Our school had organized a CAS trip to Gir, Gujarat from 6th September to 9th September. During the trip, we were divided into two groups and each group had to make a well cover which would prevent the lions from falling in the well while chasing their preys. Making a well cover required to do welding, cutting and many other jobs. The local workers helped us in learning and implementing these jobs to make a well cover. This was a unique trip in itself because I had always witnessed these types of types of equipment being used at construction and renovation sites but had never learned about them or used them before. Every day after dinner we were taken for night treks where we witnessed sounds of different birds and animals. Our guide also taught us various ways to understand what different birds and animals are trying to communicate among them. He also taught us how to behave when you are traveling around birds and animals in a forest.

Learning outcome achieved:

LO1: Identify own strengths and areas of growth

• This trip made me realize that it is so much fun doing such tasks required to build a structure. My patience was tested while doing these jobs. We had to carve and cut the metal rods perfectly which required a lot of patience and I had that strength. Knowing about your strengths and weaknesses is important because on the bases of them you come to know what you need to improve and what you can do perfectly to help your peers complete the assigned work.

LO2: Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills

• I learned many new skills like cutting; welding; using a wheel deburring machine to smoothen the edges of metal etc. I had always seen these tasks occurring at many construction sites and always wondered about the techniques used to do them. Moreover, challenges were undertaken because I was doing these tasks for the first time.

LO3: Initiate and plan a CAS experience

• For making the well cover we had to calculate the area of the well, the number of metal nets required to cover the well, measure the iron rods and cut them etc. Moreover, we also planned all the steps and activities which were to be done to make a perfect well cover. With help of the local workers, we had also drawn a diagram of the well cover to know how to make it. The planning part was quite difficult because all of us had never made a well cover and used the machines. But, with the help of the local workers, we were able to design a perfect well cover and initiate the plan.

LO4: Show perseverance and commitment in CAS experience

• On the first day, I wasn’t interested in working and was just doing the job for the sake of CAS but as the work progressed it interested me and I started working along with my peers. All of us had divided the work and this taught me how to be a good team player. Every day we had to wake up early, freshen up, have breakfast and start working as soon as. All the time was spent like this until the well cover was made. This required a lot of commitment and energy.

LO5: Demonstrate the skills and benefits of working collaboratively

• Usually working with a team is fun and easy for me as well and this was the case with this activity as well. I didn’t find any difficulty in working with my team members them because they were very cooperative. While some were doing welding others were busy with cutting and that’s how we had divided the work. Hence, this task required us to work in a team and work collaboratively.

LO6: Engagement with issues of global significance

• This was surely an issue of global significance because we were making the well cover to protect the endangered Asiatic lions from falling in the well. This would prevent the population from decreasing. Knowing about global issues is important because after knowing them we’ll be able to find solutions to them. After making the well cover I felt very proud because I was contributing to society.

LO7: Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions. (Use of electricity)

• I had realized the importance of wildlife and the ways in which one small change can disturb the whole ecosystem. Hence, as a team, we’d taken all the decisions ethically and make a perfect well cover to protect the endangered Asiatic lions. We were provided tents with proper facilities like air conditioner, television, 24 hours of water etc. We were instructed to use the resources efficiently and not use them when not required and hence not wasting the resources and leaving a carbon footprint behind.

In conclusion, the trip was very well organized and properly planned. In spite of losing the first day because of rain, we worked hard as a team and constructed 2 well covers in 3 days. Moreover, I learned many new activities and also contributed in a positive way towards wildlife. We had also developed many learner profile skills like, thinkers (thinking creatively and critically to make a well cover), inquirers (learning new skills and independently applying them at the right place), and knowledgeable (We had understood the global issue of protecting the Asiatic lions and solved it by making well covers). According to me, there would be no changes if we do this activity again because we had achieved success.