From Arctic to Amazon, rich learning curve for students

A stride through the Amazon rainforests in South America. A Nasa space camp in Huntsville, Alabama. Or would you like to feel the chill near the North Pole and meet the famed soccer team, Manchester United? All these are for Bangalore schoolchildren!

Gone are the days when school trips were restricted within the city limits, or at least within the country. City-based schools are taking educational trips to the next level — they are now flying out of the country.

“These trips are not like visiting Wonder La or for that matter, Disney World. They are purely educational in purpose and parents are, too, showing avid interest in sending their wards abroad, for they feel it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Sharada Prasad, secretary of Sri Vani Education Centre in Rajajinagar.

For the first time, the school would be taking its students to Churchill near the North Pole, this year.

As many as 19 students, over 14 years old, will be heading to the Arctic Circle to witness the aurora borealis (or the northern lights) this October. Such top-of-the-world experience, however, doesn’t come without a price. A 10-day trip would cost around Rs5 lakh a student.

This apart, about 25 students of the school would explore the eco-system of the Amazon rainforests between September 26 and October 13.

This wild camp will cost Rs2.5 lakh per student for 11 days and Rs3 lakh for a 13-day trip.

On Saturday, the students along with the parents had an orientation programme with the explorer, who would be accompanying the students.

“We have given them time till next week to decide. When I was in the US in May, I blocked 19 buggies,” said Prasad.

Many other schools are offering a 10-day visit to Nasa in Huntsville, Alabama, where students would attend a space camp.

Such schools have anywhere between 12 and 20 students enrolled twice a year in this programme, which costs between Rs1.65 lakh and Rs1.85 lakh per student.

“We don’t make these trips mandatory for students. That’s because we can’t sponsor them,” said Usha Mohan, principal of India International School.

Besides providing worthwhile experiences, such international study tours have enduring educational benefits.

“We don’t have a facility like Nasa in our country and the level of interactions that it has with students is commendable. Such field trips increase students’ interests in Science. We see the Science scores of those who take up such trips go up,” said Prasad.

Going with the new trend, Greenwood High International School plans to take its students to Manchester to meet the famed soccer team, Manchester United.

“This trip is again optional. If made mandatory, it will become a huge burden on parents,” said Manas Mehrotra, trustee of Greenwood High.

While the children gain a wide exposure and first-hand experience through such educational trips, it’s value addition for schools in their prospectus. And for the parents, a big hole in the pocket.