Fun workshop at SGNP for kids during Diwali break

It's at least a two week-long Diwali vacation for the kids, but your one holiday falls on a Sunday this year. If that's your story and you're a nature-loving parent, there is good news. A three-day workshop at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park for children aged between six and 14 years promises to train little ones in spotting and identifying the myriad natural wonders of this oasis in an open space-starved Mumbai. By the end of the workshop, the organisers say, the children would know the designated trails like the back of their hand and would be able to conduct trails themselves.

The Little Mowgli Naturalist Course, as it's called, has been organised by the national park in collaboration with Nikita Pimple of the Kids Green Klub. "I started this club two years ago with an aim to tell parents that there are places beyond malls that they can take their kids to in the city," says Pimple. "When children started signing up for such nature trails, we realised that their knowledge was plucked straight from National Geographic shows, and many of them were surprised to learn that there are no giraffes or zebras in India. So, all our programmes focus on Indian flora and fauna. Of course, the aim is to create more and more young naturalists," she adds.

The workshop has a detailed itinerary with the first day dedicated to the flora of the national park and the following day covering its winged beauties (insects and birds). Trails will be interspersed with stories, presentations, fun games and worksheets to ensure that children absorb what they see. The final day will begin with a revision and a small rehearsal for the concluding session - where kids will take their parents for a walk in the national park, rattling off all their newly acquired knowledge.

What better way to ditch technology, while learning some real communication skills on the side?

On: November 2, 3 and 4
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Cost: Rs 2,500 per head
Call: 28868686