for our future generations, nature,
and the environment
Nature's Lessons
ODYSSEY teaches you the "power to live" taught by the rich nature of Higashimatsushima City.
"I want the children of the next generation to grow up feeling this to their fullest!"
From this thought, a new environmental education program was born.
By engaging in interactive activities that foster critical thinking, we prioritize individual autonomy, proactive engagement, and spontaneity to craft educational experiences that pave the way for a more sustainable future.
Fully engage in all five of your senses and experience Nature's symphony.
Hear the rustle of the leaves in the wind, smell the fresh rain, touch the warmth of the soil, taste the rice grown by your own hands, and witness the ever-changing beauty of nature through the seaons.
Feel the greatness of the Earth and cherish the concept of Satoumi.
Let's explore our human connection with the mountains, forests, villages, land, and sea together.
The Three Key Values
of the Odyssey Program
Feel the Power of Nature
The sea, mountains, sun, and wind, along with all living creatures, hide numerous learning elements within their natural environments. We fully enjoy the greatness of nature in their raw form. Rather than trying to resist Nature's changes, we embrace it and try to attune ourselves to its small shifts. Our reflections are shaped by the wisdom of our navigators that work alongside Nature everyday.
Creating an Environment that Fosters Confidence
We encourage individual autonomy and the self-embracement of challenges. We value each individual's feelings, emotions, sensibilities, and respect the individuals pace in their learning process. Through engaging in these experiences, we aim to build confidence and a curious mind of the world around us.
Food Education
In Odyssey, participants gain hands-on experience in building fires, preparing food, and learning life skills in cooking. Everyone cooks and eats their meal while mindfully taking the time to appreciate the blessings they received from nature, and reflecting about each ingredients' life story
Odyssey programs are open to people of all ages, from as young as 4 year-olds
to seasoned adults.
Even first time participants in environmental education or nature engagement can participate with confidence and peace of mind.
Our team of Nature experts are dedicated in ensuring your safety, learning, and fun.
Feedback
"I empathize with Odyssey's respect for children's decisions not to participate. As a parent, it is challenging to honor a child's choice when they say they don't want to do something or participate. As parents, we often find ourselves encouraging them to "just give it a try." How to draw out a child's will? How to access it? I found your approaches to engaging with children insightful.
Moreover, as a parent, I can relate to the emphasis on providing opportunities for children to think for themselves, asking questions such as "Why?" and "How?" to cultivate their ability to think."
Guardian living in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
"It seems that the international experiences and ways of thinking about nature of the navigators who interact with the children are stimulating for my children as well. I think this is a new type of education that has never been seen before in Miyagi Prefecture!"
Parents living in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
"He now takes care of rice and eats more rice than he did before participating! I think that by cooking the rice we harvested together, I became more interested in food than before and started to think about environmental issues as my own. On the way back from the program, I said 'Thank you' to a farmer who was harvesting rice in a rice field. I'm looking forward to further changes in my child's future!"
Parent living in Tokyo
"When my child, who is usually quiet, comes home from the Odyssey program, he happily and proudly tells me about his day. I want to go again next week! It always seems like a lot of fun"
Parents living in Higashimatsushima City, Miyagi Prefecture
