IGA, Mie -- Inspired by Nordic education and child-rearing practices, said to be among the best in the world, a unique nature experience program is underway at a park in Japan's Mie Prefecture.

Ueno Forest Park in the Mie Prefecture city of Iga has been running the "Otanoshi Mori no Gakko" (fun forest school) program each year since fiscal 2021. The program gives participants only minimal guidance. Kiyofumi Shinmei, 54, the program's founder and director, explains, "By having them engage in carefree activities in nature, their independence develops."

During a recent visit, children were absorbed playing on the "Tarzan Rope" zip line, whizzing through the air. Other creations, such as swings and a "secret base" assembled from wood were put together by 18 participants ranging from fourth graders to first-year junior high school students. On March 8, the program's final day, the children played to the fullest with their own creations.

The Otanoshi Mori no Gakko classes are divided into five sessions. In the first and second, they learn how to tie knots with rope, use a saw, and assemble wood. Participants then come up with ideas for the play equipment they want to make, learn how to build it and then complete it.

In setting up the program, Shinmei drew inspiration from Finland, where the concept of "Everyone's Right" allows people to freely enter forests to refresh themselves, regardless of land ownership. The director sensed potential, thinking, "When you enter a forest, the feeling that it's 'fun' wells up, and this could spark children's intellectual curiosity." He accordingly set out to re-create this feeling on the park's expansive grounds.

The educational approach is also Finnish-inspired. Finland has an educational philosophy emphasizing the importance of active individual thought and the process of how to arrive at answers. In line with this, the program does not define finished products, instead respecting children's ideas as an overseeing role without unnecessary verbal intervention, and focusing on safety and support. He says this approach allows children to grow rapidly through repeated challenges and failures.

Shinmei, who learned this educational philosophy while working at a nonprofit organization in Saitama Prefecture, explained, "In life, a time will come when you have to make decisions on your own. Ideally, children will grow to act in such situations without being told. As a first step, I wanted them to express their free ideas in nature."

This sentiment appears to have rubbed off on the participating children. An 11-year-old fifth-grader from Iga who took part said, "By the time I realized it, I'd come to like creating things on my own." His 42-year-old mother was amazed at her son's growth, commenting, "I was surprised by the scale of the finished product. He must have thought hard about it."

Ueno Forest Park plans to run the "Otanoshi Mori no Gakko" program again next fiscal year. For inquiries, contact the park at 0595-22-2150 (in Japanese).

(Japanese original by Ryoma Hara, Tsu Bureau)