Participants will get the opportunity to work alongside scientists and contribute to real scientific data collection. They will learn about our forests, research methodology & the need for such scientific data collection and analysis.

The Western Ghats is a biodiversity hotspot. There are a minimum of 6,000 vascular plant species in the Western Ghats, of which more than 3,000 (52 percent) are endemic. Participants will interact and work with scientists, field assistants, researchers, environmentalists, local residents and forest officials. They will explore the forests through a direct personal experience and understand the culture, lifestyle and values of people living in the vicinity of the forest.

Vanastree meaning “women of the forest” is a local seed keepers’ community that is striving to promote cultivated and wild biodiversity in farms and forest home gardens in an attempt to encourage seed saving and conservation of traditional crop varieties.

Participants will spend the day interacting with members of Vanastree and their team. The day will include discussions on food as a culture; exploring locally grown spices and playing interactive games to understand food habits & traditions. Tasting some local traditional cuisine will be a part of the sensory learning experience.

What is the role of forests as a freshwater catchment, What is a freshwater ecosystem & What are the freshwater challenges facing the world today? Through an enquiry based learning approach, participants will explore some of the environmental challenges of the 21st Century and look at actions that they could take to help mitigate the problems.

Yana – is a sacred site of natural heritage & one form of nature worship through which, traditionally, a diverse range of ecosystem has been preserved.

Participants will visit two rock monoliths or hillocks which are surrounded by thick evergreen forests and streams.

These monoliths are revered as a place of sacred importance by the locals and the forests surrounding it are thus protected. The path to the monoliths is through dense evergreen forest patch and is a nature trail in itself!

Yakshagana is a local folk art form which includes dance, music, dialogue, costume, makeup with a unique style and form. It is the equivalent of an Opera in Karnataka. Yakshagana has been embedded in the history and culture of Karnataka for the past thousand years. This is a classical folk art, which has its roots in the mythologies and holy texts. Yakshagana makeup is very elaborate and colourful and so are the costumes. As part of the ‘Yakshagana Appreciation Workshop’ participants will get to interact with the artisans, closely observe the artisans preparing their costume and makeup  and experience firsthand what happens behind the scenes. They will also get to witness a live performance!