Akira Kikuma shows children mangroves and other wildlife in Okinawa. (Japan Environmental Education Forum) IT'S ONLY NATURAL: Environmental Education Attracts Young and Old November 27, 2001 "Nature schools" give children an opportunity to commune with nature by taking part in various outdoor activities. The aim is for children to learn about personal relations through communal life and enhance their capacity to adapt to the environment. Training courses for people who want to become nature-school instructors have slowly but surely been gaining in popularity. It seems that an increasing number of young people are turning to nature-oriented work in the hope of moving beyond the office-dominated life experienced by many city dwellers. New Instructors Being Trained It is estimated that there are currently about 150 to 200 nature schools in Japan. But these schools did not start spreading until the 1980s, so there are still not enough experienced instructors with a high level of competence. As environmental education has gained recognition, so the number of nature schools has grown. The result is that the training of new instructors is now an important task. The Japan Environmental Education Forum, located in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, is an organization that trains nature-school instructors through a course consisting of 40 days of lectures and 6 months of practical work. The course can accommodate 15 to 20 trainees but is always oversubscribed. The ratio of applicants to places has gradually been increasing. Those taking the course are mainly new graduates or people in their twenties or thirties hoping to secure employment as instructors, although recently quite a few people in their fifties and sixties have been applying. The JEEF is not the only training institution, and the number of places where potential instructors can learn the job is gradually growing. Protecting the Environment: A Job Worth Doing In one nature school, elementary and junior high school students, in some cases accompanied by their parents, experience camping out amid the wonders of a natural forest. They take part in tracking animals and other "nature games," as well as studying map reading. Planning such activities and passing on their knowledge of ecological systems are important parts of a nature-school instructor's role. Instructors should be able to respond in their own words to questions like "What's wrong with feeding wild animals?" or "What's wrong with a lifestyle that produces more and more litter?" and explain their thinking about preserving the environment in their own way.   Your Name What did you think of this article? It was interesting. It was boring. Send this article to a friend The JEEF selects students for its course on the basis of stringent tests, including a written examination, an interview, and an essay on a set theme. Successful applicants receive instruction on such subjects as ecology, environmental education, and crisis management. Those who finish the course successfully are designated "nature-school instructors," and the path to positions at various nature schools lies open to them. Twenty-six-year-old Akira Kikuma helped in the family construction business for three years after graduating from university before becoming a nature-school instructor. "It's a really busy job," he says, "but the gratitude many people express to you makes it well worthwhile." Forestry Instructor Another Popular Job Another qualification that enables people to instruct people in outdoor activities is that of "forestry instructor." Japan's forestry industry has declined in the face of international competition, and the number of people employed in forestry has shrunk significantly. Because of this, the country's forests are not in the best condition. In response, citizens' groups and other non-profit organizations have formed teams of "forest volunteers" with the aim of looking after the forests. There is plenty for them to do: In spring they plant saplings; in summer they clear the undergrowth; autumn is pruning time; and with winter comes thinning out. Forestry instructors impart knowledge about forests to these volunteers and give them instruction on outdoor activities. The Japan Forest Recreation Association is the body that certifies forest instructors. According to the association, whereas 10 years ago there were less than 50 qualified instructors, now there are around 1,200. The instructors themselves are essentially enthusiastic volunteers. They clearly relish their work. "We get strength and vitality from the mountain greenery," they say. "Restoring the richness of nature is a fulfilling activity." Copyright (c) 2001 Japan Information Network. Edited by Japan Echo Inc. based on domestic Japanese news sources. Articles presented here are offered for reference purposes and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.