Activity Week

Grade 11 Trek to Pindari Glacier

Our group of 18 students from the 11th Grade, along with four chaperones, went on a trek to the Pindari Glacier. The students in this group surprised me with their enthusiasm during this gruelling trek, even during the dreaded cold, early mornings!

We hiked for 6 days, and one of our decisions on the second day was to hike in four smaller groups, thus making them easier to manage. This allowed us to get to know each other better and also be efficient with time management on the trail. Whether we were setting up tents at the end of a tiring day, packing up tents early on a cold morning, or offering to share the loads with those feeling weaker or ill, our students followed instructions well and always looked out for each other.

On most evenings, we would talk about the 'highs and lows' of the day, and figure out ways to do things better the next time around. We discussed environmental issues around us, and also had a lively discussion on the pros and cons of a road being constructed to connect the villages in the area.

Zero Point was at 12,000 feet above sea level, where the trail ended and the return journey began. Here we had magnificent views of the Pindari glacier and surrounding peaks that rose up to 10,000 feet above us. We even met an interesting ascetic, known as "Babaji" with whom our students interacted on several philosophical topics.

On the last day, we asked the students to choose leaders amongst themselves, which allowed the students to take charge of the trek on the way down. For me this was a week well spent, and I look forward to another trek with this group.

Krishnan Kutty, Head of Outdoor Education

Grade 5 Activity Week: Dehradun, Rishikesh, and Rajaji National Park

For Activity Week, the 5th graders first went to Clement Town in Dehradun, where we were honored to witness Tibetan Buddhist monks completing a 'sand mandala'.

We were at Chilla, on the fringe of the Rajaji Park on the second day, where we spent the early morning on a safari. Later, we headed to Rishikesh, crossing the swaying Laxman Jhula for a day roaming the markets and temples of that chaotic, crazy, noisily religious town.

We ended the day with another night safari that yielded the most exciting moment of the trip: our flashlights caught the burning eyes of a tiger, glowing bright red in the shadowy undergrowth! As the cheering and high-fives subsided, we watched silently, and slightly fearfully, as we saw that the cat unflinchingly stared back into our bus. Being only a few metres away from India's greatest predator, we thought it better to leave this powerful creature alone.

The next day, we got to see the interior of the Rajaji biosphere, where we saw nearly all the animals that we had researched: rollers, kingfishers, migrating storks, white eagles, herons, peacocks, jackals, wild boar, and sambar. The following day, we spent the morning with members of the local Gujjar tribe, having enlightening conversations about their way of life. The meeting ended in their newly-built school house, where young Gujjar students recited poems for us. Our trip ended with a ride back to Rishikesh and an afternoon of swimming in the Ganga river.

Mark Vignali, Grade 5 Homeroom Teacher