Prokritipath Pathshala has held an unusual nature camp titled "Stories of Wildlife" to introduce the next generation to wild animals. The camp was held on 24 July at the National Botanical Garden in Mirpur, Dhaka. Students aged five to 15 took part in the event, which began at 7.30am, and parents also attended.

The children first got to know each other through a series of fun activities. They were then taken around the green surroundings of the botanical garden and introduced to birds and wildlife. They drew birds in their notepads and noted down their names and features, and enjoyed creative work such as drawing what they saw in front of them.

The organisers said that outside their textbooks, children now spend a large part of their time on the screens of mobile phones, tablets and other digital devices. The main aim of the initiative is to draw them away from screens and build a friendship with nature. To love and protect nature, they said, children must learn to recognise it from an early age, which is why this open-air school was set up beyond four walls.

The mentor for the wildlife lessons was Jalal Ahmed, former president of the Bangladesh Bird Club, ornithologist and chairman of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC). After the three-hour camp he said: "I had a wonderful time here with the children. They enjoyed getting to know birds and wildlife through play. I hope Prokritipath Pathshala will keep this excellent programme going."

Other mentors were Shamsul Haque, former chief botanist of the Bangladesh National Botanical Garden, botanist and architect Tughlaq Azad Mithu, and child development specialist and teacher Khadija Bappi. Through stories, observation and hands-on activities they explained different aspects of wildlife, trees, flowers and leaves in simple terms.

Parents urged the organisers to hold such events regularly, saying: "Initiatives like this are very important for children's mental development, environmental awareness and love of nature."

Prokritipath Pathshala's founder, Everest climber Ikramul Hasan Shakil, said: "We want our children to grow up with empathy and love for nature. Let friendship with nature be their first lesson in becoming humane people. Let their intellect and minds grow beyond conventional book learning, through joy, creativity, experience and exploration. Giving them that opportunity is our main goal."

Also present were co-founder and mountaineer Sadia Sultana, agriculture ministry deputy secretary Mahfuzul Alam Masum, Ananda Binodon editor SAM Sumon and urban planner Bibi Khadija, among others.

Prokritipath Pathshala is an educational programme of the Breath of Nature (BON) Foundation. The camp ended with certificates being handed to the students.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.