Learning beyond classroom: Travel, adventure activities popular choices among Bengaluru schools | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: Travel is highly beneficial for learning for children. It boosts creativity, creates awareness about different cultures, and promotes broader outlook on life. Hence, many schools organise trips and excursions during the academic year. Though more schools usually plan international trips for global exposure, domestic trips are also now back in vogue due to uncertainties of foreign travel, say tour operators.“One issue with international trips is the visa. While US visa appointments are not available, European visas can get refused. Nasa trips, which used to be a favourite among schools, are almost out of the list this time. So, considering all those delays, rejections, increased airfares, and political conflicts, domestic programmes are in demand,” said Mahaboobulla Khan, director, The Modern Classrooms (TNC), which is organising a trip to Europe for DPS.“While domestic destinations are scouted, Asian countries like Singapore, Thailand, or Vietnam are now picking up as alternate destinations. There are countries where visas are free or easily available for Indians. Here, children can get the feel of an international trip within the budget of parents,” he added.“Adventure activities like rafting, Burma bridge, zipline, and rappelling are popular among students as they are considered to build team-building skills, perseverance, and endurance. North India is a popular destination for schools in the south as they want to explore snow, understand the culture, and try adventure activities,” said Sushil Rai, founder and CEO, Sprouts Edu Tours.Tech in Japan biggest attraction now: Tour operator “Many schools are now planning international trips. They start with countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and then go up the ladder. Technology advancement in Japan, for instance, is one of the biggest attractions these days,” he added.Anitha Bijesh, principal, Delhi Public School Bangalore South said: “Over the past year, we’ve seen a noticeable 10 to 15 per cent increase in the number of students opting for international educational trips. This growth reflects a shift in parental mindset as there’s a growing recognition of how powerful real-world exposure can be. Parents today are actively encouraging their children to step out of their comfort zones, experience diverse cultures, and learn beyond textbooks.” The school is taking students to Europe this time. Of 2,600 students, 86 of them registered.Presidency School Bangalore North is introducing international trips for the first time. Angelo Michael D’cruize, director of the school said around 30 students gave their names for the France tour in Aug. “However, after the Air India crash in Ahmedabad recently, 80% of them pulled out. It takes time to win over the confidence of parents. They are micro families, and parents are sometimes overprotective,” he said.“Parents need to understand that school trips are important to build social, emotional, and interpersonal skills. It is an opportunity to learn to be independent and grow holistically. We must learn about other cultures in order to understand, to love, and to preserve our common world heritage,” he added.Several schools also hold tours exclusively for teachers and exchange programmes for students and faculty.