
What we do at Odyssey Nature Japan
Sato-Umi Program
(4 years old- elementary and parents)
Inquiry-based Educational Program for Middle School to Graduate School Students
Professional Training
Leadership Development
Lecture / Workshop
Program Coordination
Curriculum Development
子ども・親子向け
さとうみプログラム
中学〜大学院生向け
探求型研修プログラム
ODYSSEY NATURE SCHOOL
ODYSSEY NATURE SCHOOL offers nature-based education programs for children and parents, including weekend-long camp programs.
Program Focus Areas: Sea, Sato/Land, Rice Field, Forest, and River



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
Upcoming programs
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