Living Lightly, Living Gently
“Living lightly and gently on this planet” was our theme for the Nature Connect programme organized for students from the Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) at The Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda (MSU). These students are pursuing courses in the HDFS with Education for Sustainable Development as part of their curriculum and what better way to understand Sustainable Development than looking at it from the lens of interconnectedness & interdependence of various species on the planet!
The session took place in the garden of Chetan Balwadi where 22 students from FY Bachelors and FY Masters joined us. The workshop began with a short grounding activity with participants taking off their footwear to actually feel ground beneath the feet. Even though some participants were initially a bit hesitant going barefoot but took the plunge.
A story from Vinoba ji’s life was shared to be our guiding light during the session where everyone was expected to walk mindfully and watch their steps to cause as little harm to nature and living beings as possible.
The activities that followed allowed participants to observe nature slowly, carefully and mindfully using different senses and record their observations and questions in the “I see, I think, I wonder” format. The students chose their observation areas and observed blades of grass, small millipedes, earthworms, blue beetles, frog, insects, butterflies, fruit flies, small flowers growing on grass blades and small vegetation, and things that they would otherwise miss out on. Some even used magnifying glasses to check out on orange coloured ants and how they were crawling.
During the after-activity reflection time, some participants shared how they felt close to nature and how this has given them time to be with nature and that was something that they had missed out on for long. Though some have gardens and they tend to plants there, however, mindful observation is generally not a part of that tending. A few shared how this has allowed them to see small insects and other beings that they would probably not have noticed otherwise. The fact that they were to walk carefully also aided them in being more mindful.
The reflection session was followed up with a fun-session that emulated frog jumps and duck walks.
Another activity allowed participants to understand ecosystems & interconnections within ecosystems through a short role play. A case study on ecosystem services provided by beavers was shared which highlighted our relationship with other beings in nature. Other researched case studies about vultures (and how their loss has impacted human beings) and penguins also showcased impact of species loss as well as how global warming can cause harm in places as far away as Antarctica.
The session ended with participants’ pledge for nature and a tree hug! Through this one-day event, we hope that we have been able to raise the level of eco-consciousness within the participants and helped them connect better with nature.
If you are interested in organizing the Nature Connect Programme in your institution, contact us.
