Trending: Camps and Agricultural Experiences for Children’s Nature Encounters
In a study conducted by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology in 2021, the following analysis results were obtained:
- Children who engaged in activities such as hands-on experiences, reading, and helping out during their elementary school years tended to score higher on measures of self-esteem, extroversion, and mental resilience during high school.
- High school students who had experiences playing with people of different ages or frequently played in natural settings such as vacant lots or alleyways during their elementary school years showed similar tendencies.
- It became apparent that diverse experiences, rather than a single experience, are necessary.
- Engaging in activities such as hands-on experiences during elementary school years led to higher scores in measures of self-esteem, extroversion, and mental resilience during high school, regardless of family environment.
With backing from research findings like these, there’s been a growing momentum in Japan towards providing children with nature experiences such as camping and agricultural activities.
Encouraging Children to Learn More About Nature and Agriculture
With this background and my own upbringing surrounded by the vast countryside, I’m eager to provide my children with as many nature experiences as possible.
That’s why our family recently visited “Tamanegi Land Nakayama” in Tsukubamirai City, Ibaraki Prefecture, where agricultural experiences are offered to children to introduce them to the wonders of farming and nature.
We participated in the onion harvesting experience, where for the price of 500 yen per net, we could fill as many onions as we wanted, a much cheaper option compared to buying them in stores.
After a brief lecture to start, we were ready to begin harvesting! The children were full of enthusiasm and thoroughly enjoyed themselves as they gathered the produce.
When in Japan, Be Sure to Enjoy a Variety of Experiences
In Japan, there are numerous places where you can experience a wide range of activities, from nature adventures to cultural immersion. I hope to gradually introduce some of these through my blog, so when you visit Japan, be sure to check them out!