FROM
BY THE GREAT OUTDOORS
being inspired
rediscovering
THE JOY OF DISCOVERY
TO
creating art
TO
INSPIRED BY NATURE
never really stops
THE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
At the Himalayan Trust for Natural History Art,
we combine natural history art,
creative and experiential education,
sustainability and conservation
for grassroot children
in and around Kalimpong
THE BACKGROUND
Education is a holistic process involving a multipronged approach to learning and development. Unfortunately, even as we make our way through the second decade of the 21st century, education in schools places no emphasis on the interconnectedness of the life of the learner let alone the natural environment and society which they are an inseparable part of.
Children from rural schools in particular end up studying hard for marks and passing the examinations without any joy in learning. This pattern is further aggravated by the penetration of internet, social media and technology where children are seen spending more time on their devices than going out and venturing into their immediate environment. Adolescence being a stage of physical, emotional and cognitive changes, the young learners is vulnerable to misinformation and influences that can cause a detrimental impact in their lives for years to come.
THE INTERVENTION
For HTNHA, the grassroots is the focal point as we believe that they are the future custodians of the environment. The School of Natural History Art is based on the philosophy that art could be a means to help provide holistic education to children at the grass roots, preparing them mentally and physically to meet the challenges of everyday living, inculcating environmental consciousness, along with skills for livelihood and sustenance in the future.
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The School of Natural History Art set up by HTNHA serves to bridge the gap between art, science and other disciplines, raise public awareness of our natural heritage and diverse cultures and contribute towards its preservation.
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The Trust has been running various hands-on workshops and classes since 2011 with help from visiting tutors and volunteers from different corners of India in the field of Natural History Art. While the children attend regular schools during the day, they visit the art school in the evenings, weekends and every major holiday.​
IMPACT STORIES
We are currently working with 80+ children of varying ages from the community through our innovative programs – ‘Nature Is My Class’ and ‘Roots To Wings’ at our campus.
In April 2023 and May 2024 HTNHA held ‘NATURE IN ART’, a successful 3 day International Art Event in its campus to celebrate the diversity of Nature and promote a spirit of living harmoniously with Nature through various workshops, exhibits and performances by acclaimed professionals and artists.