- Students workshops: workshops for students not only gives a break from the routine but also gives a first hand experience from the activities. The subtleties in the concepts can be easily understood. Workshops are conducted on curricular and co-curricular topics. The workshops on English language, mathematics, science, community living, creative activities, etc. will help the students discover the joy of learning. It will be a welcome break from the usually monotonous learning at school.
- Students educational camps: 4 days, 5 days, 10 days camps for students help understand oneself and others, feel nature, experience the beauty of nature, learn from experience and observation.
- Children’s summer camp: this camp exposes children to various aspects of life and academics. The experiences enrich the lives of the children. Right academic skills are also exposed and developed. A holistic development of the child is possible here.
- Discussion/Dialogue with students: There is an immense need for STEP to become active because apart from STEP no other organization is concerned about dialogue, which is the only way to awaken people to the realities in their lives and truth. It is my view that books, tapes or multimedia cannot bring about awareness as well as the process of dialogue can.
Dialogue with Krishnamurti literature brings about much better results. Continuous dialogue over a certain period of time inspires a change in the attitudes , thoughts , and actions of the participants. We also need a training center at Madanapalle where we can conduct workshops, orientation programmes, and training programmes for students , teachers , educators and parents.
6. Student adventure camps: to discover the joy of living in and with nature. The camps provide rich experiences and help learn to live together, to adapt, to help, to face bare nature with great joy and confidence. The camps will give a meaningful break from the normal routine and stress and also freshen and energize the mind.
7. Development of Creativity: Activities such as Clay modeling, paper craft, drawing & painting, craft work, etc. develop creativity in children. STEP makes it mandatary for schools to conduct such activities. STEP also helps in arranging resource persons for such activities.
8. Other camps held by STEP:
STEP has already conducted several over night moon light sea shore camps. The beach at Gundayapalem near Ongole and the beach at Vetapalem near Cheerala have already hosted several over night beach programmes. Children who participated in these camps consider the experiences to be unforgettable. They are asking for more of such camps.
STEP Educational Camps:-
These camps, planned at Thettu, have been designed to provide a lot of exposure to educative aspects of the environment and the self for school students and college students. The camps also will provide first hand experiences in various activities that have been neglected in schools. Some activities are out of reach of the schools to organize. Many don’t even know that such activities need to be provided to the students.
Activities Planned:-
3 days or 4 days camps (on week ends)
¨ Treks & hikes
¨ Nature walks
¨ Yoga & Meditation
¨ Visit to Bird sanctuary
¨ Visit to Rishi Valley School & REC
Ten days / One month summer camps
• Trekking & hiking
• Nature walks
• Art & craft
• Spoken English
• Yoga & Meditation
• Indoor & out door play
• Hand writing
• Development of reading habit
• Educational field trips
• Picnics
• Study skills
• Leadership training
• Adventures & explorations
• Visit to Rishi Valley School & REC
• Bird watching
• Star gazing
• Foundation in math
• Language skills
Why these camps?
Children in most schools are confined to the four walls of the class room for most part of their schooling. Some students get one or two outings, organized by the school, during their entire schooling life time. These outings serve as entertainment rather than education. Children long to have sensational and thrilling experiences. They not only need educative outings but also thrilling and memorable outings. The outings also give a break from routine and stressful school programme. They also help participants learn to take initiative, develop leadership qualities, get adjusted to the situations, to be accommodative, to share, to help, to cooperate, to adapt, to relate positively, to develop manners and mannerisms, to get introspective, to face challenges and so on…. In other words the camps will help the participants to develop their personality.
Camp Site:
STEP campus is three and a half acres of land with a couple of buildings on it. This campus can host 100 participants with minimum facilities. Tents can be fixed to accommodate more when required. Some basic facilities such as toilets and bath rooms are to be constructed. Some roofs for the existing buildings need to be rebuilt. Temporary water arrangements can be made but permanent source is to be worked out. Some doors and windows require repairs or replacement. Infrastructure as per the needs of the camps must be provided.
Learning through activity has an immense value and it is long lasting. Providing activities for school children seems to be the need of the hour. Children fed up with print books and the bare four walls of the class room and the monotonous straight face of the teacher need an activity that can bring life and energy to their living.
We had about 40 children with teachers accompanying them at Thettu in October 2012, from a school near Vijayawada. They spent 5 days with us. We organized nature walks, a trek to Horseley hills,a temple with historical background, a spinning mill, a visit to Rishi Valley, a visit to organic farm, and clay work during their stay. Children went back with rich and unforgettable experience.
A group of 60 children came from Sanghamithra school in Nellore to participate in 3 day adventure camp at Thettu in January 2013.
17th Jan
Children of Red Field International school at KAVALI came to Thettu on 17th Jan, in the night, to spend three days. Their Tempo broke down when they had just passed Thirupathi, in the jungle. After a dramatic and romantic experience in the moonlight, past midnight, they could resume their journey. They arrived at Thettu at 5:00 a.m on 18th Jan. We put them to sleep without delay. There were 12 children and 3 teachers.
18th Jan.
When they woke up at 7:00 a.m hot water was ready. After bath and breakfast Mr.Sivaram sat with them and gave introduction to the place, people and the programme. Then I took them for a Nature walk into the narrow valley between Rishikonda and Horsley Hills. During the walk children were asked to identify plants they knew and introduced to new plants. they were asked to make observations and share or clarify doubts. In a mango orchid, on the way, they were allowed to climb trees. They observed the landscapes, trees, plants, shrubs, birds, crops, weather, the hills, the rocks, soil and the sky. we got back home by lunch time.
After lunch children were asked to take a nap. Then I took them to Rishi Valley School. We went into Rishi Valley bird sancuary, watched some birds and studied the environment. Bird watching requires complete attention, silence, a keen ear to listen to the birds and an eye to spot the bird. In this act one needs to become self aware, sensitive, observent, and attentive. then they can discover the beauty of all that. A whole new perspective reveals.
19th Jan
Children were woken up early in the morning and taken into Thettu village to observe village life in the early hours. They had a rich and memorable experience.
After breakfast they were given clay work. They played with clay and tried to make some shapes they had in mind. Pani, my brother, took the class. Pani teaches clay work in schools to develop creativity as part of STEP activities. Clay work is a good media to develop creativity in children.
At around 11:00a.m we headed towards Prakruthivanam with our lunch packed.we went there by the tempo. The organic farm, a herd of native cows gathered from different parts of India, rain water harvesting arrangement for drinking purpose, and oil extracting (from different aromatic grasses and plants) unit were major attractions. We had lunch at the farm and drank harvested rain water.
After lunch we went to a place called Gevigundu which is at a foot hills near to the farm. Here you find a shivaling under a big bolder and a water tank near by is fed by a spring from the hills. The beauty of the place, the silence, the gigantic rocks and the hills all around leaves one spellbound.
From there we went to interact with Dr. Henry, an artist and a prominent calligraphist in the country. He had taught art in Rishi Valley school in the same department where my father taught clay modeling in 70’s. he is well known for a special feat, that is, he paints a picture depicting the poem while it is recited. He also demonstrated calligraphy. Children and teachers were mesmerized by his magic with pencil and pen. It was late evening by the time we got back home.
20th Jan
After early breakfast we went to Horsley Hills by tempo. It’s a hill station, very well known for it’s beauty and cool weather. We did some rock climbing and went up to the highest peak in the hills. Then we went to the museum created by the forest department. We also went around to see popular view points. We got back home late for lunch.
After lunch there was a pottery class. Everyone tried to make a pot on the wheel. Pani took the sessions. This was a thrilling experience for them all.
In the evening some children went out to pluck some tamarinds to take them home. They loved the tamarinds there.
After dinner we engaged children in stargazing for some time and later we had a campfire. Children sang and danced around the campfire.
All the activities in the camp were intended to awaken attention, awareness, observation and appreciation for beauty in the children. There were opportunities for them to cooperate, help each other, self manage, feel responsible and so on. And for three days they did not even think of T.V, gadgets, junk food and boredom.
These camps, planned at Thettu, have been designed to provide a lot of exposure to educative aspects of the environment and the self for school students and college students. The camps also will provide first hand experiences in various activities that have been neglected in schools. Some activities are out of reach of the schools to organize. Many don’t even know that such activities need to be provided to the students.
Activities Planned:-
3 days or 4 days camps (on week ends)
¨ Treks & hikes
¨ Nature walks
¨ Yoga & Meditation
¨ Visit to Bird sanctuary
¨ Visit to Rishi Valley School & REC
Ten days / One month summer camps
• Trekking & hiking
• Nature walks
• Art & craft
• Spoken English
• Yoga & Meditation
• Indoor & out door play
• Hand writing
• Development of reading habit
• Educational field trips
• Picnics
• Study skills
• Leadership training
• Adventures & explorations
• Visit to Rishi Valley School & REC
• Bird watching
• Star gazing
• Foundation in math
• Language skills
Why these camps?
Children in most schools are confined to the four walls of the class room for most part of their schooling. Some students get one or two outings, organized by the school, during their entire schooling life time. These outings serve as entertainment rather than education. Children long to have sensational and thrilling experiences. They not only need educative outings but also thrilling and memorable outings. The outings also give a break from routine and stressful school programme. They also help participants learn to take initiative, develop leadership qualities, get adjusted to the situations, to be accommodative, to share, to help, to cooperate, to adapt, to relate positively, to develop manners and mannerisms, to get introspective, to face challenges and so on…. In other words the camps will help the participants to develop their personality.
Camp Site:
STEP campus is three and a half acres of land with a couple of buildings on it. This campus can host 100 participants with minimum facilities. Tents can be fixed to accommodate more when required. Some basic facilities such as toilets and bath rooms are to be constructed. Some roofs for the existing buildings need to be rebuilt. Temporary water arrangements can be made but permanent source is to be worked out. Some doors and windows require repairs or replacement. Infrastructure as per the needs of the camps must be provided.
Learning through activity has an immense value and it is long lasting. Providing activities for school children seems to be the need of the hour. Children fed up with print books and the bare four walls of the class room and the monotonous straight face of the teacher need an activity that can bring life and energy to their living.
We had about 40 children with teachers accompanying them at Thettu in October 2012, from a school near Vijayawada. They spent 5 days with us. We organized nature walks, a trek to Horseley hills,a temple with historical background, a spinning mill, a visit to Rishi Valley, a visit to organic farm, and clay work during their stay. Children went back with rich and unforgettable experience.
A group of 60 children came from Sanghamithra school in Nellore to participate in 3 day adventure camp at Thettu in January 2013.
17th Jan
Children of Red Field International school at KAVALI came to Thettu on 17th Jan, in the night, to spend three days. Their Tempo broke down when they had just passed Thirupathi, in the jungle. After a dramatic and romantic experience in the moonlight, past midnight, they could resume their journey. They arrived at Thettu at 5:00 a.m on 18th Jan. We put them to sleep without delay. There were 12 children and 3 teachers.
18th Jan.
When they woke up at 7:00 a.m hot water was ready. After bath and breakfast Mr.Sivaram sat with them and gave introduction to the place, people and the programme. Then I took them for a Nature walk into the narrow valley between Rishikonda and Horsley Hills. During the walk children were asked to identify plants they knew and introduced to new plants. they were asked to make observations and share or clarify doubts. In a mango orchid, on the way, they were allowed to climb trees. They observed the landscapes, trees, plants, shrubs, birds, crops, weather, the hills, the rocks, soil and the sky. we got back home by lunch time.
After lunch children were asked to take a nap. Then I took them to Rishi Valley School. We went into Rishi Valley bird sancuary, watched some birds and studied the environment. Bird watching requires complete attention, silence, a keen ear to listen to the birds and an eye to spot the bird. In this act one needs to become self aware, sensitive, observent, and attentive. then they can discover the beauty of all that. A whole new perspective reveals.
19th Jan
Children were woken up early in the morning and taken into Thettu village to observe village life in the early hours. They had a rich and memorable experience.
After breakfast they were given clay work. They played with clay and tried to make some shapes they had in mind. Pani, my brother, took the class. Pani teaches clay work in schools to develop creativity as part of STEP activities. Clay work is a good media to develop creativity in children.
At around 11:00a.m we headed towards Prakruthivanam with our lunch packed.we went there by the tempo. The organic farm, a herd of native cows gathered from different parts of India, rain water harvesting arrangement for drinking purpose, and oil extracting (from different aromatic grasses and plants) unit were major attractions. We had lunch at the farm and drank harvested rain water.
After lunch we went to a place called Gevigundu which is at a foot hills near to the farm. Here you find a shivaling under a big bolder and a water tank near by is fed by a spring from the hills. The beauty of the place, the silence, the gigantic rocks and the hills all around leaves one spellbound.
From there we went to interact with Dr. Henry, an artist and a prominent calligraphist in the country. He had taught art in Rishi Valley school in the same department where my father taught clay modeling in 70’s. he is well known for a special feat, that is, he paints a picture depicting the poem while it is recited. He also demonstrated calligraphy. Children and teachers were mesmerized by his magic with pencil and pen. It was late evening by the time we got back home.
20th Jan
After early breakfast we went to Horsley Hills by tempo. It’s a hill station, very well known for it’s beauty and cool weather. We did some rock climbing and went up to the highest peak in the hills. Then we went to the museum created by the forest department. We also went around to see popular view points. We got back home late for lunch.
After lunch there was a pottery class. Everyone tried to make a pot on the wheel. Pani took the sessions. This was a thrilling experience for them all.
In the evening some children went out to pluck some tamarinds to take them home. They loved the tamarinds there.
After dinner we engaged children in stargazing for some time and later we had a campfire. Children sang and danced around the campfire.
All the activities in the camp were intended to awaken attention, awareness, observation and appreciation for beauty in the children. There were opportunities for them to cooperate, help each other, self manage, feel responsible and so on. And for three days they did not even think of T.V, gadgets, junk food and boredom.
Dr.Henry interacting with camp students . He was the first artist of TTD. He had worked in Rishi Valley school as an artist in the early 70's. He demonstrates his art skills and calligraphy skills to students to inspire them and encourage them to learn drawing and painting and calligraphy. He lives in Madanapalle in his old age(84), yet active.