Nature Awareness Camp

I. Camps in Silent Valley National Park
Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department is conducting nature awareness camps in Silent Valley National Park for students and members of environment related nongovernmental organisations. Dormitory accommodation and simple vegetarian food will be provided by the Department free of cost to the participants.
The number of participants is strictly restricted to thirty five (35 Nos).
The accompanying teachers will be solely responsible for the disciplined behaviour of the participating students.
The objectives of the nature awareness camp:

To educate about nature and wildlife.
To educate about the issues of environment degradation and the need for efforts /steps to be taken to conserve our environment..
To educate young generation about the natural and chronological history of Silent Valley National Park including the struggle for its conservation.
To create a desire to get to know the forest.
To broaden consciousness and awareness about life
To share values
To promote behavioural changes

To encourage relationships with the friends of the forest .

II. General guidelines and instructions

Application form shall be sent in the prescribed format to the concerned forest office through the head of the institution.
Only one camp will be allowed to an institution during a financial year.
Preference will be given to the institutions from the adjoining localities of the protected area.
The location for the camp within the division will be decided by the Wildlife Warden.
The ideal number of participants in a camp is 35 including accompanying staff.
Duration of camps will be 2 /3 days.
The department will retain the freedom and authority to cancel the camp if any indiscipline is noticed from the part of the participants.
Whoever wishes may carry with them camera, torch light, leech socks, light warm cloths etc.

An institution which cancels an allotted camp will not be considered for a camp during that financial year

III. Jungle rules

Forest trekking is not a picnic ;it is a journey for study and experience
It is advisable to wear dull coloured cloths while trekking
Stay with the group while trekking
Carry a note pad and pen while trekking
Observe silence
Avoid cosmetics and other odoriferous substances
Never venture into unknown waters
Avoid valuables while trekking
No littering of the campsite and the trekking routes
Smoking and drinking of alcohol is strictly prohibited
The use of fire inside the forest is strictly prohibited.
Do not expect to see animals all the time. Be patient
Do not remove / deposit anything from / in the forest.
Follow the instructions of the accompanying guide while trekking

“The forest is more than the sum of its trees”

III. Who can apply?

TARGET GROUP	TO WHOM THE APPLICATION BE SENT
GOVERNMENT RECOGINZED EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS,(government /aided/self financing /un aided)	WILDLIFE WARDEN, SILENT VALLEY DIVISION FOREST COMPLEX, MANNRKKAD-678582 PALAKKAD-KERALA
LOCAL CLUBS AND OTHER ORGANAISATIONS	THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS(WL) NORTHERN REGION OLAVAKKODE PALAKKAD (Application is sent well in advance, preferably one month before the proposed date)
NATURE CAMPS FOR OTHER CATEGORIES (OTHER THAN LOCAL)	CHIEF WILDLIFE WARDEN VANNALAKSHMI VAZHUTHACADU THIRUVANTHAPURAM Application is sent well in advance, preferably two month before the proposed date)

VI. How to apply:
The application form should reach to the concerned offices in prescribed form (Annexure I)
Download Application form (PDF)
Note:
The application received not in the prescribed form will not be considered for the camp.

V. Availability

Details regarding the availability of nature camps other logistics may be enquired from:
Wildlife Warden
Silent Valley Division
Mannarkkad
(Phone No. 04924-222056

Perhaps it was all worth it. Some human being walking through it sometimes, passing an inner revolution, shall ask the question : " Oh Mother, am I thy flesh and blood, feel and fever; shall I be thine and would would you be mine ?" That Silent question will be responded to in Silence; in the Silence by the reverential bowing of human will and the trailing branches of trees in Silent Valley.