Communication for Conservation – Linking the Gap with Nature Camps

Abstract

Nature camps are incredible personal experiences in the lap of nature. Nature acts as the best teacher. People are usually so engaged in their daily work that they communicate less with nature and also understand less the lessons it teaches. Nature camps are held in groups, mostly in wildlife sanctuaries for one day or more. They facilitate correlation of natural resources, natural phenomena, etc. with school subjects to make a better impact on the student’s learning about nature. An attempt with one hundred high school science teachers in Cuttack city has been made in the present study, to analyze their responses and views regarding participation in nature camps for effective science communication. It was agreed by the majority that visits to nature camps help to have better understanding of the environment and the related local and global issues, than their peers who do not visit. They also cited some limitations and also advantages of the visits. Nature camps enhance communication regarding biodiversity, conservation, pollution, global warming, climate change, etc. among students as well as community members. The gap between the classrooms and the real world can be linked through these nature camps for global peace and sustainable development.