Nature Camp Report 2008-2009

Nature Camp REPORT

            Natural Science students of St.Joseph College of Teacher Education were too lucky to camp in harmony with nature for three days at Vellappara Forest Division Idukki.  All the students, our Principal Sister, our teachers and a few parents assembled in front of the college at 6.45 am on the glorious morning of 22^nd February 2009.  All together we began our trip by around 7.10 am by seeking the blessing of God Almighty.

               Our teacher, Dr. Rachel George, our Sister, Dr. Sr. Mary Joseph and three resource persons, Venu Varyathu, M. Renjith Kumar and M.S. Vinod, assisted as for the nature camp.Out first target was Alwaye Shiva Rathri Manappuram, where we can see the worst phase of the destructed Periyar. 

             We reached there by 7.45 am.  Manappuram was at its full glory to receive the crowd for Shivarathri.  But the whole glory was artificially made, which contributed to the disturbances in nature.  There was a temporary bridge across river Periyar.  The construction of that bridge was so simple, from which we can understand the fact that Periyar was not too deapthy at those region.  The area, that attracted us was the artificial forest made by the Periyar Samrakshana Samithi.  As a part of Save Periyar Project in 1985, this forest was made. M.S. Vinod Sir gave a small description regarding that artificial forest and river Periyar.  The major destruction caused to river Periyar was by the illegal sand mining near to the river basin.  The worst phase of Periyar put our minds into great distress. 

By around 8.45 am we got back to our bus and reached Kalady Sree Sankara Sthoopam by 9.15 am. Sankara Sthoopam, depicts the major incidents in the life of Sree Sankaracharya, the proponent of the concept “Adwaytha”.  It is believed that, Lord Sree Parameswara himself incarnated as Sankaracharya.  The Sthoopam is a 14 stared building with a winding model steps.  At each level, the important incidents in the life of ‘Sankaran’ were depicted with its maximum beauty on the walls as sculptures.  By 9.40 we left Kalady.

            Our next destiny was Kodanadu Elephant Kraal.  By 10.15 am, we reached Kodanadu and had our breakfast.  We enjoyed it at together in close relation with nature. At Kodanadu, a small ecofriendly park, a zoo, now considered to be a rescue centre, the elephant, Kraal and a children park were the major attractions.   
Only a few animals & birds were present in the zoo.  It included some monkeys, python, pigeons, parrots, barn owl, Brahmini kite, rose ringed parakeet, goose, barking deer, jungle cat, sambar deer, crocodile, peacock, spotted deer etc. Our next fascination was Elephant Kraal which was built up in 1965 with Rs.40, 346 /- as its cost of production.  At first here elephants trapped from wild one tamed but later on elephant trapping is not allowed instead it acts as a rescue centre.  At present when we visited, we could find 4 female elephants and one male. Then we got a small class on elephants, the way they one tamed etc by Subrahmanyan and Philip, the elephant trainers and Padmarajan, the care taker.  Around 21 species of animals are present there.  By 12.15, we got back to out bus.  On the way, at 1.45 pm we had our lunch.
  

By 3 pm, we reached the lower Periyar Dam.  By that time Venu Sir talked a little.  Sir emphasized the importance of nature and its products.  He just explained to us- how to love nature & how to enjoy nature.  Then again we continued our journey by 3.30 pm.  By 4.45 pm, we reached Idukki. 

 

              The dormitory under Vellapara Forest division was our camping place.  It was nearer to Kolumban Samadhi.  It was a beautiful area.  Very close to the dormitory there was a small temple.  We would meet a lady there.  She told that there are a number of faith, belief and stories connected with the temple.  There was a peculiar arrangement of flattered rock pieces which was called as “Yakshiara”. The climate over there was very cool, calm and sweet.  As soon as we reached over the dormitory we were welcomed by K.A Vargeese Sir there.  Then we got light refreshment with tea and biscuit there.

At 5.30 we had an official inauguration of our nature camp in the dormitory.  We began it with a prayer song by Shyama Vargeese.  The camp coordinator, Renjith sir gave the welcome speech and Venu sir gave the presidential address.  Then the most auspicious occasion of camp inauguration was done by K.A. Vargeese sir, the camp in charge.  We curtained the inaugural function by the vote of thanks by Anupama K.M.

             By 6 o’ clock, we had our next session. It was lead by Vargeese sir.  First of all sir supplied a letter pad and a pen for each one of us.  Then sir gave us a clear idea regarding the next day’s schedule.  Next was an informative and excellent throw of knowledge by Vargeese sir.  The topic was National parks, wild life sanctuaries, Dams, endangered flora and fauna etc.   The class was too informative as well as interesting.  Finally we had a questioning session. There sir, cleared a number of doubts from our side.

          We had our dinner at 9 o’ clock in the dormitory.  Next was our camp evaluation.  For that all our camp members and faculty joined together and each one evaluated that day’s schedule.  Every positive and negative aspect, of camp was put forwarded there.  After the evaluation, by about 11.30 pm we went for bed.

On the very fine morning of 23^rd February, every one got up by 4.30 am and then we had a time for bath and change.  The first programme charted was a morning walk.  Before that we had a prayer lead by Sr. Mary Joseph.  We came across Kolumban Samadhi there.  Kolumban was the tribal man who proposed the site for Idukki Dam.

 

             K.A. Vargeese sir, was our guide through out the walk.  We saw a number of beautiful birds we could feel the most smoothened climate through out the walk.

 After the morning walk, we came back to our dormitory then we had our breakfast, uppuma and banana there.  The next programme was our most awaitened moment, the trucking.  We began our trip at 9.50 am. K .A. Vargeese sir helped us to identify a number of trees, plants and various animals there. The trip was too interesting as well as adventurous.  Some of the students were too tired but some were very energetic even after the trucking.Then we had our lunch at 1.30 in the dormitory.  Next was a quiz competition conducted by K.A. Vargeese sir on the Periyar day’s class and knowledge that we acquired during trucking.  The top scorer was Binuja Clement, followed by Hasna V.P & then Tinu Jose. Then we had a tea at 4.50.

                Next we moved on to ‘Kalvary Mount’ the most beautiful place that I have ever seen.  Kalvary mount was a steep mountain.  We could enjoy the fantastic scenery from the top to the bottom.  The scene over Kalvary mount is really beyond our expectations. By around 7.30 we reached back the dormitory and had our dinner. After dinner, we had a small cultural programme.  Shivadasan sir, the Thattekadu forest officer addressed our gathering. 

                           By around 11 o’clock the cultural programme came to an end and next was a session for the news edition.  The news editor all together made articles for the camp news paper.

          On the fine morning of 24^th February, our plan was to go deep into the ‘Idukki wild life’ sanctuary.  We got up at 4.30 am, and became ready by 6.45 am and had a morning walk. By 7.45 am, we were back at the dormitory and had our breakfast there.  Then students were divided into two groups and one went for boating and other deemed the Kolumban Samadhi.

We were lucky meet the legendary Rajamma – the tribal relative of Kolumban.  She could explain some believer of the tubak about Muniyara and all. 

                               On the way to the inner zones of Idukki wild life sanctuary through the dam we could see 4 elephants.  Two were drinking water from the dam and we could feel its presence with in 50 meters.  During the rise in the boat we were able to see Cheruthoni Dam, Kuravan mala, Kurathy mala and Vyshali hills. 

                              The Cheruthoni dam is so peculiar that it process the shutters to carry out the overflow water in dam.  As we all know the arch shaped Idukki dam was on its full glory.  It is the first arch dam in Asia.  The dam was completed in 1975 by Hindusthan Construction Company using   Canadian   technology.   The dam was     inaugurated    by Indira Gandhi.  Dam dimension was 169 m in height, 366 m in length and 736 m wide.

          After the smoothening ride we reached our dormitory and had our lunch there.  By 2.45 pm, we had our closure ceremony of the camp.  There the News paper was published and we selected Lakshmi and Honeymol as the best camp members. Then, prizes for quiz competition, best camp members and camp evaluator – Divya K.S were awarded.  After the official fare well, we headed back to our bus with a fully satisfied mind filled with the evergreen memory of the camp.  By around 7.30 p.m by God Grace we reached our college.

 

           Thus we enjoyed the amazing and wonderful experience of the first nature camp arranged in St. Joseph College of Teacher Education for Women.