As part of the IB philosophy, one must understand that not everything can be taught within the classroom. Thus, field trips provide the perfect opportunity to apply ourselves fruitfully. Laden with their luggage, and appetite for knowledge, the group of ESS and Geography students readied themselves for the learning expedition to Sundarbans, West Bengal. The most engaging component of ESS & Geo IBDP is the coursework/fieldwork which culminates in an Analytical report based on Primary Data which the students gather and work upon. In this context we are all set to embark on our journey to Sundarbans Delta (UNESCO World Heritage site) which is located in Kolkata. This year 41 IBDP students with 4 teachers ventured for the very first time in the country to visit the Sundarbans(Kolkata) for the field trip. The IBDP ESS & Geography students studied “Ecological Footprints of Eco tourism & Environmental Sustainability, Quality and Patterns of Resource Consumption” with special reference to Mangrove forest of Sundarbans, West Bengal.

1. ESS FIELD TRIP 2019
Delhi to Sundarbans
28th March 2019 - 31st March 2019

2. Unravelling the field trip to Sundarbans
Thousands of memories

6. Hundreds of Experiences

8. 41 Students…..

10. Mr. Guru Charan Kumar Mr. Ashwani Kumar
4 Teachers

11. Mr. Poonam Sahu Mr. Chhatrapal Singh

12. 4 Days

15. 1 Destination

17. Interaction with School Director

21. BEFORE THE JOURNEY (Sundarbans team with Dr. Sarvesh Naidu and Ms. Manjula Shenoi)

22. ESS Field Trip 2019 – Sundarbans,India

23. Sundarbans
Sundarbans is a mangrove area/ forest in the delta formed by the
flowing together of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers
in the bay of Bengal.
More than 50 species of mammals reside in the Sundarbans,
about 60 creeping species, 300 species of birds as well as 300
species of vegetation.
The Sundarbans is a cluster of low-lying islands in the Bay of
Bengal, spread across India and Bangladesh, famous for its
unique mangrove forests.

26. Sundarbans covers around 102
islands in an area of 4000 square km.
these great numbers of islands is
much less then the numbers of
islands in the city of Venice.
Civilizations have lived among the
Sundarbans since the 3rd century,
and the area was also a common
hideout for criminals. Sundarbans
development board is considered to
be the country’s largest fishery
board.

30. Day 1:

31. Bus Journey from the School ……..

35. At the New Delhi Airport

37. New Delhi Airport

42. Journey starts

44. Kolkata Airport

51. Our Resort

53. Interaction with Local Guide

58. Local Boat Ride in Sundarbans

66. Debriefing

69. DAY 1- GRADE 11 ESS FIELD TRIP TO SUNDERBANS,WEST BENGAL
28TH-31ST MARCH,2019
As Albert Einstein has rightly quoted that “the only source of knowledge is experience” which can be testified by IB
Diploma Program’s firm belief in the philosophy of practical experiences. The field trips are organized with the same
idea to unravel the world of experience and provide students a platform to showcase their scientific temper and
objectivity.
Excited and exhilarated the ESS and Geography students of Grade 11 IBDP program, laden with their luggage were
eager to venture into the field of inquisitively. The students assembled into the school premises at 2:00 am and after
a small de-briefing from Mr. K Guru Charan Kumar the group of 41 students along with 5 teachers departed to the
Indira Gandhi International Airport from where the students would be taking a flight to Kolkata, West Bengal to
explore the World UNESCO heritage site, Sundarbans.
After arriving at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, we began our journey to a remote village,
Gosaba. From the Gosaba port we indulged into the depths of the world’s largest delta that was enriched by a mouth-
watering lunch.
We set off to unravel the experience traditional rides of the local country boats, punting down narrow, muddy creeks,
as the sun set in the background, our eyes were peeled. The pristine and sacrosanct beauty of the Sundarbans was
exemplified by the mesmerizing boat journey to the Sundarbans Residency.
Tired yet eager to learn the students were addressed by the naturalist Mr. Monoranjan Mondun, following which we
bid adieu for the night.

70. Day 2:

71. Morning walk:

82. Enroute to Field Work

87. ESS Field Work:(Simpson Diversity Index)
Simpson's Diversity
Index is a measure
of range which takes
into account the number
of species present, as
well as the relative
abundance of each
species. As species
richness and evenness
increase,
so diversity increases.

90. (Soil and water temperature
and pH level testing)
Soil pH is a measure of the acidity and alkalinity in soil’s.
pH levels range from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral, below 7
acidic and above 7 alkaline.

97. With ESS Team & Camp Leaders

103. CAS Project

131. Interaction with one of the Tiger attacked Vicitim

135. Debriefing

136. DAY 2-GRADE 11 ESS FIELD TRIP TO SUNDERBANS,WEST BENGAL
28TH-31ST MARCH,2019
With a faint chirping of birds, and the golden rays of sunshine we all woke up to another exciting and enthusiastic
day. After a brief morning tea, we went for a morning stroll and could experience the cold dewdrops over green-
grass with glittering sun rays shining upon us.
After a delicious breakfast, we all prepared ourselves for the 1st field work activity at Sundarbans. The keen
students proceeded to the experiment sites to complete practical’s related to solid and water testing and the
Simpson’s diversity
Following that, the budding scientists returned to the campsite for lunch. Which was taken over by the students
indulging into community service by visiting Rajat Jubilee High School- a selfless ethic the Pathways World
School, has firmly believed in.
Post the magnificent and satisfying CAS activity, the students quickly engrossed themselves in the soil testing again
with an investigative approach which allowed them to gain as well as compare data.
Tired and exhausted, the pupils returned to the campsite, The Sundarbans Residency and after the interaction with
the tiger conservationist Mr. Mithunjay Mundal, which was followed by an appetizing dinner.

137. Day 3:

138. Morning Photography Journey

140. Boat Journey to Human
Population Survey

143. Our Local Guide

144. Human Population Survey –Doyapur Village

157. Human Population Survey -Andpur

166. Cultural Dance –Banbibi

177. ESS Field Trip Closing Ceremony:

187. DAY 3-GRADE 11 ESS FIELD TRIP TO SUNDERBANS,WEST BENGAL
28TH-31ST MARCH,2019
It was a sunny Saturday, and the sparkling sun rays spread various hues of shiny silvers and golds as we were ready to
embrace this day and the treasure it would unfold. We began our day with a morning walk in the Sundarbans as we
watched the dense mangroves nesting in their natural habitat along with the Sundri’s and Gewa’s being their native
species.
After appreciating the dewy mist of the Sundarban’s morning walk, it was time for some community service. The
students surveyed the welcoming people of the Dayapur village students and became truly engaged in their respective
CAS groups while indulging themselves in philanthropic activities.
Then we returned to our campsite to satisfy out taste buds with an extremely appetizing lunch Kadhi and jeera aloo.
After some rest and the amazing lunch, the students returned back to their job of surveying the villagers of Andpur this
time. To compare the opinions of one village to the other it became imperative of the students to visit two villages to
compare of the sole purpose of their IA.
After a satisfying and splendidly traditional visit to the homes of the villagers, it was time to re-visit the cultural diversity
of the multi-diverse and multi-ethnic country like India. We saw the folk dance and music of the local tribe with their
heavy makeup, ghungros, colorful costumes and the foot tapping music rocked our nights.
The night ended with a delicious dinner, a set of instructions and many awards and speeches by the students, guides and
the teacher, with Anvi Pasricha’s team winning the best team award. The night finally came to an end with us wallowing
our sadness as we developed an attachment to our three-day home.

188. Day 4:

190. IA Research Question Discussion:

196. Visit to Mangrove Forest:

200. At Kolkata Airport

201. DAY 4-GRADE 11 ESS FIELD TRIP TO SUNDERBANS,WEST BENGAL
28TH-31ST MARCH,2019
The entire Sundarbans Residency landscape was bathed in the warm glow of the rising sun. Fatigued and
drained on the final day but the zeal to learn and the thirst for knowledge made the emerging prodigies to sit
down together and analyse the field experiments conducted throughout the trip. With intensive discussions
and expert guidance from our respected teachers Mr. Ashwani Kumar and Mr. K. Guru Charan Kumar, the
students finalized their Geography and ESS Internal Assessment topics. The discussions seemed to engross
students enough that nobody could gauge the time and the time to say good bye had come.
We boarded our only way of transportation, the boats one last time and before leaving Sundarbans headed to
the Dobanki watch tower. There some of us had the surprising experience of spotting the Royal Bengal Tiger.
After the visit to the watch tower we went to the Gosaba port to board out busses and left form the
Sundarbans.
We all got onto the same bus that got us to this alluring natural beauty we all felt nostalgic as we departed the
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. Followed by a much-awaited delightful dinner off pizzas.
Our flight finally departed at 9:45 pm and it was time to bid adieu to this remarkable and incredible
educational experience in the Sundarbans, Kolkata.

202. Memories that will last forever……

207. Some of the Best Photos of
Sundarbans Journey
CLICKING CLUB STUDENTS

208. Clicked by: Samanata Pradhan

209. Clicked by: Rishita Baruah

211. Clicked by: Kritharth Kumar

212. Clicked by: Daan Bhatti

213. Clicked by: Kritharth Kumar

214. Clicked by: Mr. Guru Charan

216. Clicked by: Samanata Pradhan

219. Clicked by: Parishit sah

226. Clicked by: Parikshit Sah

227. Clicked by: Kritharth Kumar

228. Clicked by: Samanata Pradhan

229. Clicked by: Kritharth Kumar

230. Clicked by: Kritharth Kumar

231. CREDITS

245. • YouTube Link for the ESS Field Trip
Video :
• https://youtu.be/h0bWEbnj42M

247. • A vlog is a form of blog for which the medium is video that shows
and describes the journey/trip of a person.
• For audiences, it can be a fun and useful way to make decisions and
gain knowledge through another person’s experience. During the ESS
field trip to Sundarbans, West Bengal, one of our very own
student filmed the first pathways vlog. The idea of filming the vlog for
the trip was by the Vlogger Manan Vaid himself.
• In the vlog, Manan shares the whole journey from pathways to
Sundarbans and back.
• It includes all the interesting activities, the journey to
the largest mangrove forest in the world and the new
experiences that he has gained along with his friends. "
• Link for Vlogging : https://youtu.be/j9kHdK81p64

248. Presentation Created by :
Simmi Tanwar, Class of 2020
Guru Charan Kumar ,ESS Faculty