NEWS

International Christian University and Mitaka City Sports and Culture Foundation Co-Hosted Class for Parents and Children

Update: December 18, 2025

The International Christian University (ICU) and the Mitaka City Sports and Culture Foundation held a co-sponsored on November 29. This event was an outdoor camp experience designed primarily for parents and their children in the lower grades of elementary school. A total of 39 participants (children and their guardians) attended the program.

This event was held co-sponsored by the Mitaka City Sports and Culture Foundation, with the concept of utilizing the nature-rich campus of ICU--which has been certified as a " Nationally Certified Sustainably Managed Natural Sites" led by the Ministry of the Environment--to convey the importance of environmental conservation and how to engage with nature.

Program Outline

• １３：００　Program Start、Icebreak
• Program①　Fire Making Challenge, Making steamed bread
• Program②　Nature craft（Grilling board, Wood key chains, etc.）
• １６：３０　Program End

 

Scenes from the Icebreaker
Since families from various school districts gather, they are initially nervous, but the enjoyment of this event lies in the opportunity for them to interact and become friends regardless of school district through recreation.

 

Fire-Starting Lecture from the Instructor
Message from the Instructor:
A bonfire is an activity that warms the hearts and bodies of people and brings them closer together. Please try challenging it with your family in the future (A bonfire stand for every household!). When you do, please don't forget the following points.

Tips for Stacking Firewood:
Do you remember the keywords?
Gobo (burdock), Ninjin (carrot), Daikon (radish)
Companions (combining), Goal (achieving height), Support (gently sending air from below)

Consideration for the Natural Environment:
Is the amount of firewood you are burning the amount that can be reduced to ash within the allotted time? It takes hundreds of millions of years for unburnt embers to return to nature. Minimize the impact on the environment and resources (Minimum Impact).

 

Scenes of each family starting a fire
Each family was provided with a dedicated fire-starting area to start their fire. As they became accustomed, scenes of children adjusting the intensity of the fire themselves became widespread.

 

Scenes of Steamed Bread Making
Delicious steamed bread was created by mixing ingredients like chocolate, dried fruits, and secret flavorings into the steamed bread base and steaming it with hot water.

 

Scenes of Wreath and Wooden Keychain Making
Wreaths and wooden keychains were made using pine cones, acorns, and nuts gathered from the ICU forest. A characteristic of this workshop is teaching children the importance of 【Nature's Cycle】, utilizing the ICU forest, which boasts one of the richest natural environments in the metropolitan area.
【Precisely because we are in a city where anything can be obtained, the creativity born from familiar materials enriches the heart.】
The organizers would be delighted if this message was conveyed to all participants of this workshop.

 

In the participant questionnaire results, the response to the question, "Would you like to participate again if a course with the same concept is held?" was an astonishing 100% "Yes," indicating that the event was highly acclaimed by all participants.

Moving forward, the Lifelong Learning Program will continue to deepen interaction with the local community through the implementation of programs that utilize the campus's nature-rich environment.