The Planet and You Program
In 2011 and 2012, TREE's Youth For Conservation (YFC) conducted a series of outreach programmes in Tamil Nadu with the support of Wildlife Conservation Society - India Program and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Mumbai.
These programmes reinforced the need for conducting outreach in smaller towns and villages, since these students have little or no exposure to nature and wildlife conservation, despite living closer to nature reserves. This led to ‘The Planet and You’, a six-month nature and conservation education programme for younger students.
These programmes reinforced the need for conducting outreach in smaller towns and villages, since these students have little or no exposure to nature and wildlife conservation, despite living closer to nature reserves. This led to ‘The Planet and You’, a six-month nature and conservation education programme for younger students.
The sessions were carefully structured to take students on a journey of discovery. The first three sessions were designed to increase their knowledge about forests and wildlife, and the intricate connections between humans and nature; we also dealt with global ecological issues and India’s major conservation threats.
Subsequent sessions highlighted the importance of tiger conservation, and helped students establish a personal connect with nature by getting them to explore their surrounding environment. The final session was structured towards enabling action, and emphasised the critical importance of people’s participation.
Students were encouraged to incorporate conservation practices into their daily life for a start. All the sessions centered around a wildlife or conservation documentary film in the local language, and were complemented by fun interactive activities.
Subsequent sessions highlighted the importance of tiger conservation, and helped students establish a personal connect with nature by getting them to explore their surrounding environment. The final session was structured towards enabling action, and emphasised the critical importance of people’s participation.
Students were encouraged to incorporate conservation practices into their daily life for a start. All the sessions centered around a wildlife or conservation documentary film in the local language, and were complemented by fun interactive activities.
Photo Gallery
Engaging students once a month in a structured programme for a period of six months gave us new insights into the perception of students and teachers on nature, environment and conservation, and the education curriculum in Tamil Nadu.
The innovative nature of the programme design, using a combination of wildlife and conservation documentaries, curated screenings, interactive activities, alternate teaching methods and regular follow-ups with students and teachers, is unique.
Sustained student interest in the programme over six months, their active engagement and participation during the sessions and in the additional activities, affirmed the need for alternative and creative ways of teaching about the environment and wildlife.
The innovative nature of the programme design, using a combination of wildlife and conservation documentaries, curated screenings, interactive activities, alternate teaching methods and regular follow-ups with students and teachers, is unique.
Sustained student interest in the programme over six months, their active engagement and participation during the sessions and in the additional activities, affirmed the need for alternative and creative ways of teaching about the environment and wildlife.