Okagami

CODE: NICE-26S-0905A

Work:

Volunteers will mainly do various types of satoyama forest maintenance such as cutting classes and bushes, closing down the old hut and prepare the reconstruction, improving the signboards and stairs, removing the fallen trees. Possibly, they may also organize the program to enjoy the forest for the local kids, help the surrounding farms and visit the elementary school. Weekend workcamp will be organized in the end with forest games and glocal cooking parties to be organized by the vols.

Accomodation and food

TBC (possibly, in the vacant house nearby or the youth center). Meals will be cooked by the volunteers by turns. Shower, kitchen, wifi and other basic facilities will be provided.

Location and leisure

North east of Kawasaki city, 30-40 km west from Tokyo. Forest is located in 20 min. walk distance from the train station where there are many shops. Other activities - Exchange parties, excursion on free days, possibly one night home stay, etc.

Project hosted by

This project is actively working for SDG4 (Quality Education) and SDGS15 (Life on Land), newly organized together with "Tomoiki", a local NPO to conserve the satoyama forest. In spite of the close location from the big cities such as Yokohama and Tokyo, around 50% of the land are still preserved as green area (forests and fields) in Okagami where the building constructions are strictly restricted. However, 2 hectare of the forest was abandon with a lot of rubbish (e.g., washing machines, cars), so Tomoiki was founded in 2003 by some local people to clean up, maintain, revive and utilize to enjoy this forest where there are some valuable, endangered species. Founding President of NICE moved to this town and started weekend workcamps by the local team since 2017 since Tomoiki wished to work with more young and outside volunteers. Over 600 volunteers many of who are students or families in/outside the town have joined in 22 weekend workcamps till now with creating a lot of great impact. To create new impact for the forest maintenance beyond weekend ones and involvement of the local community, the local team has decided to organize this first international workcamp!

Directions to meeting point

Additional comments

Study theme - 2030 goals of this satoyama forest Participation fee - 18,000 JPY (99 EUR by the rate on 2026 Feb. 14) of "NICE Volunteers" fee need to be paid in advance either by Card or PayPal. This is used for the project preparation/ coordination such as the transportation of the staff/ camp leaders, visa invitation cost, publications, etc. while the meals and the accommodation are provided by the local host by free (so, your fee is not used for those things!). Other - Camp leader and host organizer will be President of NICE. Website of Tomoiki (only in Japanese) https://sites.google.com/view/okagami-tomokan/home01