VIJAYPUR: First batch of MV International School left for three days nature camp at Dudu, one of the most beautiful valleys forming part of river Tawi catchment surrounded with majestic forests of Deodar and Oaks located in deep Himalayas.
Forty students and five teachers of the school today left for attending Cultural and Natural Heritage Nature Camp.
School is organising this nature camp jointly with Centre for Environment Education and Training (CEET) and INTACH Jammu Chapter under the guidance of Dr. C.M Seth, an expert nature camper and S.K Sahni, Convenor INTACH.
Enroute, students will visit Heritage Temples of Manwal, GauriKund, Sudhmhadev and Mantalai Temples. Officers of Wildlife Department will take students inside the Sudhmahadev Wildlife Sanctuary and apprise them with the rare biodiversity of Dudu Valley. At Mantalai students will collect articles of archaeological importance from the historical hillock where once a princely state was flourishing and now it is under ruins. At Mantalai they will also get an opportunity to see Dhrender Brahmchari Ashram and the deer park. Students will also interact with farmers and villagers at village Bist and adjoining villages that are famous for vegetable cultivation and learn about organic farming. At Dudu, students will visit Vasuki Nag temple, Shiv Gali Pass (9,000 feet) and will participate in trekking of about 6 km inside the forest. Here students will be acquainted with traditional knowledge of villagers in making milk products like Kaladi, Khoa, Lassi and Ghee and honey collection. During the nature camp students will participate in painting competition, nature report writing, tent pitching and mountain climbing.
Students will experience how to sustain on natural resources in the wilderness. They will visit famous rainbow waterfall.
Activities of nature camp shall be concluded with camp fire, cultural programme of local Dogri folk music, song and dance and distribution of Nature Camp Certificates to all participants. On their way back on the last day students will visit historical Krimchi Temples and know about past history, culture of the area and architecture of temples. Nature camp at Dudu is supported by the Forest Department, Wildlife Department, Patnitop Development Authority, Village Panchayat Dudu and local Eco Guides.