Event Recap: Mirai no Mori Back to Nature Outdoor Cooking Program

FEW members and friends spent a fantastic day as volunteers at Mirai no Mori’s Back to Nature Program on June 10th. On the outskirts of Tokyo, in beautiful and green Mitake, we met with the staff and volunteer teams of Mirai no Mori and a Saitama children’s home to support a program designed to empower and inspire abused, neglected and orphaned children.

We welcomed a group of six elementary and junior high school students as well as six high school students undergoing a leadership-in-training course designed to help them develop skills for independent living when they leave the care system at age 18.

Together, we had a great time doing ice-breakers and playing campfire games. Everyone also had free time between activities, which was spent enjoying chats at the river’s edge, skimming stones or playing frisbee. For lunch, we broke into teams Fire, Hot Dog and Apple to prepare a delicious lunch over an open fire. Our menu featured hot dogs, salad, baked beans and apple crisp. Later we prepared and delivered skits in English on how we did it so everyone could feel part of the entire process.

Each activity was designed to give the children a positive experience in the outdoors while inspiring them and giving them role models to talk to. The high school students were a true credit to their trainers, supporting the younger children with instructions, helping them in games, and counting heads at meet up times!

We were honored to play our part in the day, helping the older children develop their confidence as leaders, supporting all the children and spending time with everyone involved.

Our special thanks go to Mirai no Mori, our FEW member volunteers, and all the FEW non-members who saved the day by turning out to make up our numbers. We hope the kids had as much of a blast as we all did!

We our holding a live music event on the evening of July 9th in Takadanobaba to cover the remaining costs of this event. Please join us. Or if you’re not available, tell your friends.  All are welcome!

You can also support Mirai no Mori by joining their Tanabata Party on Wednesday, July 5. The theme of the occasion will be an homage to the Tanabata star festival, with fun activities related to the stars and the great outdoors.