FIS Racecourse First Annual Trip to Ranthambore National Park
By Reetta Hälvä, G3-5 homeroom teacher
For four unforgettable days, FIS students from grades 3-7 embarked on an adventure, exploring our beautiful planet from a variety of perspectives. We discovered not just social skills, responsibility, and the wonders of nature, but also delved into animals, astronomy, life skills, culture, and so much more. Along the way, there were plenty of happy accidents and moments that had us all laughing. Join me as I take you on a journey through our shared memories!
Day 1:
Our adventure began at Mumbai airport, where the air was thick with excitement. There were heartfelt goodbyes, some more enthusiastic than others. The students were incredibly considerate, making sure no one was left behind and eagerly anticipating our trip to Ranthambore. First, we flew to Jaipur, affectionately known as "The Pink City," before boarding a bus to our final destination. Our accommodation, charmingly named The Pugmark, was the perfect base, and we were thrilled to use a new word we had learned later in the trip. One student remarked with awe, "What kind of school takes kids to a place like this? It feels like we're on holiday!"
Our first activity was an informative session on tigers, which also introduced us to the unique flora and fauna of the Ranthambore area. We learned about tigers across India and the rich ecosystem of the region. The guides were quickly overwhelmed by the flood of questions from our eager students (and teachers), but they handled it with enthusiasm and grace.
At the school briefing, some students asked why we went to bed so early on the first night. However, on the first evening it wasn’t long before everyone was asleep, too excited to wait for the adventures of the next day.
Day 2:
Day two kicked off with a visit to the local school, where we engaged in a community service project. We had the opportunity to meet and interact with the fourth-grade students, sharing games and learning from each other. We taught them one of our favourite games, and in return, we picked up a local game. After some time spent outdoors, we explored the differences between life in the countryside and in Mumbai. Language barriers presented a challenge, as most of the local students spoke only Hindi. However, with the help of our students and teachers translating, we formed meaningful connections and deepened our understanding.
The afternoon brought out our creative side as we became artists for the day! Under the guidance of a local master, we learned the art of block printing and created our own pieces of art. Then, we had the chance to try tiger-themed paintings using acrylic paints or charcoal powder. Our example artists were so skilled that it was intimidating to follow in their footsteps, but every student rose to the challenge and created something unique.
As evening descended, we gazed up at the sky through telescopes, observing planets and stars. We spotted Jupiter, Mars, Venus, the craters of the Moon, and the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius. Some lucky ones even saw a shooting star and made a wish to spot tigers on the following day’s safari.
Day 3:
And the wish came true! On our chilly early morning safari, we set out to find the elusive mother tiger and her two cubs, but they proved too skilled at playing hide and seek. However, we were treated to a rare sight: a sloth bear running across the road and feeding on a termite mound. Not long after, a young female tiger walked straight towards us, her desperate roars echoing as she searched for her mother. The tiger passed by us calmly, and we could hardly believe our eyes. But the true jackpot came shortly after—there, basking in the sun, was the mother tiger and her two young male cubs! The sight was nothing short of majestic. It was difficult to stay still and just observe, but we all resisted the urge to run up and pet these magnificent creatures…
On our first safari, we saw spotted deer, a variety of birds, crocodiles, wild boar, a sloth bear, and a beautiful pair of spotted owls. We also learned about biomimicry, understanding how the beaks of kingfishers and the design of termite nests have inspired innovative solutions in our world.
After a well-deserved rest, we took a short hike to Ranthambore Fort and met the friendly langurs living nearby. On our way, we spotted a sambar deer, the largest deer species in Asia. At the fort, we learned about the ingenious door designs, which were built to protect the castle from elephant-led invaders. We also discovered how the fort’s design tricked unwelcome visitors into taking the wrong paths. After exploring the historic site, we returned to our accommodation, where we encountered yet another lesson in the art of living: always keep your door closed when you’re not in your room. A local cat had sneaked into one of our rooms and, in need of a washroom, had made a mess. Together, we learned how to politely explain our situation to the staff, and soon our room was spotless again. Lesson learned, and well done!
Day 4:
Before heading back to Mumbai, we set out for one final safari. Perhaps the chilly morning kept the animals hidden, as our safari was quieter than the previous ones. Still, we spotted many birds near the water, wild boar with nearly grown cubs, spotted deer, and crocodiles soaking up the sun. We couldn’t help but laugh when a rufous treepie, tired of our chatter under its favourite tree, decided to poop on us from above.
The journey back to Mumbai was much quieter than the outward trip. Everyone seemed deep in thought, reflecting on all the extraordinary experiences we had shared. Some students spent the time napping, others reading, and some chatting quietly with a friend about the memories we had made on our Annual Trip.
P.S. Kingfishers’ beaks inspired the design of the bullet train, and termite nests provided insight for creating well-ventilated office buildings.
