they also get an opportunity to meet peers of the same age-group,” adds Ketaki Narain, director, corporate communications, The Oberoi Group (organiser of Kids Club), “to make it add to the fun, children here are welcomed with a gift and a Kids Club Passport.

The facilities at each hotel include an air-conditioned tent equipped with games, toys, books and movies. Fun and educational activities such as nature walks are also organised by the supervisors.”

There is no compromise about arrangements. A first-aid box with all necessary medicines, comfortable sleeping beds, a wide range of food and equipment of highest quality while they trek are all in-built in the programme. “There is no way my kid can miss milk, fruit and proper food at the camp. In fact it is more of five star treatment for them,” says Khera.

So, are there any comparisons that follow when they are back at home. “Never. After constructive training at the camp, they never complain or demand,” she says.

Well, with more and more camps round the corner, we might just have to stop referring to kids as brats!

Beautiful Music Video of Icelander Svefn - g - Englar

To watch during your Special Yourekamp!

Fwd: Welcome to Yourekamp MMB Pinewood Cliff 24 April onwards

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Date: Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 1:51 PM
Subject: Welcome to Yourekamp MMB Pinewood Cliff 24 April onwards
To:


Welcome to all the kids & participants from Max Muller Bhavan, going for the Sitlakhet Yourekamp Pinewood Cliff today!! You can call us (on 09910983335-9), tweet us, blog us or email us for any help you need. Incidentally you can also twitter us and post to the blog from yr mobile ph. on http://yourekaexpress.blogspot.com/.

Thanks!

Youreka
--
http://yourekaexpress.blogspot.com/
http://youreka.in/
http://twitter.com/Youreka
www.idiscoveri.com

Google Map of Yourekamp Pinewood Cliff Sitlakhet

View Sitlakhet Yourekamp iDiscoveri in a larger map

Introductory Contest

New Contest

Hi All!!

We are introducing a new contest on the Youreka Blog, whereby

1. The Person who makes the highest no. of nice Comments in 2 weeks starting from today AND joins to follow the blog with Google Friend Connect at

or from the "Follow Me with Google Friend Connect" link on the bottom right hand column of the blog gets a special Youreka mountaineering Carabiner Keychain as a Prize.

2. Also, the person who gets the maximum no. of people or his/her friends to join and follow the Youreka blog with Google Friend Connect at



or from the "Follow Me with Google Friend Connect" link on the bottom right hand column of the blog gets another one of the same prize!! The Contest is mainly meant for kids from ages 9-16, but anyone can join. I have extended the contest by one more week.

I've noticed that only I can post on the blog, and others can only comment(!). So pls submit yr entries as comments to this post, or email them directly to us at nilanjan.gupta@youreka.in and we will post them up.

Thank you

The Youreka Team

The Best Way to Unwind this Summer

All in praise of Youreka! :



Saturday , April 23, 2005

Kids going over the hills this summer

Express News Service

New Delhi, April 22: Fifteen-year-old Rohit Rajagopalan’s favourite summer hangout is Sitlakhet in the Kumaon ranges in Himachal Pradesh. Post-examinations, this student of GD Goenka School, Vasant Kunj, is getting ready to keep his tryst with a trekking trip.

‘‘After slogging it out in classrooms, the best way to unwind is trekking,’’ he says. His mother, Kalpana agrees.

‘‘Rohit and my other son Bharat prefer the outdoors to indoor activities, like theatre workshops and painting classes. The outdoors are not only refreshing, they also teach kids to survive in the wild,’’ she says.

Youreka , an organisation that organises summer camps for children in the age group of 9 to 17 years, is taking kids to Sitklakhet, Tirthan and the Tons hill range in Garhwal for rock climbing and mountain biking. The eight-day camp will see the young ones living it up in the pristine hills.

The tough terrains are the flavour of the season - a cakewalk for 11-year-old Armaan Talreja, a student of St. Columbus School, Gol Dak Khana. ‘‘I went on a week long trip to Tirthan last year. We walked in the forests, it was very exciting to be there on our own. We learnt how to make and live in tents,’’ he says. Right now, Armaan is bargaining for a trekking trip as opposed to a family holiday.

Schools too encourage the outdoors — something not possible in a mountainless city like Delhi. ‘‘Our kids are going to Mussourie for 10 days where they can go horse riding, golfing, and for nature walks,’’ says Madhu Chandra, Lotus Valley International School, Noida.

Springdales, Dhaula Kuan has come up with a novel idea for their summer camp. ‘‘We have 133 kids from underprivileged backgrounds. So we are organising a month-long session where we will take them on nature walks, to the planetarium and also some activities like dance, music and computer awareness classes,’’ says principal, Jyoti Bose.

Youreka Slideshow

A Youreka Way of Life

Now here's a really superb article from The Energy Research Institute (TERI) Magazine "Terragreen " in praise of Youreka and iDiscoveri and with a very apt relevant and powerful quotation by Schumacher (author of "Small is Beautiful - Economics as if people mattered") at the end. Really, lifestyles have changed disastrously and drastically in the last few years and Youreka and iDiscoveri are among the few organisations who are attempting to set this balance right by pioneering outdoor programs and correcting this glaring imbalance. Ed. :

We know we live in

a very modern

world, with every

amenity. You go

to school, there are cars and buses

to pick you up and drop you back.

When you study, you get onto the

computer. When you want to spend

leisure time, there are several

television channels to choose from.

Some of you may love chatting on

the telephone, playing video

games, and watching movies. Life is

beautiful.

But there’s something even

prettier there, out in the woods. Far

away from the noisy bustle of the

city, are mountains and rivers,

deserts and jungles. As you read in

the school textbooks, it is this

bounty of nature that provides

every chemical and every fibre,

every atom and molecule, which we

put together to make everything

we use on a daily basis. Just try

picking up anything in your home,

try breaking it down to where it

comes from, and it’ll take you back

to nature. Yet, living away from

these surroundings, we often miss

the stuff life is made of.

How about reconnecting? I’m

sure there are several initiatives all

across the country, but one that I

came to know of is a camp

programme called Youreka! Run by

idiscoveri, an education initiative

that takes teaching beyond

classrooms, this is one camp where

you aren’t likely to have it easy.

After convincing your parents

that you, their child, is in

completely safe hands, the

programme managers give you the

options of joining their week- long

camps at several places away from

your homes. The list includes places

like Tirthan, Sitlakhet, and Coorg.

Bang in the middle of mountains,

right next to a roaring river is where

the tents are pitched. Now the

course begins, each camper has to

choose one major course and a

minor course. Before you start

grumping, take a look at the

courses. Major : rock climbing,

white water rafting, kayaking,

wilderness backpacking, ropes

course, outdoor survival and

mountain biking. Minor – candle

making, bandana making, music

and choreography, juggling,

magic, campus newspaper,

astronomy, photography, ecowalk

and painting. Phew.

iDiscoverers, as they call

themselves, have wonderful things

to say. They love the sounds of

nature, they love the fun, the tough

acts, the independence. Says

Adnan Vahanavaty, a young gun

who went to the camp, ‘iDiscoveri

has changed the way I see the

environment, other people, and

myself.’ The mums and dads also had

good things to say. They felt that

the children came back a lot more

confident. The safety rules at the

camps and the presence of a doctor

also impressed them.

We thinks it’s a great way to drop

into the lap of nature. Every hurdle

you cross – a river or a rock – not

only makes you confident, but also

teaches one to respect nature.

When you’re so close to this beauty,

so lovingly tended by it, you’ll learn

to love it. And that’s when you’ll

learn how to keep Mother Earth

safe and happy.

Quote

‘A way of life that ever more rapidly depletes the power

of the earth to sustain it and piles up ever more

insoluble problems for each succeeding generation can

only be called violent.’

Ernst Friedrich Schumacher (1911–1977),

German economist and pioneer of appropriate technology

Please Post on anything related to Youreka

Please post on the Youreka blog http://yourekaexpress.blogspot.com/, leave yr comments there and join it as a friend on the Google Friends Connect link on the right hand column of the page.

Thanks

Welcome to all the participants of the Max Mueller Bhavan Camp

Welcome to all the participants of Max Mueller Bhavan at Yourekamp Pinewood Cliff from 24Apr - 3 May!

Personal Items to be carried (Kit List)

Here is a list of the Personal Items to be carried (Kit List) on the Yourekamp Sitlakhet (Pinewood Cliff):

PERSONAL ITEMS TO BE CARRIED (KIT LIST)

The Sitlakhet campus has a pleasant climate during the program months. Light woollens are required in the evening. Some evenings may get

colder especially if itgets windy or if itrains.

Please pack clothes appropriately keeping in mind that a large time is spent outdoors doing physical activities. Do not carry clothes that are

very tightor delicate. Also note thatthere is no laundry facility.

Pack everything in a bag that is easy to carry. (Rucksacks / air bags only. No suit cases please). Try and have only one luggage item as you will

have to carry ityourself! Have your name tag on the luggage.

A good indicative listis:

CLOTHING:

1 thick shirt/ sweatshirt, 5-6 T-shirts, 4 pairs of jeans/trousers, 2 pairs of shorts, a track suit., something warm and loose to sleep

in, undergarments for 8 days and 1 towel, 1 raincoator water-proof jacket/ wind cheater.

WARM CLOTHES:

1 lightpullover and 1 warm jacket

FOOTWEAR:

2 pairs of Sports shoes, Sandals or Slippers, socks for eightdays .

INSECT REPELLANT :

An effective insectrepellantfor personal use (Odomos lotion, Good Knight– active shield, etc.,)

IMPORTANT ITEMS:

A cap, a water bottle with sling,small torch, a whistle and your toiletries (include a bottle of cold cream/ sun screen

cream).

If you wear prescription glasses, carry an extra pair and lip balm.

If you are in the Wilderness Backpacking group

, carry a warm pullover instead of the light one suggested and add a woolen cap &

gloves to your list.

SLEEPING BAGS / RUCK SACKS WILL BE PROVIDED ON CAMPUS

We will issue sleeping bags and mats on the campus. Rucksacks will be provided for the backpacking and nightouttrips.

RULES & GUIDELINES

1. ITEMS NOT ALLOWED TO BE BROUGHT TO CAMPUS

(A) CASH –A Maximum Amountof Rs 1000 is allowed atthe campus for purchasing Collaterals.

(B) NO MOBILE PHONES - We do notallow participants to carry mobile phones on the program. Coverage by operators is very rare on mostof our

remote campuses and the attempt to use phones disrupts the program. If carried, cell phones will be deposited with the Campus Chief & will

have to be collected from our Delhi office.

(C) NO WALKMANS/ DISCMANS / VALUABLES - We also request that no valuables like expensive cameras or Discmans are brought to the

campus. We acceptno responsibility for loss or theftof any such articles.

(D) NO FOOD ITEMS & TUCK - We provide wholesome and nutritious food and no tuck (cola cans, chips, biscuits, snacks etc) or food items are

allowed on campus. Itbecomes a menace and makes the wilderness campuses unsafe.

2. RULES & CONDUCT ON CAMPUS

(A) Participants mustfollow all rules as told to them from time to time. Itis importantthatthey adhere to the rules.

(B) Any breach of rules or actof misconductcan resultin the participantbeing sentback from the program athis/her cost.

(C) Participants will be briefed regarding the rules and regulations, especially those related to safety and discipline, before the program starts.

They are expected to abide by these rules.

(D) The campuses are substance free. Participants found using tobacco or alcohol will be sent back without any refund whatsoever. Not

following the safety rules and guidelines or misbehavior may also resultin the above.

3. BAGGAGE

(A)) Do notpack in a suitcase. Use a single bag, preferably a rucksack/ carry bag with shoulder straps and a strong handle, thatis easy to carry.

(B) Participants have to carry their own bags during the journey and during transfers.

(C) The luggage must have a prominent name tag.

For any clarifications call us at 09910983335-9

Educative, Entertaining and Exciting (3Es)!

And here is a scintillating description by Taira of her educative, exciting and entertaining experience at Sitlakhet Yourekamp on Indiatimes blogs (Click on the Title above to get the original article)!:

Sitlakhet Adventure

Camp (Educative,

Entertaining and

Exciting (3Es))

Couple of weeks ago, I had gone to Sitlakhet (Kumaon hills) for a program leader training program organized by ‘iDiscoveri' organization that does adventure camps for school children from 9-14 yrs old. I went with about 16 people from different cities and even different walks of life. That night I had to miss out on my official party as I had been looking forward to this trip to Sitlakhet since last year. I met few people en route to station and went about telling them about the monuments, buildings that we crossed. At the station met some more of them and once on the train we shared funny incidents of our previous adventure camps. Morning we stopped over at a resort for breakfast enjoying the serenity around, called up my dad and also happened to view some magnificent oleographs of Raja Ravi Verma and artworks of couple of prominent artists too.

We started our journey ahead and the drivers were really cool who shared funny information/incidents in their areas. We passed amidst a beautifully spread golf course on a highway. Sitlakhet camp site is at 7500 altitude overlooking the whole of Himalayan range. That place belonged to a British couple and when they left, it was managed by an Indian gentleman who owns about 80 acres of land atop mountains, which was once upon a time an tea estate but now houses various fruit plantations like apple, plum, peaches, apricots, etc., along with pine and rhododendron trees. Mornings were so beautiful with different unknown birds chirping aloud with Himalayas covered with clouds or just pure sunshine on top of them. What more one could ask for?

When we reached there, we were introduced to other campus chiefs who had been undergoing training as well and were leaving the same day. Tents were allotted and had a wonderful lunch. Went for a grand tour towards the close by activity sites and naturally wrecked/haunted house; took a few pictures.

Started with simple yet educative games which got each one involved physically, mentally and emotionally too. At night we watched a movie called “Pay it Forward”, which had a moral view to learn from. We retired pretty late at night. Next day started early with games and nature walk. Experienced “Trust Fall” where a member falls back with closed eyes trusting others to hold him without a fall or injury. This was interesting as when in a big group where you don’t know others so well, what emotions one may go through about trusting new people. We trekked towards the rock climbing area; got introduced to equipment and calculated risks involved. We made groups and climbed about a 30 feet high rock; learning with experience. We returned to the camp and had discussions, played experiential games followed by self-reflection period.

In the middle of the night a challenge was thrown at us like some seniors screamed for help along with animal calls. They waited for us to respond in case of an emergency. It was again a learning experience to be alert 24/7 when children are around in camps. I took the initiative of walking out alone, looked around and waited for more emergency calls. I went ahead and inquired from the guard and saw 3 seniors waiting for us to respond. Except me, no one else came out. And I tell you when I looked up in the dark sky, it was simply mesmerizing to see millions if stars twinkling up there. Next day we discussed about similar real-life situations when as leaders we got to respond no matter what. Again we played energizers’ (games) and learnt about map-study when in wilderness. We were made to play “Hurdles and Mines” and how as a group we worked about it collectively. Lot of emotional outbursts happened; some felt neglected or isolated; some took charge; some passed remarks but finally we did it.

Back to the camp, we had intense sessions about our behavioral pattern as this is exactly how children might behave when out with us. And our purpose is to give them a life time experience full of confidence. In the evening we played games and a ghost story, which was very funny. Few of us visited a nearby grave of the British lady who died in 18th century. It was simply a beautiful site to see her grave highlighted under the moonlit, charming night. Her husband had planted Cyprus trees which one could see even from far amidst pine trees. It was said that this white dressed lady with a hat and umbrella has been seen by few locals too. On the way back we were made to walk one by one without torches on the moonlit path so as to experience the natural light of darkness. It didn’t even feel a bit scary but I could purely feel the freshness around. I looked above and saw the moon amidst the huge pine trees which played hide and seek with me and all around millions of stars gazing down at me. It was my moment only.

We had bonfires, sang old English classic songs and took many pictures. The guard on the campus was a very pleasant 75 year old gentleman who had been awarded a certificate too from the Uttarakhand govt. for growing kiwis (an exotic citrus fruit) on his farm. He had wonderful stories to share with all of us. He had lost his one eye, had a mark on chin and hands while encountering a leopard in the wild. He sang such beautiful bhajans in the late hour of the night. I simply wished that the moments came to a standstill.

The next day I was little tired and had throat infection for which I kept having raw ginger and black peppers. We learnt about “LNT (Leave No Trace)” in the wild. We were divided into small groups and were asked to perform skits about LNT. I was little nervous but then played my part well and was appreciated too. In fact each one did well. Even our instructors performed. They were really cool guys who were truly experienced in wilderness and were full of humor and energy. They were the soldiers who encouraged all of us to learn and perform better each time.

I always ended up having funny discussions/challenging one of the instructors. Everyone would be in splits with our chats and that is all Youreka (extension of iDiscoveri) is all about. It is like having fun and enjoyment along with experiential learning all the time. The fifth day we learnt about basic first aid situations when in wild and were made to perform for such situations sequentially. After lunch we had to leave for Delhi so I bought whole lot of delicious kiwis and some local sweet too.

On the way back in the train we had ball of a time, enjoying every moment, sharing jokes, pictures, etc. All in all it was very educative, interactive, and above all entertaining and exciting too. I am glad I went for this amazing learning program.

posted on Monday, April 23, 2007 10:19 AM

The National Geographic Junior Hunt

Here's a very nice article by Neha of Birla Girls High School of Calcutta in the Telegraph on her experience of the Nat Geo Talent Hunt:

CALCUTTA
Junior champ

The quest of Nat Geo Junior Hunt 2 was to find an Indian kid who embodied the values that National Geographic stands for. The National Geographic Channel (NGC) chose 20 students from among four lakh participants from classes V to VIII across 10 cities. Jahnvi Popat (Class VI) and I (Class VIII) were chosen from Calcutta, after a gruelling set of tests.

We were then taken to an adventure camp organised by NGC in collaboration with Youreka at Sitlakhet, a scenic spot in the mountains, about 35 km away from Ranikhet in Uttaranchal. Here, we were tested on our adaptability skills among other things, and eventually, three other participants and I reached the finals.

We then went through extensive grooming sessions with the British Council in Delhi, where we were given tips on how to improve our public speaking, extempore, debating and teamwork skills.

At the end of it, my joy knew no bounds when cricketer Rahul Dravid announced my name as the second Nat Geo Junior. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a great learning opportunity. I hope that such programmes are conducted in the future as well to provide students with more exposure and a platform to showcase their potential.

Neha Jain,
Class VIIIB, Birla High School (Girls)

March 20 , 2008

Comments

Please put all your posts, comments, pics, videos, clips etc. all up on the blog in ample measure but make sure they are within limits! Hurry.

Thanks.

The Sitlakhet Sky

Here's a beautiful photograph of the Yourekamp Pinewood Cliff Sitlakhet Sky and lovely poetic short post from the Blog: "http://stupstoconquer.blogspot.com/2007/09/sitlakhet-sky.html" by Anustup Nayak. Wow! What a photograph! That really brings out all the freshness and beauty of life for me!

Meaning Making
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Sitlakhet Sky

'Lead me from the darkness to light' - the play of colours on this photo seem to tell me. The morning sun has just splattered its iridescent orange glow on the snow capped Himalayas. The valley down below, yet to be touched by its rays, is still waking from its dark slumber.

This is a photo of the spectacular Trishul range, shot as I stood one morning at the iDiscoveri campus at Sitlakhet in Uttaranchal.
Posted by Anustup Nayak at 9:02 AM

Close to Nature

(Click on the title above to get the original article)

Here's a lovely article by the Hindustan times and carried on msn.com on how Youreka can help you get closer to nature, and in fact how well it does so!:

Spend your vacations close to nature

For all those who are yet to decide about how they would spend the summer holidays, don’t despair, for there are activities and workshops galore that are just about to begin. And there's more stuff that you can do this summer. Read on to find out!

With school summer vacations just round the corner, it’s once again time for students to gear up for a trip to the cooler climes of hill stations, or to join any among a plethora of hobby classes — swimming, pottery, clay modeling, painting, art and craft — that are on offer. While the mercury rises menacingly, there is also the choice of staying glued to the television sets and computers, enjoying computer games, watching movies or simply surfing the Internet. And last, but not the least, there is also the opportunity to catch up with one’s friends and relatives spread across the country or to have some of them visit you.

For all those who are as yet undecided about how they would spend the summer holidays, don’t despair, for there are activities and workshops galore that are just about to begin.

A firm, iDiscoveri, conducts the Youreka Summer Programme, an eight-day adventure-based learning experience for kids in the 9-15 age-group.

These are conducted at three campuses in the north Sitlakhet (near Ranikhet, at an altitude of 7,000 feet), Tirthan (on the banks of the river Tirthan, bordering the Great Himalayan National Park), Tons (on the banks of the River Tons, at an altitude of 4,200 feet, and at two campuses in the South, namely, Coorg (Honey Valley Estate in the Western Ghats has coffee, cardamom and pepper plantations) and Yercaud (at an altitude of 5,100 feet, amidst coffee plantation and orange trees).

The programme fees ranges from Rs 9,500 to Rs 11,500 (excluding travel charges), depending on the activities selected. The programmes are divided into three broad age groups -- 9 to 11 years, 12 to 14 years and 14 to 15 years.

"There are seven major activities to select from — rock climbing, ropes course, wilderness, backpacking, outdoor survival, white water rafting, mountain biking and riverside backpacking. These activities are aimed at acquiring new skills, character building and introducing an element of stretch to facilitate learning outside the comfort zone. The programme aims at instilling confidence through adventure activities, developing relationships and numerous 'I did it' moments," said Yogesh Chopra, of Youreka.

Referring to apprehensions in the parents’ mind about aspects such as food and other comforts, as well as about the security of their children, Chopra added: "Our campuses are eco/child friendly and have been designed to ensure safety, security, hygiene, etc. of the children. The leader to child ratio is 1:5 and we also have specially assigned woman leaders."

"We provide all the equipment for adventure sports as well as supervision of instructors qualified from Himalayan Institute of Mountaineering, Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, National Outdoor Leadership School and access to medical facilities at the nearest hospital," said Shinde.

Addressing parents, promoters of these programmes claim that apart from recreational value, adventure activities are also a great learning experience for children.

"Keeping in mind the change in social and psychological behaviour of present-day kids, our activities are planned in such a manner that they enhance the spirit of camaraderie and leadership skills in an individual. With such an exposure for children, their overall grooming and development as an individual only progresses in the right direction, towards making them healthy social individuals," Shinde added.

With so much adventure and excitement in the offing, can children resist the temptation of sampling what’s on offer? Instead of getting impatient, they can just hit the terrain running. For more information on the subject, just visit http://synapses.in/footsteps.html and http://www.youreka.in. Get going buddies.

© Copyright 2008 HT Media Ltd. All rights reserved.

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