Alternative Learning through varied exposure, experiences, and interactions.

Last winter, Ben Gillespie, a river ecologist managing river resilience at Yorkshire Water, UK, visited us. He had a delightful interaction with School of Nature students, reinforcing our belief in alternative learning methods. Our facilitation under the School of Nature project extends beyond nature-based learning; students also learn through varied exposure, experiences, and interactions.

A Q&A session was facilitated by Paras, who provided the required translations as needed.

Ben and the students introduced their bioregions, culture, and lifestyle to one another. They continued with writing letters to each other as a lovely gesture of bidding goodbye!

Our Goals for the session:

• Establish that language is not a barrier to communication.
• Eradicate white supremacy by offering an equal opportunity to interact and learn.
• Encourage the students to interact in the areas beyond their comfort zones.
• Showcase alternative career choices and pursuits, especially in connection with the land and environment.
• Offer Ben an experiential introduction to the Himalayan villages, culture, and lifestyles. Similarly, introduce the students to the part of their visitors’ world.