Abstract
Experience learning in the forest for children is one of the most important programs in forest education although little is known about its effect on children’s views toward forests. The present study examines the effectiveness of forest environmental education, namely,“Yamanoko”at the Minakuchi Kodomo-no-mori Nature Museum in Shiga Prefecture. The program is designed for the fourth graders. Surveys were conducted before and after the program to clarify the effects on the students’ views of forests. About 1,000 students answered the surveys. The comparative analyses through statistical tests revealed the following changes in their views after “Yamanoko”: First, the proportion of students who can draw concrete images of the forest, based on their actual sensory experience, increased. Second, the proportion of students who mention the names of those animals and plants that do not live in the neighborhood forests decreased. Third, the proportion of students who dislike forests decreased. In addition, through the “Yamanoko”program, the large number of the students became aware of the important resources from forests, such as water and timbers. “Yamanoko”is effective in deepening and elevating students’ understanding of the forest. It can be a remarkable introduction to forest education.
