The Corbett Foundation recognises the fact that environmental conservation awareness is a universal requirement for all sections of society. The Awareness wing of the Foundation was set up with the same objective.
An initiative in spreading awareness among locals is in the form of educational day trips to the Corbett National Park (CNP). These trips had an objective of exposing the villagers and students from adjoining villages to Dhikala zone, which they seemed unlikely to visit by themselves. Such trips are usually dependent on permission granted by the Forest Department authorities. Mostly, the authorities are supportive.
Another activity to expose villagers and students to the concept of conservation of bio-diversity is special screenings of wildlife films. The Foundation has acquired a television set and a video cassette player for the purpose and during awareness campaigns organises film screenings for locals.
During the Wildlife Week (October 1st to 7th) the Foundation conducts various activities including bird watching camps, workshops and seminars on conservation, wildlife film screenings and, a wildlife quiz and various competitions for school children. The Foundation has also instituted an annual rolling trophy for it’s Bird Quiz. These activities are usually organised in collaboration with the Corbett Tiger Reserve and other NGOs.
The interpretation center housed in the foundation's premises, hosts programmes for school children, villagers and visitors at its base in Dhikuli. This center, designed by a group of museum specialists, helps the Foundation to reach out to wider cross-section of society and reinforce the message of bio-diversity conservation. In this center there is facility to organise exhibits on different themes. Currently the displays are on environmental conservation messages drawn from our history, culture and religion.
The Foundation has in the past sponsored vocational training for many local youths. Ten students were sponsored for training at the Electronic Service And Training Centre (ESTC), Kaniya, Ramnagar to be trained as "electrical assembly operators" and "electricians". Another student was sponsored for a one year electrical diploma course at the same institute. At the village level sewing centers training is organised periodically with the objective of training village women and offering them a chance to come together. Though these efforts have been successful further steps to introduce employment-oriented education among local people are under consideration.
The Corbett Foundation’s quarterly newsletters in English and Hindi are distributed free of cost. They have helped generate awareness and support for wildlife conservation and preservation of the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
The Corbett Foundation is also partnered with Sanctuary Asia’s “
Kids for Tigers” Nature Awareness and Education Programme in the schools of Ramnagar and village schools on the periphery of the Corbett Tiger Reserve. The Foundation funds and implements the programme in this region. The “
Kids for Tigers” Nature Awareness and Education Programme is a nationwide campaign and is conducted free of cost.
