Children of Grass Phoenix(Groupe)

*Participant name

Masahiro Yamaji (chaperon)
Miki Saito, Kouta Sasazuka

*Country/Region

Chiba Prefecture, Japan

*Type of Group

School

*Number of total members of your group/project

403 persons

*Number of regular participants in activities

We do activities by classroom. Each classroom consists of 30 to 40 students.

*Characteristic of members

Students and teachers in 4th grade to 6th grade classes of Kusano Elementary School of Chiba take part in activities mainly during periods allocated for integrated studies.

*Theme(s) of your group/project

*Wastes and Recycling, *Nature Conservation

*Missions and activities of your group/project

We utilize integrated studies periods to foster our students' interest in environmental learning and to bring them up to voluntarily take part in environmental conservation activities.

*Characteristics of the group/project activities

We heavily value experience based learning through activities such as tree-thinning, creating art using thinned logs, beach seining, and making salt. We also promote our children to proactively take part in environmental conservation activities like running the "Eco-Market".

*Most importnat way of thinking of your group/project for environment

Hands-on environmental education

*Major publications and articles

2003 Chiba City Environmental Study Model School Report Articles issued in Junior Eco-Net Chiba and others 2005 Chiba General Education Center Long-Term Training Report (Scheduled)

*What kind of group/project do you want to exchange for imformation and experience with?

Groups of elementary school children in Japan and from all over the world.

*Short message for exchange with other group/project

We hold "Eco-Markets" as a fun way to decrease trash. Please share with us similar activities of your own run by the students themselves.

*Impression of Children's World Summit for the Environment 2005 Aichi

 From July 25th to 29th last year, I participated in the Children's World Summit for the Environment 2005. I made friends with people of all ages and from all regions of the world in the process of sharing and understanding each other's ideas. It became clear to me that we shared the same feeling towards the environment regardless of the difference in our age and race. We, who were born and live on this same earth, should come together to protect this precious planet. (Miki Saito)

*Others

I've become more aware of the environment after the Children's World Summit for the Environment. For instance, I try to use left over water from the bath from the previous day when doing laundry, and I also try to minimize the use of water when taking a shower. After learning from foreign participants at the Summit of their many efforts towards recycling, I found myself returning home and willingly telling my parents to give my outgrown clothes and old toys to those who would want them. (Kouta Sasazuka)

*Contact person

Masahiro Yamaji