KUMANO NATURE EXPERIENCE - Global Summer Program 2026
Monday, August 3rd – Friday, 7th, 2026
Come experience both the ocean and mountains with your child (ren) Stay by the ocean in one of our two locally priced resorts while your child enhances their emotional, social, and cognitive skills at the sacred pilgrimage route Kumano Kodo in Wakayama with over 1,000 years of history.
Our five-day nature immersive program nurtures children through experiencing forests, rivers, and local culture to enhance their curiosity, emotional and social skill through hands-on inquiry-based learning at UTSUHO Academy in Nakabechi, Tanabe City, Wakayama and other sacred sites.
お子さまと一緒に、海と山の豊かさを全身で感じる特別な5日間へ。子どもたちは、1000年以上の歴史を刻む聖地・熊野古道の大自然の中で、心と身体をひらきながら学びを深めていきます。
和歌山県田辺市中辺路にあるうつほの杜学園を舞台に、森を歩き、川に触れ、地域文化と出会う――。
自然の中での探究的な体験を通して、子どもたちの「なぜ？」という好奇心が育まれ、感情面・社会性・認知力がゆっくりと豊かに育っていきます。
ただ学ぶだけではない。自然とつながり、人とつながり、自分自身と出会う。そんな“心に残る夏”を、親子で体験しませんか。
Your child (ren) are picked-up and dropped-off by bus after a fairly short bus ride surrounded by mountains and rivers.
Our five-day nature immersive program nurtures children through experiencing forests, rivers, and local culture to enhance their curiosity, emotional and social skill through hands-on inquiry-based learning at UTSUHO Academy in Nakabeji-cho, Tanabe City, Wakayama and other sacred sites.
和歌山県田辺市中辺路町にあるうつほの杜学園と熊野の聖地を舞台に行われる5日間の自然探究プログラム。
子どもたちは、森を歩き、川で遊び、地域文化に触れながら、自ら問いを見つけ、体験を通して学びを深めていきます。
自然の中で五感をひらきながら、好奇心や探究心、そして感情面・社会性・認知力を豊かに育む――。
ここでの時間は、子どもたちの心に深く残る、かけがえのない成長の旅となるはずです。
Daily Learning Journey
Day 1 – Discover Yourself in Nature: Students explore the forest through a sensory walk, beginning their inquiry journey by asking, “Who am I in nature?” and creating a personal “Nature Identity Map.”
Day 2 – Water & Life: At the river, children investigate how water shapes ecosystems through observation and play, then build simple water systems and express their understanding in English.
Day 3 – Living with Nature: Through the stories of Kumano Kodo and interaction with local culture, students explore how people have lived in harmony with nature across time and cultures.
Day 4 – Create with Nature: Students visit Chishina Forest , collaborate to design and build solutions such as secret hats or nature-based creations, developing teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
Day 5 – Share Your Learning: The week culminates in a presentation where students share their discoveries, ideas, and reflections in English, celebrating their growth and confidence.
5日間の学びの旅
Day 1 – 自然の中で自分を見つける
子どもたちは五感を使った森の散策を通して、「自然の中の自分とは？」という問いから探究の旅を始めます。そして、自分と自然とのつながりを表現する「ネイチャー・アイデンティティマップ」を作成します。
Day 2 – 水と生きる
川での観察や遊びを通して、水がどのように生態系を形づくっているのかを探究します。その後、簡単な水の循環システムを作り、自分たちの発見や理解を英語で表現します。
Day 3 – 自然とともに生きる
熊野古道を歩きながら、古道にまつわる物語や地域文化との出会いを通して、人々が時代や文化を越えてどのように自然と共生してきたのかを学びます。
Day 4 – 自然と創る
子どもたちは千品の森を訪れ、仲間と協力しながら自然素材を使った創作活動に取り組みます。森の中の秘密基地や自然を活かした作品づくりを通して、創造力・協働力・問題解決力を育みます。
Day 5 – 学びを伝える
最終日はプレゼンテーションを行い、1週間を通して得た発見やアイデア、振り返りを英語で共有します。自分自身の成長や自信を実感しながら、学びを祝い合います。
Special collaboration 特別コラボレーション
This program is a special summer initiative made possible through a unique collaboration between Patrick Newell—who has been involved as Learning Vision Navigator across the globe for over 30 years—Chizuko Nishida, a specialist in elementary education, resilience education, and SEL, and Utsuho no Mori School.
Together, we offer children a new kind of learning experience that connects to their future.
本プログラムは、30年以上にわたり世界各国で学びのナビゲーターとして活躍する Patrick Newell 氏と初等教育やレジリエンス教育、SELのスペシャリストである西田千寿子氏、そしてうつほの杜学園による特別コラボレーションにより実現したサマープログラムです。子どもたちの未来につながる新しい学びの体験を提供します。
About 概要
Dates: August 3 (Mon) – August 7 (Fri), 2026 【5 days】
Location: UTSUHO Academy Elementary School + special sites, the Kumano Kodo, liver, forest
Age: from 6-11 years old
Capacity: max 25–30 participants (Applications will close once capacity is reached.)
Fee: JPY 99,000 (Wakayama Resident / Current Utsuho Students Rate: JPY 82,500) : includes lunch and materials; transportation not included
School Bus Service：¥10,000 per person for the full 5-day shuttle service (tax included)
※Please note that the full fee applies even if the service is used for only one day or one way, due to seat reservation arrangements.
日程：８月３日（月）〜８月７日（金）【５日間】
時間：各日 ９: 00〜15 : 00
拠点：うつほの杜学園小学校＋周辺のフィールド
対象：年長～小学４年生
定員：25〜30名程度
費用： 99,000円 （和歌山県内割り・内部生82,500円）昼食・教材費込み（バス代別途）
スクールバスの利用について：1人あたり 5日間セット 10,000円（税込）
※座席確保の都合上、1日のみや片道の利用であっても一律料金を申し受けます。
締切：7月17日（金）まで（※定員に達し次第、受付終了）
Timeline 一日の流れ
9:00- 9:30 Switch time
9:45-12:00 Morning activities
12:00-13:00 Lunchtime & playtime
13:00-14:40 Afternoon activities
14:40-15:00 Reflection time
On the final afternoon, students will present their reflection presentations. Parents are also welcome to attend.
9:00 SWITCH TIME（朝の切り替えの時間）
９:30 探究アクティビティ
12:00 ランチ・休憩
13:00 探究アクティビティ
14:30 ふり返りReflection
15:00 1日の活動終了
※予定は一部変更するがあります。
最終日の午後は振り返りプレゼンテーションを行います。保護者もご参加いただけます。
Application Form お申込みフォーム
A Special Stay Experience - 特別な宿泊体験を
We are pleased to offer exclusive accommodation offers in partnership with local hotels for participating families. We hope you will also enjoy the nature, culture, and relaxing atmosphere of the Kinan region together as a family, making your stay a special part of this summer experience.
In addition, an optional Community BBQ will be held on the evening of the first day. Details will be provided to those who make a reservation.
今回の特別コラボレーションによるサマースクールでは、参加者限定で地域の宿泊施設より特別オファーをご用意いただきました。滞在そのものが、この夏の特別な思い出となれば幸いです。
また、追加プログラムで初日の夜に交流BBQもございます。予約された方へご案内いたします。
School bus - スクールバス
The school bus will safely transport your child to and from the school.
田辺市旧市街、上富田を経由するスクールバスの運行がございます。
Our Special Team チーム紹介
Chizuko Nishida
Chizuko is a Japanese educator and specialist in psychological resilience, currently serving as the Representative Director of the Japan Resilience Education and Training Center (JRET). With extensive experience in early childhood and elementary education, she focuses on supporting children’s emotional wellbeing and healthy development through evidence-based educational practice.
Her expertise lies in SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) and Resilience Education, and she is widely recognized in Japan as a practitioner, trainer, and advocate in these fields. Through workshops, teacher training, and educational programs, Chizuko supports educators and communities in fostering empathy, self-awareness, emotional literacy, and resilience in both children and adults.
Patrick Newell
A prominent international educator for over 30 years. He is a specialist in future of learning and non-cognitive skills. Patrick has extensive experience in school accreditation and has worked in over ten countries. He currently lives in Shibuya while his youngest daughter attends Japanese school and is an advisor to the Shibuya Board of Education. Patrick is an MBA Professor at Shizenkan University specializing the the art of communication and leadership journeys. He is very curious about AI as a tool for learning and has spent the past five years researching this relationship. Patrick has a strong passion for finding synergy between nature, humanity and technology to prepare our children for their future.
Ren Yoshimoto
Ren is an English teacher at Utsuho Academy who is passionate about creating engaging and enjoyable learning experiences for children. With a particular interest in picture book-based English education, Ren explores how storytelling and visual literacy can support language development, imagination, and communication in the classroom.
Outside the classroom, Ren enjoys basketball, music, video games, and spending time with animals, interests that often inspire connections and conversations with students in everyday school life.
Rowaie Mohamed
English Educator with a Background in Medical Studies
Rowaie originally pursued studies in medicine before moving to Japan and later following her passion for education and language learning through English teaching.
She has experience teaching both preschool children and adults, and currently teaches English at Utsuho Academy. Rowaie enjoys creating positive and engaging learning environments where students feel encouraged to communicate with confidence and curiosity.
Outside the classroom, she enjoys trying new activities and embracing new challenges, although she humorously admits that swimming is still one skill she has yet to master.
Toru Tsuchiyama
Forest Interpreter and Kishu Binchotan Charcoal Craftsman
Toru is a forest interpreter and charcoal craftsman from Tanabe, specialising in the production of traditional Kishu Binchotan in the Nakahechi region. Deeply connected to the natural environment of Kumano, he is passionate about sharing local knowledge and creating opportunities for children and visitors to engage with nature through hands-on experiences.
For more than a decade, Toru has contributed to the local public elementary school community through activities such as rice paddy experiences, traditional mochi-making, and dodgeball. Through his work, he hopes to foster meaningful connections between people, nature, and local culture in rural Wakayama.
Riko Goto
Riko relocated to Wakayama in 2025 and now shares the daily life and educational values of Utsuho Academy with the wider community. With a background in education and a teaching license, she is passionate about the role of education and sport in fostering personal growth, wellbeing, and global community development.
Riko is also pursuing postgraduate studies at University of Tsukuba, specialising in international development through sport, while contributing to school life in Wakayama. Outside of education, she enjoys sports, reading, and international travel, and values creating connections through learning and cultural exchange.
Yoshitsugu Chishina
Forestry Practitioner and Forest Bathing Facilitator
Yoshitsugu is a sixth-generation woodland practitioner with a background in stage production and set construction. After the passing of his grandfather, who managed the family’s forestlands, he pursued studies in forestry, timber, and woodland management at Tokyo University of Agriculture, developing a strong interest in the future of Japan’s forestry industry and regional communities.
Yoshitsugu is also a certified Forest Bathing Facilitator®, creating opportunities for people to reconnect with nature through immersive outdoor experiences. Through his work, he hopes to promote the cultural, environmental, and wellbeing value of forests and rural landscapes.
Kataribe - Kumano kodo Guide
Kumano Kodo Storyteller is a local storyteller and cultural guide who shares the history, spirituality, and traditions of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes. Deeply connected to the culture and landscapes of the Kumano region, they guide visitors and children through experiences that explore the relationship between nature, community, and Japanese spiritual heritage.
Through storytelling, walks, and cultural activities, they hope to pass on the values and wisdom of the Kumano area while helping younger generations and visitors develop a deeper appreciation for the history and natural beauty of rural Wakayama.
