Adventure camp: X-mass gift from Army to students

MANGALDAI, Dec 27: For 23 students, mostly belonging to the weaker section of society drawn from four schools of Udalguri district in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD), the ‘Men in Olive Green’ appeared as the “Santa Claus” who offered them a unique Christmas gift. These 23 students of Tangla High School, Panery HS School, Udalguri HS School and Sainik Vidyalaya, Hattigorh got a rare opportunity to take part in a four-day-long adventure camp. They were very happy to get the opportunity to visit the Orang National Park (ONP), the only habitat of one-horned rhinos on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra. Their fascination knew no bound as it was their first time to make a visit to the Park as well as to undertake trekking inside the jungles and to enjoy the elephant safari.

The overwhelmed students expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the “Santa Claus” — 315 Field Regiment (KARGIL) of the Red Horns Division operating in parts of Udalguri and Darrang districts — for offering them such a unique Christmas gift as part of its Operation Sadbhavana. The five-day adventure camp included a host of activities, which helped the students to broaden their mindset through interaction and enlighten them about the spirit of adventure. The students were taught about wildlife conservation by the authorities of ONP. They also involved themselves in activities like trekking and elephant safari. The children were taught about various jungle survival skills and application of first aid. In addition, other co-curricular activities such as painting competition, campfire and entertainment programmes were also conducted for the students. The children also visited various historical places at Tezpur and Orchidarium at the Orang National Park. Mention may be made that Commander of 21 Mountain (Artillery) Brigade Brigadier K Ravi Prasad and Udalguri Deputy Commissioner Suttumali Subbaiah Meenaxi Sundaram earlier jointly flagged off the adventure camp. An equipment display for the children was organized on the occasion wherein the children were shown various weapons and equipment currently in use with the Army. In addition, the children were acquainted with the various prospects of joining the Army. THE SENTINEL