The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), India’s premier wildlife research and conservation organisation, conducted an impactful Teacher Training Program at its Conservation Education Centre (CEC), Goregaon, under the Green Classroom Initiative. The event welcomed over 30 enthusiastic school educators committed to integrating environmental awareness into their classrooms.
The program began with a biodiversity trail led by Mr. Shardul Bajikar, Education Officer, and Mr. Dilip Giri, Field Assistant, guiding teachers through the forested trails of the CEC campus. Participants explored native flora and fauna while engaging in conversations on the interconnectedness of forest ecosystems.
A key highlight of the session was a live demonstration of butterflies and moths, delivered by BNHS Naturalists Mr. Meehir Pawar and Mr. Gaurang Tawade, under the expert guidance of Mr. Shardul Bajikar. The educators were fascinated by the intricate adaptations, life cycles, and roles of these pollinators in sustaining biodiversity.
Following the trail, the group engaged in an interactive session where they discussed local environmental issues and brainstormed ways to embed conservation thinking into school curricula. Divided into teams, teachers presented practical ideas for weaving nature education into everyday classroom subjects.
The event was seamlessly coordinated by Ms. Aqsa Majgaonkar, Senior Education Officer at BNHS-CEC, who ensured a balance of hands-on learning, discussion, and resource-sharing throughout the day.
“At CEC, our goal is not only to educate but also to inspire them. By empowering educators with field-based knowledge and creative teaching strategies, we plant seeds of change that grow far beyond our forest campus,” said Ms. Aqsa Majgaonkar, Senior Education Officer, BNHS–CEC.
“The Nature Trail and the training on Green Class Initiative was a fantastic program that combined outdoor learning with environmental conservation. It was an engaging and interactive approach to learning and fostered a love for nature. I’d recommend it to schools and educators looking to innovate their teaching methods.” said Mrs. Siji Varghese, Patuck Technical High School and Junior College
“BNHS has a wealth of knowledge being India’s premier leading environmental organisation, and we want to share this among the educators. However, we want to equip the teachers with nature- based solutions (NBS) and experiential learning tools like nature games which will help them to build the young children to fight the environmental challenges including the climate change. This training programme has achieved this.” said Mr Kishor Rithe, Director, BNHS
This program is part of BNHS’s broader vision to nurture environmentally literate citizens through direct engagement with educators and students across India.
For information about upcoming educator workshops and nature-based programs, please visit: www.bnhs.org
About BNHS:
The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) is one of India’s oldest and most respected nature conservation organisations. With a history spanning over a century, BNHS is committed to studying, conservating, and educating India’s natural heritage. Through various initiatives, research projects, and educational programs, BNHS plays a pivotal role in promoting biodiversity conservation and environmental awareness