Junior Naturalist Course (JNC)
by Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences (TIES)
TIES Certificate of Completion
A 15-module, 100+ hour naturalist field course by TIES for students in Std II-IX, covering wetland ecosystems and a Thattekad Bird Sanctuary evaluation trek, held annually in Kottayam.
Mode
In-Person
Fee
Registration fee applies
Participation format
Individual
Duration
15 full-day modules (100+ hours total) delivered over roughly three weeks per annual batch
Time needed
15 day-long modules of 6 hours, including a 2-day trek
Eligibility
Open to students in Std II to Std IX (grades 2-9); content is customized by academic level. No explicit age, gender, or state-residency restriction found. Batches are capped at 20-25 students, with registration typically closing before the annual April launch.
- Grade level
- Grade 2 to 9
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Certificate
TIES Certificate of Completion
Students who complete all 15 modules receive a certificate at a valedictory ceremony, following a final evaluation conducted during the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary field visit.
Recognition
Kerala Forest Department involvement
Skills your child builds
How to apply
- 1Contact TIES by phone or email to confirm seat availability for the upcoming batch
- 2Complete registration before the application deadline announced ahead of the annual April batch launch
- 3Attend the batch orientation and opening session at the TIES Ecological Research Campus
Rules and guidelines
- Batch size is limited to 20-25 students per cohort
- Attendance across all 15 modules is required to be eligible for the completion certificate
- Final evaluation takes place during the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary field visit
Fees and financial support
Fee details
Course fee is not published on the official TIES website or in any available research; contact TIES directly for current batch pricing.
About this opportunity
The Junior Naturalist Course (JNC) is a 15-module field training program run by the Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences (TIES). Delivered across more than 100 hours, it introduces students to wetland, forest, and wildlife ecosystems through structured field visits.
The course is open to students from Std II to Std IX, with each module customized by academic level so that content matches the participant's grade. Batches are intentionally kept small, at 20 to 25 students, so subject-matter experts can guide each participant closely across every module.
Participants visit wetland ecosystems such as Kumarakom and Vembanad Lake to study birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and flora, and complete a two-day trek and camping segment at Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, where TIES conducts the final evaluation. Students who complete the batch receive a certificate at a valedictory ceremony.
TIES also guides students who choose to present natural science projects for school board examinations.
What your child will do
- Wetland ecosystem field visit (Kumarakom / Kallara / Vembanad-Kol)
- Two-day trek and camping at Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
- Guided field walks in the Vagamon hills
- Species identification field exercises
- Wildlife surveys
- Biodiversity documentation sessions
Course details
Trainers
Each of the 15 modules is led by a subject-matter expert in that ecological discipline (ornithology, herpetology, botany, and related fields).
Academic details
Difficulty: Mixed Levels
What's covered
A 15-module, 100+ hour experiential curriculum covering wetland ecosystems (birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, dragonflies) and flora, culminating in a two-day evaluation trek to Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, customized by academic level from Std II to Std IX.
Frequently asked questions
What do students learn during the Junior Naturalist Course?
The 15-module, 100+ hour program covers wetland and forest ecosystems, including birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish, and flora, through field visits to Kumarakom, Vembanad Lake, and Thattekad Bird Sanctuary.
How much time does the course require?
Each module runs as a full day of six hours combining field and classroom activity, with a two-day trek and camping segment at Thattekad Bird Sanctuary near the end of the batch.
How is course completion evaluated?
TIES conducts a final evaluation during the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary field visit, and students who complete the batch receive a certificate at a valedictory ceremony.
Is the course content the same across all grades?
No. TIES customizes each module by academic level, so a topic such as reptiles is taught differently for Std IX-X participants than for younger students.
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