At the Indiahikes School of Outdoor Learning, our Outdoor Leadership Programme is a multi-level outdoor learning programme for schools. These include day hikes, overnight camps, and Himalayan treks with targetted learning outcomes.

This opportunity is ideal for:

• Educators who wish to go beyond classrooms and witness learning in its most natural form
• Nature enthusiasts and environmentalists who love working with young minds
• Early childhood and primary educators who believe in the power of play and curiosity
• Outdoor lovers or trekkers who want to meaningfully contribute to shaping young learners’ journeys

As a volunteer, you’ll be part of a facilitation team creating learning environments in the outdoors. Your role will vary depending on the age group and programme type, but at its heart, it’s about supporting learning through experiences in the outdoors.

You will:

• Assist trek leaders and facilitators in conducting activities, ensuring student safety and engagement
• Help design and hold reflection spaces, guiding children to make meaning of what they experience
• Support group dynamics, helping students collaborate, take responsibility, and lead
• Encourage observation and connection, inspiring students to explore their surroundings mindfully
• Assist with outdoor logistics, such as setting up tents and serving food

Every day outdoors is different. You might find yourself comforting a nervous 8-year-old before sleeping in a tent for the first time, or supporting the kitchen team after everyone has completed their dinner. 

Volunteering on these programmes gives you first-hand exposure to experiential education in the outdoors. You’ll learn:

• The principles of experiential learning that create a lasting impact
• Facilitation and observation skills, learning to sense when to step in and when to step back
• Group dynamics and empathy, especially while working with children in different age bands
• Observing how activities and reflection connect to deeper outcomes

To volunteer on these programmes, you’ll need to bring:

• Sensitivity and patience, especially when working with younger children
• Curiosity and openness, to learn from both nature and the participants
• A collaborative spirit, since you’ll be working closely with facilitators, teachers, and trek leaders
• Physical readiness, to trek, camp, and spend long days outdoors
• A reflective mindset, to observe and draw meaning from your experiences
• Must have trekked with Indiahikes