KHOJ- An Outward Bound Learning Expedition

The Heritage School,
Gurgaon

THS/2011-2012/ SP/ACAD/ 73
Date: 11.8. 11

Subject: KHOJ, An Outward Bound Learning Expedition

“The aim of education is to impel young people into value forming experiences.”
– Kurt Hahn, Founder Outward Bound

We believe that teaching and learning is not confined to classrooms or schools, rather one learns best when he/she is part of an experience. Schools should be an extension of the outside world and strive to provide the child the environment from which he/she assimilates life-forming experiences. Khoj – is our initiative in this direction. Khoj, an Outward Bound Learning Expedition, provides children with settings for these real life experiences, where he/she is encouraged to rethink, re-look, rediscover and recreate his existing knowledge and hence make connections between classroom teaching and real life.
Khoj, is a weeklong program which provides our children with learning opportunities through challenge, adventure and service, which motivates the children to go beyond their own limitations and discover the strengths he never thought he had. The wilderness settings encourage the child to push his own boundaries and limitations and to gain confidence in the process.

We would like to emphasize here that Khoj is much more than a collection of activities. It is based on the sound principles of Outward Bound, which represents a philosophy of education and applications in the method of learning. Outward Bound was first started by a Jewish German educator Kurt Hahn, who employed challenge and outdoor adventure not as an end in itself, but as a method of inculcating perseverance, skill, teamwork, leadership and compassionate service in the students of Gordonstoun, a school in Scotland that he founded in the 1930s. Through his program, he developed a sense of moral commitment to the community, demanding intent of personal responsibility to fitness, craftsmanship and service. The Outbound learning methodology has been adopted, followed and practiced by several well known schools and educational institutions the world over, to create learning opportunities for both teachers and students.

Khoj expeditions for different grades will be undertaken during months of September through October. We have designed the expeditions based on the life skills that we would like to develop in our children and therefore it is mandatory for all students to participate in Khoj. We have also identified, confirmed and reserved our base camps and trains. This is the first amongst several detailed communications that we will be sending you regarding Khoj.

The dates for Khoj are as follows:

This is the first amongst several detailed communications that you will receive regarding Khoj. You can expect the next communication in this regard in the coming week.
We look forward to enjoyable engagements and great learning with your continued co-operation.

Regards,

Mahesh Prasad
(Principal)

Releasing Date : 8/11/2011