Recently, we had students from a school join us for their first overnight camping trek in Kodaikanal. They were thrilled to visit a campsite so remote and pristine and were excited to have the adventure of a lifetime by camping with their friends in an outdoor setting.

Their first apprehension was, “Will there be snakes?” Then others chimed in, “I think I would die if I saw a spider in my tent,” and, “Don’t get me started on lizards.”

As a parent of a child growing up in the city, have you ever rescued your child from a fitful fright when they saw a spider or a lizard in their room?

These fears of insects and other creepy-crawlies are common. However, if you leave it unaddressed, these fears can turn into lifelong phobias, and prevent them from enjoying the outdoors and miss out on the wonders of nature. 

The natural world holds a magical charm that shapes their understanding of the environment and their relationship to it.

The first step in helping your children overcome their fears is to ensure that you’re not unintentionally passing on your own. Children are highly perceptive and easily pick up on how you react to the natural world. 

If you feel uneasy or fearful, begin by acknowledging where you are. Start with aspects of nature that you feel comfortable with, and when you're ready, work on confronting your own fears. By doing so, you’ll be better equipped to guide your child through theirs.

If you believe it is important for your child to witness and engage with the natural world around them, but a fear of insects and creepy-crawlies is preventing them from stepping outdoors, here are five tips you can use to help your child overcome their fears.

A child and a Trek Leader exploring the textures and movements of creatures along the trails.

Understanding the Fear
Start by understanding what exactly scares your child. Is it the sudden movements, the way these creatures look, or something they've heard? Listen to their fears without dismissing them. Let them know it's okay to be afraid but also explain that fear can be managed. The more they learn about these creatures, the less scary they become.

The joy children experience when they are able to face their fears! Picture Credits: Harsh Patel, Trek Leader, Indiahikes.

Harsh, a Trek Leader at Indiahikes, shares how on a recent trek to Coorg, the adults in the group were quite terrified of the leeches they might encounter on the trail. A 7-year-old trekker, Nila, did not know what leeches were. 

Harsh made sure to tell her that if she had any concerns on the trail, she should ask him. When she got a leech bite, she showed the blood to him. 

She was not scared, just curious. He picked up the small leech and asked her to hold it in her palm (since they cannot bite through the thick skin on the palm of our hands) and showed her how to observe the harmless creature, explaining how to deal with the bite. 

She later began seeing it as a largely harmless and, in her understanding, a friendly creature.


Little Nila, holding a leech. Picture Credits: Harsh Patel, Trek Leader, Indiahikes.

2. Educating Through Positive Information

Knowledge is a great antidote to fear. Share simple facts about insects, worms, and snakes. Explain how worms help keep the soil healthy and how snakes control pests. Use books, videos, and documentaries that portray these creatures positively. Seeing them in a non-threatening light can change their perception.

Here are a few examples of some facts that often get children curious and excited about the creatures:

Butterflies taste with their feet! They stand on a leaf to see if it’s good to eat.

Grasshoppers can leap up to 20 times their body length, the same as a human jumping the length of a basketball court!

Ladybugs play dead and release a smelly liquid to protect themselves from predators.

A young trekker holding a beautiful lady bug. Harsh Patel, Trek Leader, Indiahikes.

Children often develop fears based on myths and misconceptions. Help them differentiate between what's real and what's not. Explain that not all snakes are dangerous and that many insects are more afraid of us than we are of them. Teach them to identify which species are harmful and which are harmless. The more they understand, the less likely they are to react with fear.

A young trekker fascinated by the exoskeleton of a cicada. Harsh Patel, Trek Leader, Indiahikes.

Introducing children to insects and other creepy-crawlies doesn’t have to be scary. The key is to make it fun and gradual. Start small—look at pictures in books or watch animated shows that feature friendly insects. Cartoons like “A Bug’s Life” or the book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” can make these creatures seem less intimidating and more relatable.

Your own garden can be a magical world of discovery. Spend time observing ants marching in a line, a butterfly resting on a flower, or earthworms wriggling in the soil. Turn it into a game of who can spot the most bugs. This not only builds curiosity but also reduces fear.

When your child seems comfortable, move to gentle, hands-on experiences. Let them observe a butterfly up close or watch a ladybug crawl on a leaf. There’s no need to force interaction; just being close to these insects helps them get used to their presence.

You can also demonstrate calm behavior when encountering insects. If you see a spider, instead of reacting with fear, point it out with curiosity: “Look at how it spins its web! Isn’t that amazing?” Your response teaches them that insects are a natural part of the environment.

Treks and nature walks are excellent places to introduce children to the outdoors. In the open environment of a trail, they can observe insects in their natural habitat such as caterpillars munching on leaves, or dragonflies zipping by. 

TMS Students on a day trek on the outskirts of Bangalore.

Trekking offers a balanced mix of excitement and learning, where children can explore without feeling confined or pressured. Being surrounded by other curious children also creates a supportive atmosphere, making it easier for children to overcome their fears.

By gently exposing them to the world of insects in a fun and safe way, you’re helping them build confidence and curiosity. Who knows? Your child might even grow up to be a little explorer, fascinated by the wonders of the natural world.

5. Celebrating Progress and Taking Small Outdoor Steps

Overcoming a fear of insects doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a journey made up of small steps. Celebrate each milestone, no matter how tiny it may seem.

Encourage them to share their experiences through storytelling. At bedtime, ask them to recall their outdoor adventures: “What did you see in the garden today?” Let them weave their observations into fun stories. You’ll be surprised by the imaginative tales they come up with.

By celebrating their progress and gradually introducing them to the outdoors, you help them replace fear with fascination.

Who knows? One day, they might just become fearless explorers, eager to learn about every creepy-crawly that crosses their path.

Helping your child overcome their fear of insects and creepy-crawlies is a game of gentle exposure, education, and patience. The more they understand and engage with the natural world, the less intimidating it becomes. By guiding them through this journey, you’re not just helping them overcome fear, you're opening up a world of curiosity, adventure, and wonder. Let us know if you have tried any of these tips and how it worked.

5 Steps to Help Your Child Overcome a Fear of Insects

A group of participants from Chennai Public School Global recently joined us for their IAYP (International Award for Young People) Bronze and Silver Adventurous Journey in Coorg. 

According to our Trek Leader Yashwant, the participants not only met but exceeded the requirements and expectations of the programme. 

Participants from Chennai Public School trekking together on the Nelji Hill in Coorg.

One student, during a nature walk, reflected, “Whatever we do, we do it for ourselves. Whether saving bees or saving fig trees, it’s all for our benefit.” Their words resonated with the group’s growing awareness of how intertwined their well-being is with the environment’s health.

Trek Leader Yashwant engaged in one of many conversations with the IAYP participants on the flora and fauna found in the region.

Yashwant and Vishal, our trek leaders, shared how touched they were, to see the impact of the Adventurous Journey on the participants when they raised how, more often than not, our attempts to “save the environment” do not come from a genuine love and concern for the planet that we share with other creatures.

Another student emphasised the beauty of hard work and resilience by sharing, “The harder the climb, the better the views. If we went up in a helicopter, we wouldn’t have savoured it so much.” The sentiment reflected their realisation that genuine achievement and fulfillment come through effort and perseverance.

Participants enjoying the summit views after a difficult climb. Picture Credits: John Xavier, Video Editor, Indiahikes.

The journey proved to be an incredible bonding experience. Students who often spent their meet-ups buried in their phones now found themselves cooking, chatting, trekking, and even playing games like UNO together. They noted that this was the first time they truly connected as a group while facing and overcoming various challenges together.

Participants pitching their tents and setting up campsite. 

Participants neatly arrange their prepped vegetables and spices. All participants eat in their own lunch boxes.

With continuous insights from our trek leaders about the natural world, the students became more conscious of the importance of conserving nature. What started as curiosity quickly grew into genuine admiration and love for the outdoors. 

They even handled instances, such as leech bites, with newfound resilience. While the initial panic was evident on the first day, by the last day, they remained calm, assured by sessions on insect bites and safety conducted by the trek leaders.

By the end of the journey, the students didn’t just meet their Adventurous Journey requirements; they gained invaluable life lessons about resilience, teamwork, and their relationship with the environment. 

More importantly, they left with a shared experience that brought them closer to nature and to each other.

Participants at the Coorg Nelji Hill Summit. 

Chennai Public School Global's IAYP Bronze and Silver Adventurous Journey in Coorg

We are looking for interns to join our team at the Indiahikes School of Outdoor Learning for the month of September 2024.

This will be a unique opportunity to get involved in the different areas of work at InSOUL, where you will get a better understanding of the process of experiential learning.

You will get an inside view of what goes into designing the Outdoor Leadership Programme for students and play an important role in carrying out the same. 

You will also get the exciting opportunity to join multiple day hikes around Bangalore with different schools and age groups. Your contribution lies in working with smaller groups of students on each of the treks to facilitate a meaningful experience.

We are looking for someone with good people skills and a high level of energy. We are looking for an intern who is self-motivated and driven to work on improving the overall operations and delivery of the programme. 

What do we at the Indiahikes School of Outdoor Learning for School Students?

At InSOUL, we believe that experiencing education beyond the traditional classroom allows us to turn the learning environment into a lively and enchanting space. One which sparks the imagination and a sense of wonder.

For school students, we want to ensure that they can learn together in an environment where they are not limited to the roles they play within the classroom. Students engage with nature and each other in a non-competitve setting.

Our experiential learning treks include spaces and activities for discovering the thrill of the outdoors and finding our place within it. We have activities designed to help students reflect on their experiences and develop a love and appreciation for nature.

Through real-world examples, they learn the impact humans have on the natural environment and how we can tackle this.

Our programmes blend nature, adventure, and specially-designed learning activities to impart valuable life skills and leadership skills. We believe the best learning comes through tangible experience, challenges, and room for reflections. 

As an intern, you will support our experienced trek leaders in the Outdoor Leadership Programme school treks around Bangalore. You will be instrumental in facilitating the trekking and learning experiences for smaller groups within each of the trek groups. Additionally, you will play an important role in ensuring smooth operations.

Furthermore, you will get exposed to the behind-the-scenes of such programmes. You will have the opportunity to support the business development and coordination teams. You will get an intimate insight into how we design our programmes and why we do things the way we do. Prior to setting off on any trek, you will receive training on facilitation, safety and technical aspects of the treks. 

These day treks are more than just outings, they are transformative learning experiences. We carefully design the trek plan, objectives and activities based on this. We need your support in executing this.

Through this internship you will play a role in supporting students to develop a stronger and more responsible connection with the outdoors. Furthermore, through these treks we focus on building confidence and resilience. 

As an intern, you will engage students in activities like identifying local flora and fauna and understanding sustainable practices. 

Through your own observations and reflections, you will play a key role in improving the programmes for school students. 

Good people skills and ability to engage with school students across age groups

Open to giving and receiving feedback to improve program execution

If you trekked with Indiahikes before it is a bonus

This is a one month internship (1st September 2024 to 30th September 2024). Your internship will be a mix of working together with the InSOUL team at our Bangalore Office as well as joining multiple day-hikes around Bangalore.

We will provide accommodation close to our office free of charge along with a monthly stipend of 20,000 Rupees.

Why is this a unique opportunity to intern with InSOUL?

Interning with InSOUL is a an opportunity for you to play a role in empowering students through outdoor experiences. 

It is deeply satisfying to watch as students open up in different ways and enjoy what the outdoors have to offer.

The outdoors accelerate the pace at which students gain confidence, resilience and compassion for the people and creatures around them. Through this internship, you will have the opportunity to guide students and support them in building such qualities.

It is deeply rewarding to be able to carry out operations when you get to witness such transformation and learning.

It is also a challenging internship, you can test your own levels of energy and people skills. With school students, it is easy to notice when they are engaged and when they are not. They provide almost real-time feedback to how well you are able to hold their attention and inspire curiosity.

1 Month Internship with the Indiahikes School of Outdoor Learning (InSOUL)

Kavya Chandrashekhar is Founder and Montessori Guide at The Montessori School (TMS) and Kriyasthala, and Executive Director, Montessori Institute of Bangalore.   With decades of experience - from early childhood to high school programmes - her strength lies in understanding the needs of children from birth to 18 years.

Ms. Chandrashekhar is a passionate advocate for outdoor learning beyond the customary visits to parks, lakes, or gardens. The children from TMS and Kriyasthala regularly go on treks instead. 

From toddlers to teachers, parents and guardians – the community has actively taken to the scenic hills around Bangalore for years now.  Some have even gone on a Himalayan trek. 

Inspiring, pathbreaking - just some of the adjectives that come to mind when we see an entire school trek together!

Curious about how all of it began, we had the pleasure of chatting with Ms. Chandrashekhar on what brings these remarkable children back to the hills every year.

What is the value of outdoor learning for children, especially in a world that increasingly places little to no emphasis on it?

“What is learning?” is the first question we must ask. I think our idea of learning needs a radical shift. We are conditioned to believe that tests and testing are the way to measure a child’s progress. In my two decades of experience of working with children, I know that this belief compromises a child’s learning outcomes; it's almost a disservice in honouring their natural human development.

Learning is a multifold approach and learning in the true sense happens everywhere, all the time. It is imperative that we clear our lens and look at learning as a multifold, multidimensional curve supporting human development in every form.  This will then enable each one  of us to consider outdoor experience as learning. 

We’ve seen that many people tend to view outdoor learning as an “outing” without meaningful outcomes - simply a means to take children away from the class for a break.

Learning inside and outside should be seamless for healthy human development. If  children are engaged and have choice in their learning then we do not have to impose an adult-led break to support optimal human development.  In the redundant educational model, we put a lot of undue, unwanted milestones as a checklist on children. There is no research which proves that if you crack all the tests, you will be happy and successful. Questioning the predominant traditional education outcomes makes one uncomfortable because we are trapped to believe that is the most sure way to be successful. 

Fun times outdoors for Kavya Chandrashekhar and the children

"Our role as educators and parents is to show or highlight to children what they may not be seeing." 

It’s rare for schools to include treks into the curriculum and across all age groups! What inspired you to integrate trekking as a regular part of learning? 

The inspiration came from the fact that I myself enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors. Secondly, just observing children these days - almost confined to the indoors, to their gadgets and devices - breaks my heart because they don't know any better. 

One of my mentors said, our role as educators and parents is to show or highlight to children what they may not be seeing. To do that,  it is important we consistently clarify to us the true meaning of education. 

It is up to us to show them the way. We can't make children do what we want them to do, but we need to open up the doors for possibilities. What they do after that is their independent decision or choice. But if you don't even show them the door - the door to numeracy and literacy, the door to empathy, kindness, and communal living; how will they be able to make informed decisions about what they want and what brings them immense joy. 

And in what ways does trekking align with the values and belief systems of the school?

For us, being outdoors is a solid check system on how your body is doing. It indicates to us if we are taking care of our body. With trekking, you get to know where you are with your body.

It’s vital for us to build a generation of people who can take care of themselves, who can take care of others, and who understand the value of interdependency. This is the ethos we follow inside a Montessori classroom as well.

I think no other experience teaches that than being outdoors – treks bring out everyone’s true nature. Think about it. You’re outdoors. You might be doing very well on a trek. But are you willing to stop, pause, and help someone struggling?

We believe in the goodness of human nature and we want children to experience that day in and day out. The learning must happen both indoors and outside.

Trekking is a good check point on whether our robust Montessori pedagogical principles reflect in other settings.

The goal is to get children to be capable of feeling, “Yes, I can do this and help everyone along!” 

True. Plus, the outdoors provides a setting for children to learn new behaviors and attitudes or reinforce what they learn in school.

Yes, because nature is unpredictable. Anything can happen. Within your own environment, you can still have self-control and system checks, but nature is very unpredictable. It's very free flowing. You have to go with the flow. Human nature is what comes out when you have to go with the flow. For us, all of those things are important.

As a team leader, the other indirect benefit of the treks is an indicator of your own team's well-being. When a trek is coming up, the educators know that they need to be in good health and shape! I struggled initially to convince my team members that this is something we will be doing long term. There was a little bit of resistance. But they’ve been going on treks for the last three to four years and have seen the value and benefit. My goal through this is to get a community of Montessori Educators to priortise self care, we need our educators to be committed to their wellbeing if we want to offer the best to our children. 

That must have been quite an undertaking for you to get everyone on board.

Yes. But the experience broke plenty of myths for me. I used to think the younger team members could navigate the trek well  and others would have a challenge, but it's not true. Sometimes it’s the opposite. I think it's a reflection of how you care for your body. Good health and fitness were yardsticks I had in mind for the team. I tell them very clearly - everyone has to take time to participate in the trek, and they all put in effort and take it up.

Why did you choose the Indiahikes Experiential Learning Program for your students?

We have certain value systems and beliefs and we wanted to collaborate with people who share and complement our values. We felt Indiahikes was a perfect fit. When I first spoke to Izzat from Indiahikes, I didn't have to spend a lot of time explaining what we needed for the children.  She got it immediately. It worked really well because we could plug in exactly what we wanted.

I wanted it to be a long-term collaboration and not a one-off thing. For something like this, you will not see results after one trek or even after a year.

The other big thing that makes it sustainable is the pricing that Indiahikes offers. It's a very sustainable option for many organisations. 

Additionally, it’s another way for us to have a knowledge exchange with people outside the Montessori sphere who share the same values – to engage in collaboration, engage in understanding. We don't know everything and seek to learn from others as well.

The children have been trekking with Indiahikes for a few years now. Can you share how they have benefitted from trekking?

The biggest takeaway for us is community building - the way children lend support, are empathetic and understanding to each other. For them, trekking isn’t about reaching point A, but how are we going to get to point A? Together.

It’s never an independent journey. It's a community journey, and that gets stronger and stronger with each trek.

Some children are outdoorsy. They say yes to it all the time. But success to me lies in the progress of the ones who feel like physically they're not capable.

Certain temperaments don't like that kind of strenuous physical stretching. They say they’re tired. They say they will never ever go on a trek again. I've seen these children come back to trekking a fourth, fifth, and sixth time!

Maybe because the whole community is doing it. The community is so excited about the trek which rubs off on the others too. The other takeaway is the children’s organisation and planning skills - on a trek, they’re clear about why they're doing what they're doing.

Overall, the treks are a nuanced experience. With every trek, they're getting better and better at it. Children get used to physical exertion and are accustomed to overcoming hardships.

Looking ahead, how do you envision outdoor experiential learning with Indiahikes evolving at your school?

Our goal is to get the youngest children (ages 1 to 3) and their families to go on an easy walk to start. We want to explore the program for the younger children a bit more.

For very young children especially, we see how crucial it is to talk about the possibility, as you previously mentioned. To encourage children (and their parents) to try in the first place.

Yes, one must. Our program covers children from ages 1 to 18. The 6 to 12 age group is going on very well with fantastic turnouts. We don’t have enough children between ages 3 to 6 going out and about more often. We don't have enough parents and children signing up. Plus, the toddler community is what I want to target in the coming year. That is my vision for 2024.

We have added an adolescent program this year since we see it as a continuous learning. I would like to build on the skills for the 12 to 18 year age group too. These are the possibilities.

Any final thoughts on the big vision for outdoor learning?

I think the biggest outcome for us across all programs or any collaboration that we do is this: how will my skills benefit the community at large? It's not just learning the skill so that I can get better at it. How can I inspire ten more people to be engaged in it? That is really the big vision.

Thank you so much for your time and sharing your thoughts, Ms. Chandrashekhar. It was a pleasure.

Indiahikes believes everyone must trek. When schools like TMS and Kriyasthala trek together mindfully as a community, it’s as if the vision is unfolding right before us. 

We're thrilled to see a growing awareness among schools about incredible learning opportunities in the outdoors. It’s a privilege for us to partner with schools to turn those possibilities into reality.

Are you an educator keen on getting your students outdoors to learn?

Write to us at izzat@indiahikes.com and we’ll make it happen.

Real-world lessons on empathy, kindness, and community living

An educator explains why everyone in her school treks, from toddlers to teachers

An Educator Explains Why Everyone In Her School Treks, From Toddlers to Teachers

Dec 8, 2023, Bengaluru: 14 trekkers completed their Dayara Bugyal Adventure Therapy Trek, marking the end of the 5th Adventure Therapy group from Indiahikes. The influence of the trek became evident as it concluded. As it fostered effortless conversations, there was a rise in self-awareness among trekkers regarding their strengths and weaknesses.

“From initially dismissing Himalayan trekking as not being my cup of tea, to successfully summiting one, this one with Indiahikes has been truly transformational. While the very ordeal of climbing was a therapeutic symphony by itself; the timely directive interventions of a mental health professional on board, seamlessly woven into the trek led to immense reflection, introspection and contemplation,” said Tushar, one of the trekkers in the group.

The trek was facilitated by Vivek Saxena, an executive coach and counsellor, with over 15 years of experience in the field. Kavinaya Mohandas, one of our senior trek leaders supported him in this program. 

“Being together and walking together in the high mountains creates the conditions of trust and possibility that may otherwise take months in usual urban or corporate conditions,” said Vivek Saxena. 

"We've noticed that even on our regular treks, trekkers go through a near-therapeutic experience. It is where nature creates its own impact on mental health, without human intervention. But not everyone realizes this impact, especially if they're in a troubled state of mind,” explains Izzat Yaganagi, Head of Experiential Learning Team at Indiahikes. “Many times, it needs facilitation by someone who can nudge them to enhance what the trek is already doing," she adds.

This is a transformation that we have observed since our first adventure therapy group in April 2022. Trekkers start looking at issues with a renewed sense of energy and purpose. They also have a better sense of somatic awareness (mind, body and spirit interconnection). 

“I feel very fortunate to have been a part of this adventure therapy as it gave me a chance to explore a different side of me. It delivered more than what I had expected. This therapy let each one of us share the side which we'd seldom shown to the world and that's the reason that a deep sense of comfort was built among us. Each and every day was a learning experience for me. This trek gave me a lot of answers to the questions that were pestering my mind. I've returned from the trek much more confident, having more clarity and peace of mind,” said Sahana, a trekker from the 2022 Adventure Therapy group. 

“We have realized, after 5 groups, that this really works. Trekkers have very strong takeaways, answers to many of their questions and they also find healing. The facilitation itself, the process and the design of the program plays a big role in this program being a success. Along with this, trekkers coming in with the right intentions makes a huge difference,” said Izzat.  

At Indiahikes, we have always believed that trekking has an impact on our mind, body and spirit. Since 2022, we have had five groups of trekkers from diverse cross-sections coming together for this Adventure Therapy Program with us. Trekkers have realised that nature has healing powers and they can step into it whenever they want peace of mind and clarity in thoughts. The Indiahikes Adventure Therapy Program also helps trekkers seeing the value of support, by encouraging them to either seek or offer it. 

View our Upcoming Adventure Therapy Programs

14 trekkers completed their Dayara Bugyal Adventure Therapy Trek, marking the end of the 5th Adventure Therapy group from Indiahikes.

Adventure Therapy trekkers return after a transformational traverse through the mountains

Trek - Adventure Therapy - Dayara Bugyal - 

Dec 4, Bangalore: A team of 11 members from the Bangalore office attended a training program on climbing and bouldering conducted by Gowri Varanashi and Nikhil Bhandari on December 3, 2023. This training program resulted in many takeaways and learnings for the team. 

“The training started with the basics of bouldering and exploring the space. The second half, gave importance to facilitation and the methods used to facilitate bouldering to fellow trekkers, irrespective of age. And all of this, in just a few hours!” added Nayana Jambhe, head of operations at Indiahikes. 

At Indiahikes, we place a lot of emphasis on upskilling all our team members—be it our Trek Leaders, guides or members from the Bangalore office—especially on safety and technical skills. These trainings focus on enabling them to secure any trekking trail to make it safe for our trekkers.

To do this effectively, such trainings give utmost priority to the using technical tools during tricky sections, knowledge of ropes and knots, and basics of medical safety. It also focuses on polishing the soft skills to facilitate technicalities effectively with our trekkers.

“These skills will only help us take Indiahikes forward as we give unique experiences to our trekkers in every group. Thanks to Gowri and Nikhil for passionately teaching us every technical nuance in climbing. It was so heart-filling and refreshing that we all became children under the guidance of these two veterans,” said Gautam Singh, the Finance Manager at Indiahikes

The impact of the activities was evident once the training concluded. As for experience coordinator, Debadrita Ghosh, the training took her back to a moment in time when she, as a 12 year old, was climbing the Tenzing’s rock along with her father. “After that climb, everything changed. I still do not know what. But yesterday felt like that day. After years of suffering from Osteoporosis and Tendonitis, I took the first step of climbing yesterday,” she said. 

At Indiahikes, we have constantly observed a requirement for training and upskilling. Eversince the inception, we have had several such training programs from diverse cross-sections for our team members. This is because, when we call ourselves ‘safe’; it is not just something we mention on our website or on posters. This is why we have continuous training programs on upgrading people’s abilities  to keep themselves and others safe. 

At Indiahikes, we place a lot of emphasis on upskilling all our team members—be it our Trek Leaders, guides or members from the Bangalore office—especially on safety and technical skills. These trainings focus on enabling them to secure any fromtrekking trail to make it safe for our trekkers

Indiahikes conducts climbing and bouldering training for our Bangalore office members

bouldering - climbing - training - bangalore office - indiahikes

Nov 8, Bengaluru: Last weekend, a team of 22 from S&P Global, a data resource management company, strengthened their team by trekking to Makalidurga near Bengaluru. This team bonding was crucial, as the team was newly formed owing to a recent merger in the company.

“It was a very successful event and some of them are looking forward to next one. We hope to have more participants next time,” Srikanth from S&P Global shared soon after the trek.

This trek was organised as a part of S&P Global’s Wellness Program. And it was heartening to see how the team members forged stronger bonds on the trek and got to know each other better.

“We consciously included certain activities on the trek that would trigger communication and nudge them to step up and help each other as a team,” shares Tilak Rawat, Experience Coordinator at Indiahikes, who led this trek.

The impact of the activities was evident once the trek concluded. Conversations were free-flowing. Team members became aware of their strengths and weaknesses as a team.

At Indiahikes, we have constantly observed this transformation. Since 2016 we have had several reputed companies from a diverse cross-section come on this program with us. We have seen that in a short span of time they they become a strongly bonded team. 

The trek also brought everyone’s focus on importance of staying fit and healthy.

“Quite a few team members spoke about consciously starting their fitness journey,” Tilak adds, pointing out a significant takeaway.

This camaraderie and transformation have laid a strong foundation for the team to work collaboratively at S&P Global, which is the need of the hour for most modern work spaces.

How a Day Trek Transformed the Team at S&P Global

team building - day trek - makalidurga - S&P Global

Oct 20, 12.00 p.m.: Students from Jain Vidyalaya travelled all the way from Madurai to the Dayara Bugyal trek in Uttarakhand for an Experiential Learning Programme with Indiahikes. They’re now returning with strong learnings. These students are between 14-17 years of age. 

All 20 students in the group were thrilled to travel from South India to Uttarakhand for an adventurous high altitude trek. And they did face some challenges.

“After they started the trek, the temperature dipped and there was a sudden spell of rain. It was a tough day for the students as they had to deal with challenges they were not accustomed to,” shares Prathima Chhabria, Senior Experience Coordinator at Indiahikes.  

Fortunately, the sun came up next day as the team moved to Chilapada. 

It was a DIY day. Students took up responsibilities to lead the trek and navigate the trail. They enjoyed learning new trekking skills as part of this specially designed programme.

The trek been a memorable experience for the students. They are taking back deep learnings from this experiential learning programme. Their coordinating teacher, Mr Rajesh, was instrumental in making this happen. He strongly believed in the impact that the Indiahikes Experiential Learning Programme can have on the students.

The students are on their way back now. And they are taking back the values of Sustainability, Team Spirit, Humility and Resilience, as was the aim of the Experiential Learning Programme.

Himalayan Trek becomes a classroom for learning for 20 Students from Madurai

Himalayan trek - learning - classroom - madurai

On World Mental Health Day, we are happy to announce our next Adventure Therapy group. At Indiahikes, we have always believed that trekking has an impact on our mind, body, and spirit.

"We've noticed that even on our regular treks, trekkers go through a near-therapeutic experience. It is where nature creates its own impact on mental health, without human intervention. But not everyone realises this impact, especially if they're in a troubled state of mind,” explains Izzat. “Many times, it needs facilitation by someone who can nudge them to enhance what the trek is already doing," she adds.

These treks are meant for those going through some difficulty in their lives. If you’re feeling low, underconfident, or finding it hard to overcome difficulties, this trek is meant for you. If you’re overcoming the loss of someone, or are unable to focus on your professional life, this trek will work wonderfully for you.

Date: December 2nd to 7th
Location: Dayara Bugyal

Adventure Therapy gains momentum. We’re announcing the 5th group!

At Indiahikes, we have always fretted about the fact that school curriculums in our country don't involve trekking as a sport.

So we were incredibly happy when Dr. P.C.Krishnaswamy, Principal and Chairman, UGC-HRDC Course Co-Ordinator for the University College of Physical Education, Bangalore University, invited Izzat Yaganagi, Head of Experiential Learning at Indiahikes to conduct a workshop on trekking for the benefit of Teacher Educators in Karnataka. 

There were 22 Physical Education Directors from across Karnataka attending this workshop. These are the exact members who can make a difference in physical education by introducing trekking as a sport that impacts the mind, body, and spirit.

“It was the first time many of the professors saw trekking from this perspective,” Izzat shared. “They were impressed by how the transformation happens, how trekking brings out the virtues and values,” she added.

For an immersive experience, Izzat took all the participants on an impromptu experiential learning outing within the Bangalore University Campus.

“The campus had many elements like the forest, a small lotus pond, a temple, boulders, and even fields. We used these elements to conduct a scavenger hunt in nature, interacting with the various elements. We held a session on reflections in the forest. It was quite impactful because professors practically saw the benefit of going out in nature,” says Izzat.

This is the first small step towards including trekking as a sport in the mainstream curriculum in our country.

Bangalore University of Physical Education look towards including trekking as a sport

On a bright, sunny morning, 16 students of Goa Institute of Management successfully climbed to the Chandrakhani Pass in Himachal Pradesh. They did this as a part of their Collaborative Leadership Programme with Indiahikes.  

This trek was conducted as part of an experiential learning program focussed on developing collaborative skills and behaviors.

“Though collaborative behaviour and leadership can be learned, it is very difficult to learn or practice in a classroom or simulated setting. This is where the world of the outdoors lends itself very well,” shares Izzat Yaganagi, Head of Experiential Learning at Indiahikes. 

This trek to Chandrakhani Pass was specially designed keeping this objective in mind. 

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