EMBARK ON A LIFE-CHANGING EXPEDITION TO NEPAL’S WILD CAPITAL, BARDIA. EXPERIENCE THE REAL WORLD OFF THE BEATEN PATH, EXPLORE BARDIA’S RICH WILDLIFE, BE A PART OF THE UNIQUE LIFESTYLE AND WORK CLOSELY WITH LOCALS IN THE THARU LAND, ALL OF IT WHILE MAKING AN IMPACT THROUGH MEANINGFUL AND EXCITING PROJECTS.
About Bardia
Primarily inhabited by the indigenous Tharu people, Bardia is a pristine unventured land in Wild West housing Nepal’s largest conservation land- Bardia National Park. It is a true piece of Terai land with a richness that the river Karnali nourishes and a true wilderness.
Besides being home to an estimated population of 125 wild tigers, it also houses around 839 species of flora and 642 species of fauna including the one-horned rhinoceros, wild elephants, swamp deer, Gangetic dolphin, and over 400 bird species.
Why does Bardia make the best destination for school trips?
We consider Bardia an open university as it is in an interesting temporal juncture where it still struggles to get out of the age-old traditional nightmares compromising education, health, nutrition, social equity, gender equality, etc, and all is on the verge of getting engulfed by the rampaging modernization and urbanization. Nature and culture are Bardia’s biggest assets and have been the identity of the land for the longest time. There’s a sheer need to protect and conserve what has helped them survive through centuries while Bardia wants to update, upgrade and contemporize itself with the rest of the world.
Highlights of our new school trips include
- Small and big, interesting yet impactful projects for all grades, budgets, preferences, and travel lengths.
- Build a real-world connection that is rare and exclusive. Work closely with indigenous leaders, local conservation youth groups, local communities, guides and leaders, and experts in related fields.
- Our programs align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and our projects are designed to be sustainable and regenerative in approach.
- Each program has exciting free-time activities like jeep safaris inside Bardia National Park, jungle walks, culture tours, river activities, etc. We also let students experience nature and wildlife in the pristine setting of Bardia.
Conservation Education in Bardia
Conservation Education in Bardia is a program designed for youth, keeping in mind the need for environmental awareness at that age. It is the perfect blend of theoretical knowledge, practical application and entertainment.
- Difficulty level: Introductory – Moderate (Perfect for adolescents, especially, Grade 8 and up)
- Activities: Jungle walk, rafting, animal tracking, bird watching, community engagement, information sessions, forest patrols, handicraft workshop, team building
- Learning Outcomes: Basics of Conservation education, Birdwatching, Survival skills, Wildlife tracking, Team-building, Communication, Cross-cultural learning and problem-solving.
- Associated SDGs: Climate Action (13), Life on Land (15), Quality Education (4), Partnerships to achieve the goal (17)
- Who will you work with: Community-based Anti Poaching Unit, Conservationist, Local Guides, Local Indigenous people, Local schools
- Accommodation: Angna Ghar (Community Long House)
We devise personalized trips for schools and organizations based on their needs, preferences, and budget. Kindly get in touch with us to schedule a call for further details and discussions.
Existing Volunteering Projects and Opportunities
We are continually engaging ourselves in meaningful projects in Bardia but also progressively creating projects that others can come and engage with. Our style of creating such engagement opportunities is based on the impact it will make on the local lives, lifestyle, and sustainability of both. Here we present a few glimpses of the engagements we already have based on the need, suitability, and strategic impact it can have in the local surroundings. Please go through them and feel free to get in touch to make a real-life impact on the community while you create one of the most profound experiences for yourself.
- Build a Canopy Walk in Bardia’s Lush Forests
- Create a Tharu Cook Book in Bardia
- Elephant-proofing settlements in the fringes of the Khata corridor
- Teach permaculture, help design and set up a permaculture farm by integrating local indigenous knowledge
- Set up a wood workshop in Bardia
- River Embankment to protect villages in Bardia from monsoon floods
- Research and Document local indigenous traditions, cultural practices, music, dance, festivals and culture
- Setting up and running the School of Community Conservation
Why Us?
- Over 10 years of experience hosting school trips and expeditions through our sister company Himalayan Voluntourism.
- Uncompromised safety, risk assessment, and hygienic meals, and end-to-end logistical service.
- Excellent knowledge of the land, its people, and local issues gathered from over a decade-long engagement with Bardia.
- A team of passionate educators, conservationists, tour operators, locals and experts.
- Operates an experiential virtual learning platform called Schools for SDGs which started as a proxy to field trips during Covid