Nature as a Classroom



With children spending more time glued to screens than gazing at the sky, the idea of learning outdoors can feel like a forgotten luxury. But for a growing number of families in Hyderabad, weekends now look a little different— filled with unhurried walks, muddy shoes, and quiet moments of discovery under open skies.

On a breezy morning near Hyderabad’s KBR Park, children run freely through patches of green. Some pause to watch a butterfly flutter past. Others crouch near the ground, gently prodding at fallen leaves and insects. Their parents watch from a short distance, letting them explore without interference. There are no instructions, no agenda, no rush. This is one of the many weekend outings organised by Outdoor Classroom, a growing community of people who believe that learning can, and often should, take place outside.

From casual outings to community

Started by Raghava and his friend Devender in 2021, the initiative didn’t begin with any formal plan. “It was just something we were doing, going outside and exploring spaces around the city,” Raghava says. “I started inviting friends, and it began as a WhatsApp group. The tribe grew organically.

Over time, what began as a few informal weekend adventures turned into a regular rhythm. The activities diversified— hikes, photo walks, historical trails, stargazing nights, parent-child camps. Today, Outdoor Classroom runs several sessions each month, collaborating with schools, families, and even corporate teams. But at its core, the idea remains simple: nature can be a powerful teacher.

Bonds beyond the trail

Raghava says he sees three types of connections forming on these trails— with nature, with others, and with oneself. “When people are struggling to climb or figuring out a trail together, something shifts. You see people as they are. There’s no pretence.” He believes it’s those small, shared moments what brings people closer. He believes it’s those small, shared moments that brings people closer.

A space for natural learning

Viritha Pinna, who moved to Hyderabad from Mumbai, discovered Outdoor Classroom on Instagram and started joining in with her young son. “We were on a trek when we saw some rocks being broken,” she recalls. “My son, who was just four and a half, looked at them and asked, ‘How will we climb now?’ That question hit me. We never consciously taught him to love nature. He just picked it up from being around it.”

For Shivaji Rao, a Hyderabad-based entrepreneur who recently began homeschooling his children, the sessions add something the city can’t. “Even though our kids play outdoors inside our apartment complex, it’s still a concrete jungle. Being in actual wild spaces is different.” He and his family attended a stargazing and hiking event through Outdoor Classroom. “What surprised me was how quickly my son made a friend and went off on a trail with him. You see sides of your child that don’t come out at home,” he says.

Letting nature lead

The group, which began with just three people, now works with over 25 collaborators across cities. Raghava says the format changes depending on who’s coming— play-based for young children, guided challenges for school groups, and reflective tasks for adults and corporate teams.

But most meaningful learning, he believes, happens when they don’t over-plan. “Sometimes I just give them a map and stay at the back,” he says. “They find their own way. That’’s the whole point— to let the outdoors do the teaching.”



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