Outdoor Adventure Programs

Summer is the time of the year where everyone is looking to escape from routine activities. Especially for the parents, it is a challenging period for them to keep their kids engaged. With so many avenues and activities are opening for the kids. However; picking the suitable one always seems to be overwhelming. Nature Adventure Camp is the best way to engage your kids. With lots of fun activities, these camps are specifically designed keeping in mind the different age groups of kids hence helping them to creatively engage and most importantly they will be away from the gadgets.

What Your Kids Will Learn At Nature Adventure Camp:

Nature adventure camps for kids giving them the opportunity to meet new kids and make friends that they might not acquaint themselves with. And this is amazing how kids are having a great time with their creative camping experiences, the benefits, and the outcomes and the positive impact which leaves on them.

What is a Nature Adventure Camp?

Nature Adventure Camps are basically private co-ed summer camps specializing in environmental science and natural history. It is all about educating with fun on how to conserve and protect the environment. Learning about how to become wise towards preserving earth’s natural resources. It is about fostering an appreciation and love for nature by inviting kids to explore the world around them through hands-on, outdoor experiential learning

The camp inspires kids to become responsible and conscious citizens and spark a lifelong love, forging deep connections with the naturistic world.

Nature delivers a full-on sensory experience, and a nature adventure camping trip is a great way to initiate the younger set to the joys of being outside.  Below mentioned are important takeaways for your kids when staying at Nature adventure camp.

Kids Don’t Need A Lot Of Stuff

To survive you need clothing, food, and shelter the bare minimum. Nature adventure camping is all about that. It reminds you that material possessions are not required and they are not as important as we might think. The desire to carry the “stuff” quickly reduces after joining this camp.

Your Kid Gets A Sense Of Direction – through a nature adventure camp

Out in nature, having a strong sense of direction is important. This helps you to know where you are, where you are going and in what direction you will find a camping site if you are planning some kind of activity which can be the best place to play etc. 

And this is extremely beneficial, especially when your kids are always busy with some kind of gadget. Taking a break from technology and the constant bombardment of media is a great way for kid travelers to gain a sense of direction for their future as well.

Appreciation Of Nature’s Beauty

Seeing a night full of stars is so attractive and alluring then the city lights. The smell of woods and wilderness, when they crush under the hiking boots, is absolute bliss. Let your kid experience this once in a lifetime experience. While camping, all five senses are activated to take in the beauty of the outdoors. Too often we’re stuck indoors missing the magnificent scenery that’s right outside.

Importance Of Hard Work

Raising our kids sometimes feels like crossing their milestones: first steps, first words, or first days at school.  That is why we remember every time to encourage

 That’s why it is important for them to encourage the outcomes but also the hard work and determination that will help them build great confidence.

Hard work and determination are important values to teach children and have a lifelong impact on their future capabilities, confidence, and happiness. Teaching our little ones to persevere when things get tough and to work hard to achieve their goals and aspirations is one of the most important skills our children can learn.

How Food Tastes After Long Outdoors

When the kids are out in the nature adventure camp, gathering firewood and carrying buckets of water, hiking, exploring and fishing hence by dinner time the kids are hungry. All they care about is nice warm food and a comfy sleeping bag. This helps them to recognize the importance of hard work, realize how it pays off at the end of the day to get a good meal and comfortable sleep. It is one of the most unappealing freeze-dried dinner tastes like a gourmet feast.

How To Get Comfortable In Minimum

This is the best for growing kids. Our kids are so dependent to live a certain lifestyle. Nature adventure camp provides them to step outside of their comfort zone. 

Stepping outside from the normal routine and break free from everyday life can be exciting and adventurous. It also means not being afraid to try something new, learning new skills, and taking risks to expand your realm of experiences. 

Yes, nature adventure camping might be a little intimidating at first, but it’s a good practice to let your kids take a break from “normal” every now and then.

Unplugging Completely For Few Days From The Technology

When you are out in nature, it is a good time to separate from all kinds of gadgets. No video games, no television, no cell phones, nature adventure camps provide a perfect opportunity to disconnect from the technology. Your kids get to learn that there is a life beyond gadgets. It is equally important to spend time outdoors and play plus it is good for your health. 

What are you waiting for? It’s time for you to pack up and go for nature adventure camping. Let’s go explore the outdoors. Find our Summer Travel Programs/ Camping here.

Getting children interested in outdoor bushcraft and survival skills has been one of the major goals of my career, and there is a lot of evidence that outdoor activities are enormously beneficial to young growing kids. If you are looking to enroll your teenage kids into survival camp, it is important that you too know what kind of camping it is.

What Is A Survival Camp?

Survival camping is all about living with the very basic, using available resources sensibly away from the confines of closed walls.

Though we do not think of it as such, our day to day lives is lived with comforts and luxuries.  In a survival camp, one learns to use survival camping gear and travel with essentials. Along with a tiny dose of self-discipline and developing the ability to manage on your own in challenging situations, this adventure in nature is one of the best ways to experience nature at close quarters as well.

On top of benefits to the kids is it enhances the mental health, wellbeing, confidence, and the fact that increased exposure to nature and the outdoors can help children develop an appreciation of nature and the environment.

The survival camp is about coordination between survival skills and the safety, resistance, and capability of those children when taking part in potential emergency situations. Maybe with limited survival camping kit and accessories

How Will A Survival Camp With Train Your Kid To Become Stronger

We are living in a day and age when children are becoming obese. They are losing their immunity power and prone to various illnesses at a very young age. With less stamina than children from previous generations, they aren’t able to do any physical chores anymore and spend far too much time swiping and prodding at iPads and phones.

Your kid learns to master the art of team building and leadership

Good leadership is about jumping in and standing out as a doer. The skill needs to be developed. Be it in pitching tents or gathering naturally available resources, the kids here at the camp will be trained and then after that even pass on this learning to others to help them progress. These skills, when developed and honed, can help a lot more in professional or personal settings. Team building and leadership activities can tap into otherwise unseen pioneers in your organization or home. It adds to a sense of satisfaction and takes you a step closer to more successes in many aspects of life.

An Experience In Wilderness

Learning the basics of surviving the great outdoors involves many skills. From the knowledge of knowing where to obtain food in the wild, emergency medical treatment to working as a team, this camping will allow your kids to experience the thrill of living far from the generally well-accustomed urban settings where we have access to dedicated resources for these.

It is a wonderful means to build on innate ingenuity and learn from experienced guides. It leaves your kids refreshed with improved ability to think and act quickly.

Camp helps with mental stimulation & physical activity

Many of us probably also feel that kids don’t get enough physical activity during the summer months as well.

Survival Camp can get kids going, both mentally and physically. The camp will allow kids to get off of couches and into courses that teach them how to make tents, cook own food, how to light the fire and more instead of simply playing. Camp will also allow for physical activity no matter their camp of choice.

It Sharpens The Skills At Survival Camp

Skills like living under makeshift shelters/tents or cooking or procuring own food make one self-dependent. It focuses on living with essentials and is a fun exercise in teamwork as it requires making the best of individual talents as a group.

Enrolling your kid in a survival camp is an excellent opportunity for those who like adventure and learn skills like determining a good camping spot, learning to appreciate and live with other life forms, read directions while doubling up as a refreshing break from the daily grind.

Your child will discover the wild side through Survival Camping. The camping brings you an opportunity to work on your own personality in an exciting way in the lap of Mother Nature. Far from the daily grind, get to know another side of your child.

It Teaches You New Type Of Friendship-building

Campers at survival camp who interact with like-minded peers are able to easily build friendships like a lifelong friendship rooted in similar interests. These relationships can lead to even more, as the participants are essentially networking, and have names to call on when it comes to doing a side project, finding an internship, or even starting a new business with the friend they met at camp.

Learning New Skills

Think about giving your child giving a week or more immersed in learning survival skills like lighting a fire, cook their own food, picking veggies and fruits from the wilderness, building their own tent and so on. Plus, kids and teens are able to really get out of their comfort zone to take some risks with their skills, without the looming fear of failure and resulting repercussions.

Preparing hypothetically

Survival camps teach participants to respond to getting lost in the woods by considering the following:

How long can you survive without air – 3 minutes

Without warmth -3 hours

Limited water- 3 days

Away from food – 3 weeks

The camp is designed for children in 4rth grade and above. The kids learn how to collect material to build a shelter, find food and dig a solar still to create a water supply. Each of the camper’s camp survival kit is equipped with a backpack with necessary items that can be used in a survival situation, such as aluminum foil, a flashlight, a compass, rope, fire-starting materials, and other items.

Survival camps teach that the brain is our greatest asset and show the kids how to use their own intelligence to survive.

Survival Camp Reinforces Empowerment and Independence

Even if you think your kids are independent, nothing brings out and tests that independence more than giving them time away on their own.

Without their parents around, who is going to make your child’s decisions? Who is going to tell them to brush their teeth? Make the bed? Manage their time? At survival camp, they do it themselves.

The camp lets children to truly understand the thought that goes into making a good decision and will discover even more about themselves in the process. Furthermore, the children will also lean on peers for support, if they do need additional help and learn from them. There are a number of other life skills kids and teens can establish at camp, too.

The Camp Brings Creativity

At camp, your children get to try new things, like creating their own game which in itself is a success.

Creativity can’t be repressed at camp because campers do not have to worry about getting grades neither there is any competition. It is only when kids are free of such restrictions that their creativity can flourish.

The Camp Instills Gratitude & Appreciation

The time spent away from home helps kids grow as an individual. They begin to appreciate their home, their parents, their belongings, a meal cooked by mom or dad, and everything else they don’t have at camp. The survival camp has a deeper impact on the kids as most of the parents have witnessed their kids of being grateful and appreciate the small gesture in life. This definitely takes shape at camp.

Final Thoughts

 If you regularly send your kids to camp, now you have a few new benefits to look out for and harvest in your children.

If you send your son or daughter to the survival camp to have fun, that is great. But also try and prep them beforehand to ensure they maximize their ability to attain the benefits above.

And last, if you haven’t yet sent your child to camp, and you’re wondering what survival camp does for kids, hope this article will help you in your future planning.

Next step? Just think about camp differently. For more details connect with us.

Kids nature camps can have a transformational effect on your children’s overall development

Environmental degradation, profound aggressiveness among children and childhood obesity are the common social problems that make our children unconnected with nature. Ecopsychology and neuroscience make the child connect with nature. Adapting to a physical activity makes a huge impact on children’s mental health and learning. The amount and quality time spent with nature brings positive changes in children’s attitude, behavior, and awareness about the environment.

Summer holidays make many students labeled as “Slow-learners” to be enrolled in special study centers by the parents themselves. Some may get positive results, others may experience their plans getting backfired. Such backfired plans cause children to feel more stress, anxiety, anger, and depression. To overcome the problem of lack of interest in studies, kids nature camps help the children to feel more self-confident, make progress in academics and to face the forthcoming academic year with zero fear.

Technology is pretty cool and there are a lot of things to entertain the children. When summer approaches, it’s better to put away the smart devices and get to play in nature. Nature camp for kids in summer are the right time to take a break from the rooms and screens to keep your kid’s eyes, mind and pure elemental play in the sun.

Why are kids nature camps important?

Kids Nature camps are important for children who lack interest in studies because it gives them a structured opportunity to grow their skills. Children go to school from home and to extracurriculars to develop their skills. Nature camp for kids in summer allows them to explore new things with a team of the same age group, the kids become independent and self-confident enough to do better in academics. It helps the children to socialize, make new friends and get them a better platform to learn new things.

Benefits of kids nature camps:

Many people consider sending the children to kids nature camps with other kids to have fun, learn, interact, etc as a waste of time. But the truth is that having the experience of nature camp for kids provides much difference in academics. There are many other benefits that could be obtained in nature summer camps as follows,

Unique interest is built in kids during camps:

If your child has an interest in any other subjects than core subjects, then kids nature camp will help them to reveal it or gain experience in those subjects. Many schools don’t offer other extracurricular activities for the kids, but the camps offer them many chances to explore the deepest interests of the children. It provides a distraction-free option for the kids to learn new things with excitement.

Camp eliminates categories and it reinvents:

Students go to school every year with particular perceptions. They get stuck with particular subjects with no new environment to socialize with their fellow children. In kids nature camps, they meet a new set of children with new activities. It helps the child to be independent and eliminates regular activities at school. It boosts the child to avoid the lack of interest in studies. The environment shapes the child in one way or another and keeps them active and occupied all day.

Exploring new skills deeply:

The kids will get out of their comfort zone and start taking risks to explore new things. Many schools only focus on academics which is mere boredom to the kids. Learning new activities focusing on nature camp for kids stimulates interest in learning and explore new skills.

Kids Nature camps stimulates physical activity and mental stimulation:

Nature camps for kids increase the stability of children both mentally and physically. Kids nature camps provide outdoor time for the children who spend most of the time on the couch. Courses from the Kids nature camp teach children how to create games to play instead of playing the games that are already known. It stimulates brain health no matter what the choice of the camp is.

Empowerment and independence reinforced by camps:

If you want your child to be independent, you have to give them some time away from you. At camps, they will do their bed, they will manage their daily routines without mom or dad fussing around them. It makes the child independent. If they need extra help, they will rely on their peers to make the work done. It helps the children to discover themselves without the help of others. Nature empowers the children and teaches them to go with the flow instead of rushing up with things. This skill is essentially important for them to survive in the long run.

Camps provide confidence to success:

Either Success or failure will be the result of every camp activity. Some of the activities may be new to the kids while others may be the extension of what they already know. The camp takes away the hesitation from children and allows them to start exploring a new set of tests.

Camp leads to creativity:

Nature camp for kids provides a new environment to start exploring new creative things that make the children’s mental stability more creative than ever. At camps there is no failure, it brings out a platform for new things, which is automatically a success. In a kid’s nature camps, students are free of restrictions and can flourish their creativity into multiple domains.

Kids Nature Camp provides fun, entertaining, appreciation, and gratitude:

Last but not the least important factor in every kid’s nature camp is fun and entertaining. At camps away from home gives them a sense of new freedom. Every small achievement and mistake of the children will be noted and they will be appreciated and corrected which gives them the attitude of being confident and live with gratitude all the time. Children start learning to live with appreciation and gratitude from their inner selves. They start embracing every little thing from nature and live in harmony with it. The will power in children will be increased with fun and proper guidance without any vengeance or accusations.

Conclusion:

Natural camps provide a new environment to the kids which makes them work through their fears. The nature summer camps provide fun, entertaining and exercise all in a single platter. Every camp is a new platform with a new adventure for the children that parents need to know about the benefits of it. Engage your child with new things and give the input for their cravings. Let’s all give our children a happy kids nature camping vacation!!

As a student, you have plenty of things on your plate to do. A dream to explore the world on international student travel, a bucket list to backpacking to corners of the country, a never-ending interest to experience new cultures, foods, languages heritages and living a gypsy life are all very common in every student’s life. Tuition fees and other expenses make hurdles for many to spend on international trips.

What many do not know is that, if one is ready to fulfill his wanderlust, there are plenty of resources that are available for international student travel. Pack your bag to visit your favorite places, accomplish your travel plans during your student days.

How to do International student travel while enrolled in college?

Are you a freshman enrolled in college with wide hopes to travel aboard to gain a life-changing and choose the right and convenient resources for your international trip. The world is a massive ball, traveling takes a chance to meet different people and places to get out of the regular schedule. 

Use study abroad programs

Studying abroad is a beneficial experience for a student to study in a foreign land. If your institutions have abroad study programs in a destination country from your bucket list, enroll in without any second thought. Studying abroad is a fantastic way to live your dream of traveling, and in par completing your academic education. 

Some study abroad programs last for a semester or a year, but they offer prices that are cheaper than traveling on your own after getting a degree. Abroad study coordinators structures program to help students see more of the world. You will experience a different academic environment and life culture that will make you develop a comprehensive understanding of your study field.

Look into research grants

Many students face financial crises and fall into debt while aspiring to join abroad study programs. Research grants allow you to enter certain degrees and job fields to study abroad without any hallucinating fees. From the start of your college life, build trustworthy relationships with your faculty who research on foreign nations and intern with them as research assistants.

Take internships or volunteer travel programs

If you have a deep-rooted interest in traveling for longer periods, the best idea is to take a paid internship with a travel firm or enroll in volunteer travel programs to travel international trips. These volunteering activities involve teaching, nurturing, caring underprivileged or specially-challenged kids around the world. 

These life experiencing activities help you to broaden your perspective in your view of the world. When you take internships activities like content creation, tour guide apprentice or photographer, you can travel around the world free of cost and also earn a salary to make a trip to other countries. Travel internship is the best way to explore the world while you are in college.

Enroll in travel-related carer major

Try to enter majors like foreign languages, international studies, translations or business-oriented studies that will get you many options to travel to different countries. Think twice to take courses that allow for travel.

Join an outdoor travel club

College or school travel clubs have the potential to take students for international trips and adventures. Some clubs have competitions and tournaments to choose students for a trip, look at those clubs which have your destination in their list and take part in them to create lifetime memories with your friends. Joining such clubs might give you another outlet to socialize with new people and get to know their culture.

Search international internships abroad

Before your graduation, try finding an aboard internship to learn your field in practical which will in bonus allow you to travel around foreign countries. Many colleges offer campus interviews for internships, where you can meet professionals and talk about your career options. There are professionals who can direct you to the perfect internship. There are options, but remember the key: Communicate. 

Stress about future careers comes along with fun in college or school days. A lot of choices colleges create for students like international internships or abroad study programs to connect with different people who can guide you and make your travel dreams come true.

Be a representative to plan a college tour

Every college and school organizes international trips as a part of the academic activities. With the help of your classmates and a tour organizer, try to detour and experience a useful, educational and adventurous trip to your desired country. Think out of the box – An educational tour with experts can be eye-opening to many experiences. Educational tours give you a learning and leadership experience of a lifetime.

self- organized trips

Self-organized trips are more limited to your budget, time, and imagination. During the summer or winter holidays, plan an international trip to see the world. Some countries have a free visa plan for students, pick a country you want to feel and enjoy and make a memorable trip within your budget. 

When you opt for a self-organized trip, make sure to not forget the prime factor: Savings. Save up every penny if you want to travel around and tick off items in your bucket list. 

Why should one make International student travel?

Traveling is not only fun and exciting but also to experience the practical education you can never get in the classroom. Educationally, traveling makes a difference in reading about the world’s wonders and experiences open your mind.

Travel helps you to learn yourself, become organized and change your idea of life. International travel will make you learn resourcefulness, self-reliance and how to communicate with strangers. Few reasons why student travel is worth broadening your horizons.

• Experience and discover different cultures

New cultures and customs, provides you with incredible insights and possibilities. Reading books and watching videos gives you an imaginary visual, but traveling gives first-hand ability to experience and eye-opening opportunities from new food to cultures.

People around the world have different languages and perspectives values on life. International travel exposes you to many ideas and engages you with other foreign students. Exploring a new culture comes along with the new language. By studying that language, you can hone your skills and can communicate with others.

• Personal development

Traveling alone in foreign countries develop your personality level like the way of interacting with others, make you feel grateful, bring out your boldness and lure you into becoming independent. Traveling helps to discover the inner self and gain an understanding of different people’s lives. 

Stepping out of one’s comfort zone can be an experiential learning process while on an international trip. It challenges your own beliefs. These experiences boost your confidence level and positively raise your self-esteem. Traveling in a foreign city will eliminate your self-doubt or insecurity, build a high confidence level to face the world.

• Infinite opportunities to network or make friends.

Abroad tours give some incredibly valuable connections. During travel, you will meet different peoples from different backgrounds and can have a chance to learn their traveling experience. The friends will make your travel more enjoyable and memorable. These connections will come handy in the future or traveling to new cities.

• Hone your language skills

Traveling is the best way to learn and know about the origin of different languages. If you plan to study abroad, one of the major opportunities is that you can learn foreign languages. 

• Find new interests

Are you still questioning why traveling is important? Traveling to different countries provides you new interests and activities that you never knew if you were at home. You can try adventurous sports like hiking, snow skiing, golf, water sports, or other activities you have never tried in your life.

• Adapt to globalization

Whether you like social media or not, you can easily globalize with others. Use the cultural sensitivity and confidence you experienced in traveling to help your career attain success in the globalizing world.

 Precautions you have to take for International student travel

When you go to foreign countries, you get to experience beautiful cultures and know people’s lives. Traveling Alone on an international destination is more exciting and also more dangerous. The most important part of traveling is the safe handling of both the self and the monetary resources. Always ensure your safety, make your trips a joyous experience.

• Follow the latest travel advisories of MEA (Ministry of External Affairs).
• Research about the countries you are visiting and familiarise yourself with its food, currency, places, surroundings, and transportation.
• You have to obey the laws of the country you are visiting
• You must have the right visas for visiting countries and check other exit or entry requirements.
• Take comprehensive and correct travel medical insurance which covers your unexpected accident costs. Put up-to-date vaccinations to prevent diseases and take your medicines that are allowed in your visiting country. Always have a medical checkup before to ensure you are healthy enough to travel abroad and follow your visiting country’s health procedure.
• Check your public transportation and stay safe.
• Keep your passport and other official reports safely and also make sure your passport is valid and not expires while overseas.
• Make photocopies of passport along with visa pages, traveler’s cheques, insurance policy, credit, and visa card numbers. Carry photocopies to each place you are in the plan of traveling and give one copy to family members.

Traveling always refreshes your mind and body, you can do different things at each time. As a student try to enroll in international traveling courses or opportunities offered in your college or school to improve your personal development and path of your career. As a student, utilize the bonus opportunities you have and avail of all the discounts and freebies. Once gone, time never comes back. Happy Traveling! 

“Nothing is as important as passion. No matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate.”

I believe in this quote by Bon Jovi. 

Jon Bon Jovi

Before we proceed further into my story of how I discovered my passion for photography, let me introduce myself. 

Hi! I am Anjali, a student of class 9 in Delhi. A a regular person with the normal routine of any random student. I go to school, attend tuition, study, play with friends, watch movies, listen to music, etc. I was going through the struggles of every teenager, battling body image issues, trying to fit in and struggling to understand the world around me.

My parents were very supportive in every step and found innovative ways to help me combat teenage problems. They guided me in a gentle way and held my hand whenever I needed them. 

Story of My unforgettable experience with Pencil Voyages

One fine day, My parents decided to send me to an experiential learning program. I initially did not like the idea and I argued with them that I do not have sufficient time to attend the program, but they convinced me saying that it is just a one-day program and I can easily manage my schedule. Moreover, my mom could accompany me to the program, if I wish to. 

They showed me the itinerary of the program, which included many activities such as games, competitions, role-plays and debates. The short duration program aimed to develop leadership, team building, and social etiquette. Though I was reluctant, I agreed to attend the program to make my parents happy.

The day of the program arrived. My mom asked whether I needed her to accompany me but I said NO. Being an independent person I wanted to go there alone. I packed my bag and reached the pick-up spot, where the tempo traveler was scheduled to arrive. 

I was a bit tensed as it was the first time I was attending a program all alone but enjoyed the thrill too. En route to the program venue, I was overjoyed to see a couple of my acquaintances too boarded the bus. I knew them but not very well, but anyways I was now happy that there will be someone to talk to during the course of the program. 

We all reached the venue 10 minutes before the scheduled time of the program. After the customary exchange of pleasantries, the program started. Initially, we played some games and then the coach took responsibility for the session. From the moment the program started, I forgot that I was in a completely alien environment. The day went on fast with a whirlwind of activities, each designed with a special motive to develop team sense, leadership and entrepreneurship skills in the participants. None of us knew, how the day got over in between exciting competitions, fierce debates, and entertaining games. The time to return home was there.

I made a few new friends and developed a few new life skills after the workshop. I was excited to share my experiences at the program with my parents. Even my parents were eagerly waiting at home to hear my stories. I shared with them all that went on throughout the day and they were happy that I really liked the program. 

This is how my association with pencil voyages started. From then on, I was a participant in their short programs whenever they happened in Delhi. 

Now let me share the story of how attending an outdoor camp helped me discover my passion for photography.

My Trip to Manali

I heard that Pencil Voyages was conducting an outdoor camp to Manali. As I was a regular at their programs, I wanted to attend this one too but was a bit skeptical whether my parents would allow or not, as it was a long duration program. To my surprise, they agreed to send me to the program as it was vacation time. 

I made a list of requirements, shopped for essentials and clothes and packed my bags. Now  I waited eagerly for the program dates. Finally, after a long wait. The date of the trip was here. I bid goodbye to my parents and was ready to experience the trip of my lifetime. This time I wasn’t wary of going alone as a few of my friends were accompanying me. Oh!!! I forgot to mention, my mom gifted me a brand new camera to take with me to the trip, that added to the excitement.

The program started from Coimbatore but we were scheduled to meet the group in Delhi. The minute we met the group, we became a part of it. There were kids from different parts of the country, who came to experience the beauty of the Himalayas. We were introduced to each other and all of us became part of a group instantly. 

The outdoor program itself was a mix of learning and adventure. It had an interesting mix of outside the camp and inside the camp activities. We indulged in a lot of fun and adventurous activities like rock climbing, trekking, and rappelling. We, youngsters, enjoyed every bit of the fun.

I took my camera along whenever we traveled outside the camp. The picturesque beauty of Manali, cannot be explained in words. I clicked pictures of the beautiful mountain slopes dotted with Deodar and Pine trees, the beautiful flowers swaying in the wind, the village maidens who would occasionally greet us on the way, the long and winding roads around the mountains, the skies dotted with innumerous stars and everything under the sun.

My friends would come to me with requests for photographs while doing rock climbing, trekking, and other activities. I unofficially became the official photographer of the tour group.

During the camp, I suddenly realized how much I love being behind the camera. I discovered my passion for capturing images of the colorful scenery, the beautiful people and wonderful nature. Staying away from the hustle and bustle of city life and the pressure of school led me to discover my passion for photography. My friends and coaches at the camp encouraged me to do whatever I loved. They taught me the importance of developing hobbies and the art of balancing studies and other aspects of life. 

I will be forever grateful to them for letting me explore my inner strengths and discover my passion. Now I intend to pursue a course in photography after my 10th standard examinations and take up photography as a hobby. 

PS. Thank you, mom, for gifting me a camera and allowing me to participate in the camp.