Nature walks, storytelling: this Pune-based club encourages urban kids to embrace the outdoors
Written by Antara Kulkarni
Four years ago, when Bengaluru-based Shruti Jha welcomed her daughter into the world, she began to see that young children often failed to have any meaningful interaction with nature. 'During weekends, parents usually think of either going to malls or indoor gaming zones, and these are all very over-stimulating activities for kids. I had an idea to create a culture where people choose outdoor and nature time over these,' she says.
The name of her initiative is Green Panther, which opened its Pune operations in December 2024. The venture aims to connect young children, especially from urban areas, with nature through weekend activities, such as tree walks and birdwatching. The club is handled by a core team of three people, Jha, Arun Kaulige and Subodh Shah. On June 11, the group celebrated the International Day of Play in Pune with Tiny Trails, a nature walk and nature art session curated for children aged between 4 and 8 who would be accompanied by their parents.
Alongside Kaulige and Shah, Jha self-funded Green Panther and has organised nature-based storytelling sessions, creating nature art, and even conducting overnight treks for parents and children every month. These activities are curated and facilitated by Green Panther's core team, and experts are brought in occasionally for the events. 'We want to make kids and families acquainted with and aware of the nature that is right around them. The core objective is about helping urban kids and families spend more time outdoors,' outlines Jha.
In Mumbai, where Green Panther opened in February, events often occur at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. In Pune, areas such as ARAI Tekdi and the Empress Garden have been frequented by the club's members. On average, 50 children take part in their regular weekend nature walks, and the club is open for children between the ages of 3 and 10, accompanied by their parents. Green Panther often partners with schools as well, organising events for more than 100 children at a time. There are plans to take the club's adventures to other urban cities in the future.
(Antara Kulkarni is an intern with The Indian Express)
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