Abstract
“Kikigaki Kousien” is a project undertaken in 2002. This attempt was supposed to enhance high school students to meet farmers and foresters through on-site fieldworks. This essay examines three outcomes of “Kikigaki Kousien” and its social impact on forest environmental education through questionnaire and interviews to farmers, foresters, high school students, and sponsors. Firstly, foresters and students had the opportunity of intergenerational communication through this project. Farmers and foresters shared their experience and knowledge with the participants who are not familiar with these industries, and also became more motivated in boosting their work leand improving behavior as well. Secondly, the project has seen the short-term and long-term effects among the high school students. As the short-term effect, all the students enhanced communication with the others across Japan. It was a good chance for them to meet foresters and deepen their knowledge on agriculture and forestry. On the other handregarding the long-term effect, half of the participants changed their behavior and way of thinking about natural environment, while the other half mentioned that the project supported them to clarify their future career and backed up the decision-making. Thirdly, FamilyMart Co. Ltd. is willing to sponsor the project in recognition of the participation of high school students. Hence it is necessary for sponsors to avoid limiting the scale to Cooperate Social Responsibility and consider the project from many angles.
