The Young Nature Authors is a Project Based Learning program, exclusively for students of Al Qamar Academy organized by YouCan in collaboration with Cogitation. It is a 2-month, slow and immersive journey that enables participants to learn the nuances of storytelling and bookmaking and publish storybooks.

When we provide a space for children to gain lived experiences, it helps them better understand our interrelationship with nature and communities around us. The process deepens creativity, develops character, supports children to discover their voice, and elevates their action for the natural world. Students of Al Qamar Academy have been participating in a two year environmental education program in partnership with the Pitchandikulam Forest Consultants.

This program is a capstone project to enable students to share their ecology experiences as storybooks. The program is facilitated by acclaimed conservation educator and nature photographer K. Ramnath Chandrasekhar. It builds on a similar program held in 2016 where 12 students published books on environmental themes. For details, visit http://alqamaracademy1.blogspot.com/2018/05/little-authors-from-al-qamar.html

Dates: January 11 - March 6 2021 (synchronous & asynchronous sessions)

Timing: 3:00pm-4:00pm

Mode: Online

Fees, eligibility & other details : Upon request

Registration Form : https://forms.gle/UFSWRWddhBmN17f36

FACILITATOR’S PROFILE

K. Ramnath Chandrasekhar is a conservation educator, photographer and filmmaker from India. He uses the visual medium and project-based learning to build empathy and participation among children and youth for our planet's natural heritage.

Ramnath’s fascination with nature began at the age of 13, when he explored scrub jungles around his hometown of Pudukkottai. This led to photography and filmmaking and, eventually, to conservation education. Ramnath was shortlisted for the Rolex Young Laureates Programme, recognised by the Tamil Nadu State Department and awarded an international scholarship to pursue the Asia Pacific Leadership Program (APLP) Fellowship at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai’i.

Ramnath has traveled across India to capture inspirational stories that facilitate people’s understanding of its rich natural and cultural heritage. He has co-authored a coffee table book ‘Ganga – More than a river’ about the journey of River Ganges from its source to sea. He has edited many conservation documentaries like The Race to Save the Amur Falcon and India’s Disappearing Beaches. Fuji film shortlisted him as one of six photographers from India for their ‘Fuji super six’ exhibition, which gave him an opportunity to showcase his work in major cities across India. Many of his photographs have been published in various newspapers and magazines, such as Sanctuary Asia, Hornbill, Better Photography, Smart Photography, Times Of India, The Hindu, Indian Express and Deccan Chronicle.

Ramnath has worked as the Executive Director of Youth for Conservation (YFC), a non-profit initiative founded by acclaimed wildlife and conservation filmmaker, Shekar Dattatri. Through YFC, he has conducted nature awareness programs for over 50,000 students across Tami Nadu, and has mentored 45 children to write storybooks and become authors on the environment.

Ramnath envisions a world with an environmental educator in every community. He is on the board of Trust for Environmental Education (TREE), a public charitable Trust founded in 1986 by Govind Swaminathan, one of the legal luminaries of India, Sriram Panchu, a senior advocate, and acclaimed wildlife filmmaker Shekar Dattatri. Along with his partner Rachita, he leads the Earth Ambassadors Fellowship, a pan-India, one-year program that supports young people to lead eco-clubs in schools and nurtures ecologically conscious and action oriented citizens for the planet.

Link to Ramnath portfolio - www.ramnathshekar.com

A 3-minute video about Ramnath’s work - Inside my green book