[Three things that are important in Hikobayu's wood education]
Today, October 23rd, is the 24th day of the 24 solar terms. It's called "Soukou " (frosted).
Frost : When frost falls
Quoted from the National Astronomical Observatory website
On October 20th, Mt. Yotei in Niseko, Hokkaido, saw its first snowfall, and morning and evening temperatures were close to freezing. Snow bugs were flying around, signaling that the long snowy season is just around the corner.
Frost has fallen and plants are beginning to wither, but the autumn leaves are beautifully coloring the mountains.
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It's autumn school trip season.
Hikobayu also focuses on wood education for everyone, from preschoolers to adults. To date, more than 2,000 people have participated.
In 2024, we will be involved with over 500 children.
What is Wood Education?
This time
What is important in Hikobayu's wood education
We will introduce you to the following.
1. About the strength and fragility of life
Our lives, as well as the lives of plants, all originate from something too small to see with the naked eye, and have continued to exist to this day through a series of miracles.
And once we are born, our end will come to us 100% equally.
I think it's rare for us to think about such things in our daily lives, but as a nurse I have been involved with death, and I try to convey the preciousness of each and every life.
2. Our connection with the forest
What aspects of your life are related to forests?
- air
- Water (the water you buy at convenience stores is probably named after a mountain somewhere)
- house
- furniture
- Disposable chopsticks
- Wooden vessel
- paper
- pencil
- Musical instruments etc.
It turns out that many of the things we need to live and use in our daily lives actually come from the forest.
What kinds of creatures live in the forest?
- Bear
- squirrel
- Rhinoceros Beetle
- Stag beetle
- Frog
- Earthworm
- Fungi
- Microorganisms etc.
Organic matter produced in forests flows through rivers and provides nutrients to marine life. Rich forests are connected to rich oceans.
What kinds of edible things are grown in the forest?
- Butterbur
- Udo
- Tarame buds
- Mushrooms
- Hoe only
- Wild grapes
- Kokuwa...etc
Is there anything you have tried?
3. Use your five senses
We also place importance on using the five senses, something that cannot be experienced through classroom learning.
The program also introduces the essential oil of Japanese cedar, but instead of just smelling the oil, participants can tear off an actual leaf and compare the scent of the real thing with the essential oil ( sense of smell ).
Walking together in the forest, looking at trees, animals, etc. ( visual )
You can experience the scent and stickiness of pine resin, Pulling and climbing on wild grape vines ( antennae )
If there are edible fruits like mulberries, wild strawberries, or wild grapes, let them try them ( taste )
Listening to the sound of walking on leaves, birds singing ( hearing ) etc.
I feel a little hesitant to take middle and high school students into the forest during their impressionable years, but contrary to my feelings, I am happy to see that many of the children genuinely enjoy themselves.
Lately I've been enjoying the crunching sound and sensation of fallen leaves.
The acorn harvest will be good in 2024. Many have already sprouted.
There has also been a bumper crop of wild grapes. There have been a variety of reactions, such as "They're sour!" and "The seeds are huge!"
A sweet fragrance drifts out from nowhere. The Katsura tree is the representative of autumn's pleasant smell.
This scent is due to an odorous compound called manthol, which is said to be the same as the smell of cotton candy.
Only the leaves that are brown and dry will have a scent.
"Wow, it's true!" and "Wow, it smells good!" are heard in amazement.
