Bombay Natural History Society conducts teacher training program in Goregaon

Mumbai: Guided walks, birdwatching, trails of animals, waterholes and environmental stories that inspire a deeper connection with Earth excited teachers and educators from Mumbai.

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 saw over 30 enthusiastic school educators committed to integrating environmental awareness in their classrooms.

“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 climate change. This training programme has achieved this.” said Kishor Rithe, Director, BNHS.

The program began with a biodiversity trail led by Shardul Bajikar, education officer, and 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 inter-connectedness of forest ecosystems.

A key highlight of the session was a live demonstration of butterflies and moths, delivered by BNHS naturalists Meehir Pawar and Gaurang Tawade, under the expert guidance of Bajikar, a naturalist, conservationist and story-teller.

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 coordinated by 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 Majgaonkar.

“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 would recommend it to schools and educators looking to innovate their teaching methods,” said Siji Varghese, Patuck Technical High School and Junior College.

This program is part of BNHS’s broader vision to nurture environmentally literate citizens through direct engagement with educators and students across India.