On the 6th and 7th of August, the 6th Interactive Environmental Education Project (sponsored by Network Tama) was held in order to encourage elementary school students from the Tama region to study the positive qualities of Tama.

Participants in the project included members of Network Tama such as Chuo University, Jissen Women's University, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, and Meisei University. During the preparation stage before the project was held, 91 students from 16 universities participated in preparation work. These preparations were based in Chuo University. Approximately 100 elementary school students participated on the actual days of the project.

Under the project theme of Dietary Education & Local Production and Consumption, elementary school students participated in the cooking of vegetables that were harvested in the Tama region, and also milked cows at Ome Livestock Center.

As part of the program to convey the importance of nutrition to elementary school students, university students acted the part of Nutrition Rangers which represented the 5 major elements of nutrition. The performance included a short play which depicted the nutritional effect of each element. This event was conducted with the advice of Professor Shirao, who teaches dietary education at Jissen Women's University.

Azusa Shinkai, a 1st year student at Jissen Women's University, described her impression of the event as follows: "I was very happy because we were able to thoroughly teach nutrition to elementary school students while having fun."

Furthermore, the cow-milking program was conceived by students at the Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University. The aim of the program was to make elementary school students aware of the importance of agriculture. Students of the university taught elementary school students using knowledge which was gained through both on-site experience and classroom study.

As described above, through material related to nutrition, agriculture and the Tama region, this project provided participating elementary school students with an opportunity for comprehensive education. The seminar students of Professor Sukehiro Hosono at the Chuo University Faculty of Policy Studies played a central role in the activities for realizing this comprehensive educational experience.

Project representative Satoshi Abe, a 3rd year student, called for participation from even more students by making the following statement: "An event of this scale is made possible through the knowledge and cooperation of a variety of people that have crossed the borders of universities and undergraduate schools. I felt the potential of students through this event. I would like more students to have this experience and this feeling of satisfaction."

Following the first portion of the project which was held in August, the second portion will be held on November 7th at the Takaonomori Wakuwaku Village.

(Student Reporter: Reina Yamagishi, 3rd Year Student at the Faculty of Policy Studies)