28 March,2017 11:30 AM IST | | Shraddha Uchil
Build a raft, cook on a mud stove and play lagori at a weekend getaway for parents and their little ones
Summer is here, and it's a great time to head to school. Confused? We're talking about The Village School, where there are no blackboards, books, or exams, and where kids can spend the weekend experiencing life in the village of Purushwadi. Organised by Heart & Soil and Grassroutes, the experience is open to kids aged three and above. They will get a chance to make a shelter, build a raft, climb a tree, swim in a river, play village games, draw water from a well, and even cook food on a chulha (earthen stove).
"These are things kids from the city aren't generally exposed to. Parents accompany the children on all activities, which serves two purposes. It ensures that the kids are under supervision, and helps parent and child to bond over nature, which is our ultimate aim," says Nehal Shah, founder of Heart & Soil.
Richa Williams of Grassroutes says that the idea came about two months after they held a weekend survival skills workshop for adults. She adds, "Nehal asked if we could replicate such an event for children, so we decided to tone the itinerary down so even kids could participate. We've tried to include activities that we would have enjoyed when we were young."