The Decathlon Challenge: Adventure in the Midst of Nature

The Activities at the National Environment Science Camp are structured on the lines of a Decathlon (a race with ten courses). Each course is a challenge that the participants ‘Dare’ to overcome. The ten fold Deca-Dare, testing the body, mind and spirit, has an underlying scientific objective to help acquire a perspective of Exo-Biology. We are, of course, steadfast in our ultimate objective of enlightening our campers about the value of the environment and the resources that have always been taken for granted. The Campers will shed their indifference to feel Nature from within.

• Day 1: Aliens: Science or Fiction

The Dares on the very first day of NEVSC are designed to create an interest in Exo-Biology. Dare 1: Bermuda Triangle: The Bermuda Triangle is a mysterious zone in the Atlantic Ocean where many ships and aircrafts have disappeared without a trace. This has been attributed to Strange Aliens. This Dare, as its name suggests, is about venturing into a danger zone from where escape is impossible. Bermuda Triangle sets the mood by provoking a curiosity about the theme of the Camp.

Dare 2: Men In Black (M-I-B): The second dare is inspired by a top secret organization of the American space agency, NASA, which supposedly searches for life elsewhere in the universe. The participants will be tasked to design a mission to Mars in search for life. They will be given some junkyard stuff to design a model space-craft that will be ‘launched’ into space.

Dare 3: Celestial Eye: The third dare is a scientific activity where the participants will be working on the rudimentary aspects of Astronomy to find out the galaxies, star-systems and planets that could support life and importantly how and why they can support life.

• Day 2: The Secret Formula of Life:

Our objective on the second day of the Camp is to explain the very notion of life. Dare 4: Five Elements We commence the second day by informing the Campers about the great scientists Oparin and Haldane, who simulated the conditions of primitive earth that led to the creation of the very first bio-molecules. This experiment provided insights into the origin of life on Earth. We dare the participants to replicate this great experiment. We dare them to ‘create life’

Dare 5: Extremo-philes It is quite possible that there exist certain life-forms beyond earth that may not need the same conditions for survival as others normally do. This is proved by the existence of the Extremo-philes, organisms that exist deep under oceans in unimaginably harsh conditions (without even sunlight). Our Fifth Dare enables the students know about these strange creature: that scientist call Extremo-philes.

Dare 6: Alien Invasion What would happen if the aliens were to invade the Earth? How will we respond to this unprecedented crisis? Shall we survive or will the human race perish? The Campers will ‘Dare’ to find it out in this most stupefying event of the year.

• Day 3: This Earth of Ours

On the third day it is back from up in space down to the earth in a bold endeavor to understand the planet better.

Dare 7: Kaleidoscopic World: There is a distinct possibility that life exists beyond earth. But no other place is likely to match the complexity and diversity of life as that on the earth. It is simply mind blowing. We shall admire the kaleidoscopic world in its varied forms from different angles and frames. If we are sensitive enough, our sixth sense is sure to be awakened by this Dare.

Dare 8: Terra X: Even as a long tiring field day wears out, we stretch the Campers to the very limits by challenging them to undertake certain daunting tasks that only the legendry King Vikramaditya dared. Relive the legend of Vikram and Vetaal in Dare 8 that will stagger the bravest of the brave and outwit the smartest of mind.

• Day 4: The Last Chance:

The final day is about preserving life on Earth. Dare 9: Green Knights: This Dare will transform the Campers into knights on a rescue mission to save the Earth. It will put to test the analytic, planning and execution skills in a real life situation. This dare will help develop a flamboyant ‘I can do it’ attitude.

Dare 10: Final Touches: At the end of it all, we have a time-tested recipe to inculcate the very essence of camping---- humility, work ethic, respect for nature & resources and eco-friendliness---- it’s called Final Touches. Our old campers will vouch how much they relished this dare.