In this age of technology, experiences can be had at the click of a button. Yet nothing can compare to the panoramic views encompassed within the borders of Pakistan; from the verdant fields of Punjab to the stark beauty of the Vale of Kashmir, our students have journeyed through it all. Through their travails, they have not only had the privilege to gaze upon the immeasurable majesty of Pakistan’s landscapes, but have also interacted with people from all walks of life. In continuation of past tradition we at Kestrel have cast ourselves in the role of architects, collaboratively building new beginnings for all our students, through corporeal participation in unique adventures. 

The odyssey of Kestrel begins early, through the Nest Educational Series (NES) which is aimed to create a platform for students to hone their skillset and adopt an expansive outlook beyond traditional opportunities. We do so through an experiential route targeting local cultural, environmental, social and economic aspects of development. 

Experiential learning is a broad concept executed through specially designed events that span the country. The idea is to inculcate inclusivity of young minds that are eager to delve deeper into the path of learning by alternate methods. Every year these programs are divided into different series based on categories associated with concerns relevant to culture, environment, society and economy. The goal of each series is to explore a new aspect of personal development for our participants.

Over the years, we have embarked on exciting adventures to seek knowledge with hands-on activities tailored to suit each student’s individual application. 

Kestrel Education understands that for students ready to embark on their own journeys towards futures and destinations unknown, it’s important to gain a sense of self and of their history. With that in mind, Kestrel Education’s Nest Educational Series organized a videography workshop for its students in the historical landmarks of Old Lahore. Students learned techniques that are used by professional filmmakers to craft their videos. The workshop included essentials of visual story telling with composition, motion and lighting. Using this medium, we were able to provide students the tools to tell their own stories, as they walk into their future.

Kestrel Education’s Nest Educations Series conducted a tour of the hidden jewels of Lahore where Zellige and its relevance were explored as the intersection of Art, Architect, History and Religion. Zellige mosaic, an integral part of Muslim architecture, has history dating back to the 14th century in Spain and has traveled continents and dynasties to areas like Old Lahore. 

We also conducted a Paragliding Excursion on the outskirts of Lahore under Kestrel Education’s Nest Education Series, where we hosted a day of paragliding in the outskirts of Lahore to teach students how to break through such limitations. The NES Paragliding Activity helped students face their fears, defying gravity under supervision of experts, realizing that it takes only a leap to make the impossible, possible. Students learned the basic skills required to take-off and land followed by a tandem flight, where they took the controls and learned the basics of controlling the glider in the air whilst in the safety of flying with a qualified tandem pilot. The thrill of taking to the skies with 360-degree views of plains and the distant city made for a memorable day indeed!

More recently, we took the students to Swat Valley, where they had a chance to explore their surroundings more introspectively as they interacted with the locals and immersed in the rich culture, learning the history of war survivors, and most importantly, internalizing the message of resilience, a valuable trait added to the many winning characteristics of a Kestrel student.

Through comprehensive career counseling and designing experiential learning opportunities, we at Kestrel have produced more holistic and well-rounded personalities who have proven to be impactful change makers and the leaders of tomorrow.