Tokyo University of Agriculture hosts Okhotsk fieldwork for high schoolers

Tokyo University of Agriculture held its Okhotsk Studies fieldwork program at its Okhotsk Campus in Abashiri, Hokkaido. The program, a collaborative educational initiative between the university and high schools, hosted 138 participants, including students from six high schools across the Kanto and Kansai regions.

This year’s theme, “Connecting Humans and Nature,” focused on the Department of Natural Resource Management. Students participated in nature guide training, learning how to explain local flora and fauna to visitors. The curriculum included lectures on the economic value of nature guides and practical sessions where students practiced guiding through the campus forests, receiving feedback from university students to improve their communication skills.

In addition to the forest fieldwork, participants visited the Okhotsk Drift Ice Museum to learn about the region's unique natural environment, including the drift ice characteristic of the Okhotsk Sea.