Hanifl Centre
Our mission is to be a world renowned outdoor and environmental education centre that helps in developing responsible citizens by exploring and celebrating the Himalayan environment through physical activity, art, literature, environmental ethics and leadership training
OUR HISTORY
Hanifl Centre for Outdoor Education and Environmental Study
established in 2003, was funded by Suzanne (Woodstock
School Alumni ’63) and Paul Hanifl. Located at 7000 ft, Hanifl Centre is an outreach of
Woodstock School, Mussoorie - Celebrating over 169 years in the Himalaya.
Hanifl Centre was built to extend the School’s curriculum and to provide a
facility
and
programmes through which students and visitors can learn about the Himalaya and
develop their skills and knowledge in outdoor education.
Hanifl Centre resources include classrooms for study, maps, library, audiovisual
material,
scientific
equipment as well as hiking, camping and climbing equipment. Outside the classroom, students
develop
projects, take part in nature hikes and participate in local field trips. All programmes are
customized to suit the requirements of visiting students and faculty.
Designed as a
model
environment friendly building, Hanifl Centre incorporates a passive solar space-heating system
and an active solar water-heating system. The Centre also acts as a consultant to Woodstock School
staff across disciplines to develop appropriate experiential learning opportunities. In addition
to
building a resource of teaching materials, Hanifl Centre networks with experts from outside the
school to provide additional curricular enrichment.
Hanifl Centre actively engages
with
local
communities in service learning projects and outdoor leadership training for youth. It contributes
to the sustainable development of the region by engendering an appreciation and understanding of
the
Himalayan environment to future leaders. Schools, colleges and universities from around the world
visit Hanifl Centre for a variety of programmes.
We are ever grateful for the
generous
contributions from Woodstock Alumni that have enabled these wonderful facilities to be available
for
future generations.
OUR LOCATION
Coordinates: 30°27’7″N 78°6’33″E
Altitude: 7000 ft / 2130 m
Distance from Woodstock School Main Gate: 1.2 Km
Nearest Town: Mussoorie 3 km
Nearest Railhead: Dehradun – 38 Km
Nearest Airport: Jolly Grant –74 Km
OUR TEAM
Our dedicated and professional staff are responsible for developing, coordinating and facilitating outdoor education and environmental study programmes. Our team consists of certified outdoor educators with decades of experience.
Akshay Shah
Director
Akshay joined Hanifl Centre in the summer of 2015 to provide operational & programming support. With more than two decades of experience in the outdoors includng trekking across...
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Renu Oberoi
Asst. Dir. Mountain Festival
Renu Oberoi is a trained Wilderness First Aid instructor who works at Hanifl Centre on special projects. She loves hiking in the mountains and is passionate about the performing arts...
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Gaurav Gangola
Senior Instructor
Gaurav is an outdoor educator with more than 20 years of experience. He is a certified NOLS instructor since 2008, actively involved in teaching and leading...
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Mallikarjun
Instructor
Born in the plains, Mallikarjun found his love for the mountains after college. He turned his passion for adventure into his profession, and has been working in the field of outdoor for the past...
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Vishal Negi
Operations Manager
Vishal Negi is a NOLS certified Trip Leader and a Wilderness First Responder from Aerie Backcountry Medicine. Over the last five years, he has trekked extensively...
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Vipul Vashistha
Instructor
Vipul Vashistha is an Outdoor Educator working in the industry for more than eight years in various capacities. He has worked with Outward Bound...
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Aashima Sharma
Instructor
Aashima Sharma is a dedicated outdoor enthusiast with over nine years of experience leading high-altitude treks and expeditions....
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Ramesh, Pravesh & Ravinder
Team Members
Essential to the success of our programmes and the daily needs of our guests are the efforts of Ramesh Chand. Ramesh is Hanifl Centre’s office assistant and contributes towards...
READ MOREOUR FACILITIES
Hanifl Centre is a well designed campus that offers a safe and healthy learning environment. It provides home comfort for up to 40 students and teachers.
The campus includes a campground, conference room, library and high speed
internet
facilities. Accommodation for up to 32 adults is available in bunk beds in the dormitory. In
addition there are 4 twin sharing guest rooms with attached bathroom/toilet. The kitchen and
spacious dining room are able to comfortably cater to the needs of visiting groups. The
campus has security 24×7 with access to Woodstock School’s Health Centre, ambulance service
and nearby Landour Community Hospital.
The Centre strives to make the best use of its unique location by providing a variety of
educational and environmentally conscious programmes through treks, service projects,
organic farming, language classes and homestays making it an ideal venue for hosting
programmes
Classroom-based Learning
Our classrooms equipped with audio-visual facilities accompanied by the Dick Wechter resource library, computer lab, uninterrupted high speed broadband internet, 24-hour power backup and full office support, provide ample opportunities for classroom based learning.
Environmental Study
Our campus includes The Burgoyne & Fairy Glen campgrounds, Dr R.L. Fleming Nature Trail and Turner Organic Garden are living classrooms that provide opportunities for hands-on learning.
Adventure
Learning
Our inventory of high quality trekking, camping and climbing equipment including tents, rucksacks, all weather sleeping bags, camping stoves and much more, allows us to cater up to 150 people on safe outdoor programmes.
Akshay Shah
Director
Akshay joined Hanifl Centre in the summer of 2015 to provide operational &
programming support. With more than two decades of experience in the outdoors including trekking
across high passes in the Kumaon Himalaya, Akshay is an experienced and passionate trek leader,
fond of simple mountain life and its rewards. He founded and managed Kumaon based social
development NGO Lok Chetna Manch for more than a decade. He has worked for NOLS India as a
consultant on their natural history projects. He has vast experience of working on rural
development projects, natural resource management programmes and conservation in the Himalaya.
He teaches a course on Himalayan Geography for Pitt in the Himalaya (Study Abroad
Programme). He
is also an instructor for courses in Wilderness Medicine & CPR and is a Wilderness Emergency
Medical Technician (WEMT) from Missoula with Aerie Backcountry Medicine.
Sophia Akoijam
Head of Operations
Sophia Akoijam joined Hanifl Centre as Head of Operations. She has a wide-ranging background in outdoor education including working with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in India, Wyoming and the Pacific Northwest and also with Snow Leopard Adventures Pvt Ltd, New Delhi. She has most recently been working as Chief Operating Officer for an innovative all-female taxi company based in Delhi. Sophia has a Diploma in Travel and Tourism from the Indian Institute of Travel and Tourism management and a BA (Hons) in History from Miranda House, University of Delhi. Sophia loves gardening, knitting and cycling and looks forward to adding her rich experience and passion to the Hanifl Centre’s outdoor education programmes.
Mallikarjun
Instructor
Born in the plains, Mallikarjun found his love for the mountains after college. He turned his passion for adventure into his profession, and has been working in the field of outdoor for the past eight years. He has worked with some of the top adventure operators in India, in Ladakh, Himachal and the North East of India. He has organized numerous treks, road trips, and cycling events. Passionate about education, he has volunteered in schools in Mumbai, and in Sikkim. His interests range from cycling, to trekking, rock climbing and mountaineering.
Gaurav Gangola
Senior Instructor
Gaurav is an outdoor educator with more than 20 years of experience. He is a certified NOLS instructor since 2008, actively involved in teaching and leading outdoor education & leadership courses in India, USA and Africa. He is an active hiker, birder, photographer, avid fly fisherman and master chef in the outdoors. Gaurav is a Wilderness First Responder and also an instructor for Aerie Backcountry Medicine’s courses in India. Gaurav is a Senior Instructor on Hanifl Centre courses.
Renu Oberoi
Asst. Dir. Mountain Festival
Renu Oberoi is a trained Wilderness First Aid instructor who works at Hanifl Centre on special projects. She loves hiking in the mountains and is passionate about the performing arts. When not volunteering, she works as a consultant on programming and festival design and collaborative cultural initiatives. Renu has taken on the role of Assistant Director of the Hanifl Centre Mountain Festival in 2017.
Nandini Kumar
Marketing & Social Media Consultant
Nandini joined Hanifl Centre as a social media marketing consultant. With a Master's degree in Psychology, she has done her Basic Mountaineering Course from HMI Darjeeling and is a Wilderness First Responder. Having worked in the outdoors for a couple of years, she now aims to make people more aware about the necessity of connecting with nature and how to do it responsibly. Being a storyteller she writes both in English and Hindi for National magazines and has published 2 Hindi poetry books.
Vishal Negi
Operations Manager
Vishal Negi is a NOLS certified Trip Leader and a Wilderness First Responder from Aerie Backcountry Medicine. Over the last five years, he has trekked extensively across the Himalayas and led numerous groups in Kashmir Valley, Ladakh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal and Nepal. Deeply passionate about sustainability and exploring the natural world, he endeavours to constantly maximise his learning about the same. Vishal is also a national level roller-skater and badminton player and enjoys watching sports in his spare time. Vishal works as an Instructor on Hanifl Centre courses.
Vipul Vashistha
Instructor
Vipul Vashistha is an Outdoor Educator working in the industry for more than eight years in various profiles. He has worked with Outward Bound as a field instructor and holds a diploma in Outdoor education from Germany. He has been part of various Himalayan Treks and Mountaineering expeditions and is a current Wilderness First Responder.
Aashima Sharma
Instructor
Aashima Sharma is a dedicated outdoor enthusiast with over nine years of experience leading high-altitude treks and expeditions. She has managed operations for India's top adventure operators and holds certifications in skiing, mountaineering, paragliding, avalanche skills, and Wilderness First Responder. Aashima is committed to sharing her knowledge, fostering safety, and creating transformative outdoor experiences.
Ramesh Chand, Pravesh & Ravinder Singh
Team Members
Essential to the success of our programmes and the daily needs of our guests are the efforts of Ramesh Chand. Ramesh is Hanifl Centre’s office assistant and contributes towards the seamless execution of our programmes while Ravinder works to ensure that hygiene standards are maintained at the highest possible level. Pravesh is the driver designated for Hanifl Centre. They are always happy to work towards meeting any requirements that may arise. Ramesh is from Village Dhaur in Pauri, Garhwal and has been working at Hanifl Centre for 11 years. Currently he is focused on increasing his fluency in English. Pravesh is the local boy from Barlowganj, working at Hanifl Centre for over a year and has a keen interest in tailoring. Ravinder is from Bijnor, has been working at Hanifl Centre for 4 years and has a passion for gardening and motorcycle maintenance.