"We always look outside for strength and confidence, but it is within ourselves. Out2Learn gives an insight to inside to seek and bring out."

In today's challenging world, one needs the ability to manage oneself effectively. Outbound activities in an unknown environment and unfamiliar situations help develop, sharpen and fine-tune the behavioral skills and qualities.

Out2Learn is a powerful learning experience to participants beyond the confines of their classroom. We provide a stimulating environment where participants play, think and learn.

Out2Learn's well conceived outbound programs can build confidence, overcome fear and inhibitions, inculcate action orientation, improve personal effectiveness and enhance the overall development of the child. They offer wide-based opportunities for physical, emotional, and mental learning. Each activity in a program has a purpose and objective. The set of activities are aided by rope/challenge courses, rappelling, trekking, team building activities and such others which promote self-discovery through participation.

Campus

Out2Learn campus is located at Ravugodlu on Kanakapura Road, about 35 km from Bangalore. It has lush green surroundings with the backdrop of a magnificent hillock. It also has a unique Bonsai garden. The campus has a remarkable adventure infrastructure consisting of 9 utility pole rope/challenge course.

Facilities

• Transportation from Basavanagudi to campus and back
• Dormitory/ cottage type accommodation
• Hygienic vegetarian food
• Lady facilitators to assist all female participants
• Adequate safety gear for all challenge courses
• Out2Learn encourages a “help-yourself” environment

Safety Considerations Out2Learn lays a lot of emphasis on safety. Adequate safety measures are put in place with facilitators supervising each activity. Lady facilitator will be available to assist and take care of the female participants. Other measures include availability of first-aid kits and doctor on call.

Another face in the crowd. Another brick in the wall. Just another X std. student. I am no topper in the class. I am shy, and comfortable only in my gang. Have my private fears and feelings. Study, I do. School, I go to. I am there, yet I keep asking, “Am I good enough? There is so much competition. Where do I stand? Can I deliver? …" Then, I tell myself, “Let's get on." That self-doubt crops up often. I talked to Veena about it. When she said that even she experiences it, I didn't feel alone.

One day, Kartik was his bubbly self and announced to papa that his VIII class group has an agenda for the weekend. They were going out for the weekend. Movie, I thought, it was. Correction happened. It was more a picnic, with a stayover at some place. Sounded interesting. “Archana, you too interested?" dad asked. Kartik egged me on to saying yes. As an afterthought, I checked if any practicals records had to be submitted the following Monday. It was fine. I was “free" for the weekend.

I hesitated some time later. I had no friends of mine. Kartik would have his gang. What would I do? Should I back out? That could upset dad. So, let's hit the road, I told myself. I was supposed to go to a farmhouse about 35 Km from Bangalore, to a place called Out2Learn. “Out" I like, “Learn", I guess I am having enough of it!

The Saturday arrived. There we were. Kartik and I joined a big gang of other kids at Basavanagudi. Didn't seem to spot any familiar face. The worst fear came true. Kartik vanished to the back of the bus. And I was alone, somewhere in the front. A little while later, as the bus moved on the Kanakapura Road, I exchanged a few smiles with the other folks. Slowly some conversation happened. Discovered that kids of different classes were also on the bus. I was definitely, a “senior". So, my gyan was sought, and I felt generous giving it all away.

We arrived in less than an hour's time at the farmhouse. My first view left me spellbound. With the scenic backdrop of the hills and the Japanese garden in the middle, the stress of the city seemed like a distant memory. It was around 9 o'clock. A welcome breakfast later, we heard the coordinator say a few things and then, all of us participants got to know each other.

The first morning session had a few soft skill activities like Air Frame, Acid River, Passing the marble, Spider Web and Slack Line. The names sounded different and indeed, were out-of-the-box.

In the afternoon, we got adventurous. I was on the rope course. From a distance, it was absolutely undoable. But with the lady facilitator egging me on, I pulled myself to do it. And once I got my feet firmly on the rope, it became magical. I didn't know what happened. All my energies were focused on my feet. There was no confusion in the mind. “I could do it" was the thought inside. The focus was on the next foot placement. What I read somewhere about that “Exist in the moment" seemed so real. And when I finally got off the great Indian rope act, I asked myself, “What was all my fuss about?" Then, the thought extended, "Is this how I am wrong in my assessment of other fears as well?"

In many ways, it was like living the Zindagi Na Milegi Dubara scene.

From then on, my enthu in the participation levels just went up. The slush puddle was sheer fun. And as the night came on, the indoor activities brought further zing into the group. Seemed like we knew each other for ages. Dinner tasted great. But nobody was in a mood to sleep.

The second morning was about rappelling. I was becoming a tougher person. More importantly, I was becoming a team person. Sumptuous lunch later, the afternoon saw us busy in raft building. Hadn't known much about it earlier. But now, it seemed interesting to know and even more interesting to build one.

By the evening, the 2-day outing was coming to a close. I was feeling down that it was ending. But I look back and see the impact that this experience made on me. It drove away the negativity. It dispelled my silly fears. I never felt I could achieve things on my own. Now, I don't fear adventure and neither will I stand aloof again.

In fact, here on, I am Out2Learn - all the way in my life!

During the rappelling activity, as I had watched on TV, I was very afraid. But after the encouragement from the coordinator, I seriously overcame fear.
- R Soundarya

I learnt to manage. In case of failure, I now always think of a different approach and strategy.
- Manu R

The air frame game taught me how to coordinate and work in a team.
- A. Namratha Deepthi

The rope course made me test my limits. Though I hesitated at times, at the end of the day, it has left me very proud of myself and what I have pushed myself to do.
- Ankita Anand