School children can now look forward to environmental education through eco friendly parks as the State Social Forestry Department is all set to revamp the 29 nurseries spread across all districts of the state to convert them into national green corps parks. "In 2001, the forest ministers of all states in the country met at Coimbatore where they resolved to spread environmental education by conducting orientation for students. This was under the scheme National Green Corps,' said Prakash Thosre, director, Social Forestry, Maharshtra. In order to trigger off some more eco friendly activities, the Social Forestry Department has selected 29 nurseries across the state to change them into modern nurseries and eco friendly parks. "We have been alloted Rs 4 crore and area between five to 40 acres across several districts,' says Thosre. There are around 250 schools per district across the country which are already funded with a grant of Rs 2,500 for eco club activities that they have formed. Picking on one nursery in each district, the plan shall be put to action. The subject is already in their syllabus, so why not spread the awareness through an interesting medium,' he added. Bharti Vidyapeeth's environmental department is the resource agency for this project where trainers from this department will visit each nursery and prepare a picnic package for students. "So from the time students enter the park they will be given a booklet detailing the itinerary of their visit. This will ensure that the visit is planned and yields maximum results,' elaborated Thorat. The parks that will include features like an observatory, weather station and solar lights will be open to all schools. "We plan to label all trees, put up names of birds in the region and also have a nature trail,' he says. The parks will also have eco games on food chain and eco quizzes. The project according to Thosre is likely to be completed by March 2009.