Nature walks, storytelling: this Pune-based club encourages urban kids to embrace the outdoors
Written by Antara Kulkarni
Four years ago, when Bengaluru-based Shruti Jha welcomed her daughter into the world, she began to see that young children often failed to have any meaningful interaction with nature. 'During weekends, parents usually think of either going to malls or indoor gaming zones, and these are all very over-stimulating activities for kids. I had an idea to create a culture where people choose outdoor and nature time over these,' she says.
The name of her initiative is Green Panther, which opened its Pune operations in December 2024. The venture aims to connect young children, especially from urban areas, with nature through weekend activities, such as tree walks and birdwatching. The club is handled by a core team of three people, Jha, Arun Kaulige and Subodh Shah. On June 11, the group celebrated the International Day of Play in Pune with Tiny Trails, a nature walk and nature art session curated for children aged between 4 and 8 who would be accompanied by their parents.
Alongside Kaulige and Shah, Jha self-funded Green Panther and has organised nature-based storytelling sessions, creating nature art, and even conducting overnight treks for parents and children every month. These activities are curated and facilitated by Green Panther's core team, and experts are brought in occasionally for the events. 'We want to make kids and families acquainted with and aware of the nature that is right around them. The core objective is about helping urban kids and families spend more time outdoors,' outlines Jha.
In Mumbai, where Green Panther opened in February, events often occur at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. In Pune, areas such as ARAI Tekdi and the Empress Garden have been frequented by the club's members. On average, 50 children take part in their regular weekend nature walks, and the club is open for children between the ages of 3 and 10, accompanied by their parents. Green Panther often partners with schools as well, organising events for more than 100 children at a time. There are plans to take the club's adventures to other urban cities in the future.
(Antara Kulkarni is an intern with The Indian Express)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Wire
2 hours ago
- The Wire
Debut book 'The Liar's Guide' by Sanjay Shukla explores the humour and psychology behind everyday lies
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 28: Sanjay Shukla (S.J.), a Hyderabad-based writer and content professional, has released his debut book The Liar's Guide: How to Lie Effectively and Get Away With It – a humorous and culturally rooted take on the everyday lies we all live with. The book is now available on Amazon, Flipkart, and Notion Press. In an era where 'truth' is filtered and fibbing is almost social currency, The Liar's Guide holds up a witty mirror to modern life. From harmless excuses like 'I'm five minutes away' to classic workplace jhooth like 'I've read the report,' the book explores how we navigate society with small, strategic untruths — often without even realizing it. 'This book is not a manual for deception — it's an honest, funny look at the lies we tell to survive office deadlines, social pressure, and dinner with relatives. It's a celebration of being human — flawed, funny, and occasionally full of it,' says author Sanjay Shukla. The idea for the book took shape over countless chai breaks and storytelling sessions at old Irani cafés of Hyderabad — places known more for 'phenkna' (exaggeration) than fact. Drawing inspiration from everyday Indian settings, the book examines why we lie, how we lie, and what these fibs reveal about us. A seasoned writer with a background in journalism, corporate storytelling, and satire, Sanjay blends sharp observation with desi humour, resulting in a read that is insightful, nostalgic, and laugh-out-loud funny. Published by Notion Press, the book is available in paperback (₹199), hardbound (₹299), and eBook formats. Currently, the eBook is available exclusively on Amazon Kindle. About the Author: Sanjay Shukla (S.J.) is a Hyderabad-based writer with over two decades of experience in journalism, healthcare communication, and storytelling. The Liar's Guide is his debut title, blending wit, satire, and cultural introspection. About Notion Press: Notion Press is a global platform created for those who believe in the power of words and their ability to shape the world around us. Our mission is to support aspiring authors in bringing their ideas to life by giving them a clear identity, a physical form, and a channel to reach readers. As we work to transform the publishing industry, we are committed to continuously innovating and enhancing the publishing experience. The Liar's Guide is available now: Amazon: Notion Press: For interviews, media enquiries, or review copies, please contact: Sanjay Shukla – shukla2001@ | Contact No. 91 8790788400 (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.).
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Shankar Mahadevan Academy turns 15
At a press meet at the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies Centre (SAIACS) in Bengaluru, the air buzzed with more than just media chatter. It carried echoes of swaras, stories, and something deeply personal. 'We never knew this day would come so fast,' said Shankar Mahadevan, eyes crinkling with joy, reflecting on the 15-year journey of the Shankar Mahadevan Academy (SMA) — a dream that started with 15 students, most of them his nieces and nephews, and is today a global musical movement spanning 94 countries. 'It felt like a reunion of purpose,' said the Palakkad-based singer and composer. The Shankar Mahadevan Academy, founded in 2011 by Shankar and technology entrepreneur Sridhar Ranganathan, was a pioneer of sorts, attempting to do something unique at the time: offering online music education. 'People laughed. Music? Online? Will it even work?' Shankar recalled. It did not just work, it soared. Today, over 50,000 students have learned through the academy's unique digital platform, with more than half a million live classes taught. Numbers tell only part of the story. To celebrate its 15th year, the academy is launching courses that go far beyond traditional syllabi, including Garbh Sangeet, a course for expecting mothers that uses classical ragas to create emotional and spiritual connections before birth. 'Inside the academy, we call it 'minus one to infinity, '' smiled Ranganathan. The poetic phrase captures a powerful belief — that music is not just for learning or performing, but for living, healing, and bonding. Another offering, the Playback Singing Series, is equally ambitious — a rigorous, multi-year training program that fuses classical fundamentals with film music, preparing aspirants for the nuanced world of playback singing. Over the years, SMA has expanded into other avenues, including Sangam, a student-teacher music festival, and Prayag, an elite stage for dedicated learners. 'These are not just students. They are sadhakas,' said Shankar. 'This is not just education — it's an emotional legacy.' From children barely old enough to walk, to 70-year-olds who have never sung before, SMA has bridged generations. 'When I see a grandfather in Toronto learning alongside his granddaughter in Bengaluru… It's magical,' Mahadevan shared. The academy has also given back, launching initiatives including SMA Nirvana — live musical performances streamed to patients in hospitals and hospices, SMA Muskara, a pension program for aged or injured musicians, and Joyful Choir, an inclusive initiative for children on the autism spectrum. Their nonprofit wing has helped bring music education to children in Dharavi, Goa, and now, through their newest initiative — Reach Out India — to students in remote villages via internet-powered classrooms. 'One teacher in Ahmedabad is teaching kids in Kumbakonam — and they all performed for me,' said Shankar , admitting that the journey has given him a deeper sense of fulfilment. 'I've always known music entertains. But through this academy, I learnt that music can transform.'
Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
Planner: 4 events to spin some fun into your week
Rikameek, a play that won awards for performance and production at youth theatre festival Thespo 26 is back on stage. This tale of belonging has been conceptualised and performed by Aapla Ghar, a Maharashtra-based organisation involved in the field of performing arts. And now as part of the Thespo @Prithvi initiative, Rikameek is coming back to Mumbai. Written by Amol Devidas Salve and directed by Monika Vijay, the play is about two newly-weds and the 'ways in which caste and societal expectations shape love and marriage'. While tackling difficult and complex subjects, Rikameek offers a warm and light-hearted touch. At Prithvi, Mumbai, on 1-2 July, 8pm. A painting by Partha Pratim Deb on show at 'PlayForms'. Emami Art, Kolkata, is hosting a solo exhibition of Partha Pratim Deb, titled PlayForms. Born in Sylhet, now in Bangladesh, in 1943, the artist's family migrated to Agartala, Tripura, soon after Partition. Deb later trained at Santiniketan, and Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara. His practice has come to defy categorisation as abstract or figurative. The exhibition includes paintings, paper mesh and fabric objects that fall between toy and sculpture. 'His work embodies a complex blend of criticality and creativity, reflecting on the ideology and meaning of art while embracing the magic and pleasure of creating it,' states the gallery note. At Emami Art, Kolkata, till 9 August, 11am-7pm. Stand up comic, Urooj Ashfaq It's going to be an evening of laughter as popular stand-up comic Urooj Ashfaq takes the stage at the Phoenix Mall of Asia, Bengaluru. Known for her unapologetic witticisms and wildly relatable, Ashfaq is best recognised by her turn in Comicstaan and her YouTube act, If Apps Were People. At Fan Park, 2nd Floor, Phoenix Mall of Asia, Bengaluru, 28 June, 8pm. Tickets on Bookmyshow. (from left) Sooraj Nambiar essays the role of Charudatta, Gurukulama Tharun is Chandala, Aran Kapila is Rohasena and (Kalamandalam Jishnu Pratap plays the role of Maithreya from Mṛcchakatikam. Bengaluru audiences are in for a treat as the Natanakairali troupe from Kerala brings to life the Sanskrit classic, Mṛcchakatikam, in the performance tradition of Kutiyattam. The story of Mṛcchakatikam (The Little Clay Cart), as the press note describes it, 'brims with vivid, humane characters—lovers, gamblers, thieves, monks, and revolutionaries—set in a bustling ancient city. This play is a celebration of love, justice, politics, and human folly.' Directed by Kutiyattam exponent GVenu, the ensemble cast includes Sooraj Nambiar, Pothiyil Ranjith Chakyar, Kapila Venu, Margi Sajeev Narayanan Chakyar, Saritha Krishnakumar, Kalamandalam Jishnu Prathap among others. The performance is supported by Bhoomija Trust. At Ranga Shankara, JP Nagar, Bengaluru, on 1-2 July, 7.30pm. Tickets on Bookmyshow.
