INTRODUCTION
OBJECTIVES OF THE TRIP
- To acquire the knowledge about planning and organising a field trip.
- To get valuable educational opportunities away from the classroom.
- To enhance the sense of community and help to be an active citizen.
- To get real world experience.
- Inorder to get a break from the routine activities.
- To get bending with the classmates.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE SPOT
Thenmala ecotourism : Thenmala ecotourism is located in the foothills of the western ghats, in Kerala's Kollam district. Thenmala dam, built across the Kallada river, one of the famous landmarks of Kollam. It lies at the conjunction of the Kollam-Shenkottai road and Trivandrum - Shenkottai road.
DETAILED PLAN
Planning is an important aspect in all activities. Planning is the process of deciding in advance what to be done, when to be done, how to be done, who to be done, etc. We had taken two or three days' time for planning. As per concern of many opinions, we chose Thenmala Ecotourism and a visit to Thenmala Dam, as taking the theme, “MATHEMATICS IN NATURE”. So we fixed the date December 13, 2022 and asked the students to reach Punalur bus station and planned to travel in KSRTC bus to Thenmala. We were planning the trip budget friendly. After fixing the place with the guidance of the concerned teacher through whatsapp group call, we went to get sanctioned from the principal. We decided to collect an amount of Rs. 500/- from the students.
EXECUTION OF THE PLAN
As per the plan, on December 13, 2022, all the students and teachers had reached the Punalur bus station at sharp 9:00 AM. We had started the trip after completing the routine trip procedures from the MMTC and the bus (Punalur - Tenkasi) started at 9:15 AM from the bus station. We reached the spot around 10:55 AM and went to the counter to take the pass for entering the Thenmala Ecotourism Leisure zone and to visit the Thenmala Dam (Parappar dam). After the visit we reached the bus stop in front of the Thenmala dam gate at around 01:15 PM and dispersed after the lunch from Kaimas restaurant, Punalur at 02:00 PM.
HISTORICAL AND EDUCATIONAL IMPORTANCE
Thenmala Ecotourism is India's initially arranged eco-tourism goal which is picking up notoriety because of its novel vistas, bio-differing qualities and working. Arranged around 72 km from Thiruvananthapuram in the District of Kollam, the Thenmala ecotourism imparts its assets to the acclaimed Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary at the foothills of the Western Ghats.
The word Thenmala in the neighbourhood dialects Malayalam has an intriguing significance, “At that point” implies nectar and “Mala” implies slope; and they consolidate to signify “Nectar Hill”. It is trusted that the nectar gathered from this locale is of good quality attributable to its one of a kind natural settings. Overseen by Thenmala Eco - Tourism Promotion Society, which is an endeavour of the Govt. Of Kerala, Thenmala Ecotourism is a one of a kind goal from a guest’s perspective. It has approached open doors for entertainment only, experience, relaxation and for taking in the criticalness and need of eco-accommodation measures for advancing tourism related exercises. There a guest is dealt with by its all around prepared staff giving direction and data about the different attractions and offices, empowering one to move about, investigate and experience all of thai momentous goals. There are very much set billboards, bearing pointers and data sheets to encourage one’s development inside the venture range. Partitioned into various zones with a specific topic, the venture territory at present and adventure zone.
At the culture zone, one can enjoy an assortment of exercises like attempting couple’s of customary Kerala dishes at the eatery there, a touch of looking for keepsake purpose, a peep on Kerala's speciality and culture, an amphitheatre and so forth. However, the highlight of the culture zone is the outside musical dancing fountain, which is a major fascination among the guests. There is additionally a tourism facilitation centre in the culture zone to give data on an extensive variety of tourism items accessible at thenmala.
Venture into the Leisure zone here and attempt the footpath prompting to the dam. The influence connected here would be an energising recommendation, particularly for kids. Changing it up and style to the scene here is the Sculpture garden, which has Man and Nature as its subject. For these with and overdose of adrenalin and those eager to test their enterprise soul would discover the adventure zone here us significant exciting background, Take the lifted walkaway for an excursion that winds through the covering of trees and going over rough territories breathing life into one close at wouldn’t freet to give their body muscles a genuine work out can go for mountain biking, shake climbing and stream crossing. Other than the zone-based exercise for a guest, Thenmala Ecotourism additionally after different attractions, similar to stimulating vessel ride in the Shendurney wildlife sanctuary; a visit to the Deer Rehabilitation centre, where one can observe a gathering of spotted deer, the sambar deer and woofing deer, which have been given security subsequent to straying out from the backwoods.
Another highlight is the Nakshatravanam. A garden comprising 27 trees associated with the 27 birth stars, we will be blessed to see all the 27 trees planted in the garden. According to Indian astrology, the predictions for man are based on nakshatra at the time of birth. Each nakshatra is of 13.33 degree i.e the 360 degree of the zodiac is shared equally by 27 nakshatra or constellations. Each nakshatra is associated with a tree. These trees are of medical social or esthetic value, there is a popular belief that one can attain property and happiness by planting one’s own tree in his home.
Thenmala dam was started in 1961 under the Kallada Irrigation and Tree Crop Development Project with an original cost of Rs. 13,38 crores. The revised estimate of Rs. 728 Crore at the 1999 schedule of rates made the cost escalation to be reported at 5356 per cent. Though the project was targeted for completion, and priority in allocation was given during the Ninth plan, it could not be completed and commissioned fully.
Environmental education on mathematics should be part of ecotourism because it increases conversation ethics and positive environment attitudes. It is essential in supporting sustainable development in the tourism sector. Ecotourism connects with mathematical aspects of nature. Sculptures are made with different dimensions. Everything connected with mathematics calculations and numbers.
BENEFITS DERIVED FROM THE TRIP
Most great quests begin with the simple desire to change an existing pre condition. There are some that aim at preserving the intrinsic beauty of a particular one. Thenmala began as that dream, an ambitious understanding to preserve and educate the world on the natural boons that thrive in the region. A trip saves new experiences and valuable educational lessons too.
According to me, as a mathematical teacher trainee, I am able to connect the spot with mathematics, as mathematical aspects in nature. In our syllabus also, we had studied about the natural resources where nature connects with the subject mathematics. Initially the construction of the dam (parappar dam), here the bricks used a rectangular slope in which again connecting to tangent and slope, also the shape of the dam seems to be a quadrilateral. The shutter handle used was full of geometrical shapes and obviously there should be some mathematical calculations. The height of the dam is 35.35 m and length 335 m. These shows the measurements with the help of mathematics. The speed of the water, amount of water for generating electricity and irrigation purpose connects mathematics frequently. The dam has capacity of 524,000,000 ㎥ and contains level of water at maximum of 115. 82 m. The surface area of the dam is 23 ㎦ ie mathematics related to the generation of power in the dam.
Furthermore, when we look at the leisure zone of Thenmala eco tourism, we are able to see many sculptures, which are made with appropriate measurements. The hanging bridge is parallel across the river with parallel handles and it seems to have a rectangular shape with a long length. The pathways are also parallel, the path was decorated with square and rectangular rock - bricks. There was equal distance between the rock-bricks on the pathway. Geometry has a main role in the making of sculptures in the leisure zone. The Butterfly zone with butterflies, here we can see the bilateral symmetry of the insects.
Finally, natural resources are connected to mathematics in such a way that we can see the geometry, symmetry, similarity, ratio and proportion, etc. The ratio of the water passing through the shutters of the dam at constant speed is relatable to mathematics. The congruence of the leaves in plants, the angle of the roots of the trees, etc connected with mathematics.
We can learn about the historical and educational importance of Thenmala Dam and Thenmala Ecotourism. We came to know that Thenmala shines or paves the way toward building a future where man and nature co - exist harmoniously and in a mutually beneficial manner. Overall the field trip was nice and time management and coordination of students along with the teacher went well. Everyone happily dispersed with great satisfaction and happiness that we went into nature and how it connected with mathematics through direct experience.
PROBLEMS FACED DURING THE TRIP
Thenmala field trip was nice and there were no major such problems noted. It was a sunny day so that due to the afternoon time, the temperature was rising hot. We walked nearly 7 km inside the hectares of and. We didn’t have any proper guidance and there was fear of monkeys seems there that they might attack at any time.
SUGGESTIONS
Ensure full participation from the local communities
Need to be a focused effort towards the preservation of the environment and the prevention of ecological degradation.
Limits the number of visitors in each ecotourism spot.
Ensure the efficient coordination between the governing bodies.
Create awareness regarding the need of protection of the environment among the tourist and host.
Garbage wastes can be transformed to biogas plants.
Distribution of dustbin to be placed equally.
CONCLUSION
REFERNCES
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