The Noshiro Kids' Eco Club was established five years ago in the northern city of Noshiro, Akita Prefecture, with the support of seven municipal government employees working in the environment section. The club currently consists of 47 elementary school pupils and 31 middle school students.

A wide range of activities are held so the students can learn about the natural environment around them as well as environmental problems on a global scale. Most activities take place between July and September.

Water purification experiments
In July last year, a visit was made to a local water purification plant. Members saw how water is filtrated before being supplied to homes. Participants then made an instant water purifier with a plastic beverage bottle, ash, pebbles, sand, and toilet paper and conducted filtration experiments.

In August, a lecture was delivered by a local environment expert who explained the significance of efforts to recycle paper, cans, bottles, and other materials. A video detailing how other countries are tackling waste and recycling issues was shown.

After the lecture, members made postcards from used milk cartons, and they discovered that these cartons are perfect for making good-quality cards.

Visit to one of world's oldest forests
Also in August, an outing was made to Mt. Kodake, a 1,042-meter high peak near the border with Aomori Prefecture. Kodake stands in the middle of the Shirakami Mountains and is located on the eastern edge of a virgin beech forest.

"We learned a lot about the forest," one participant said. "It's home to nearly 2,600 different animal and plant species, whose presence is really important for the region's ecosystem and our daily life. For instance, leaves have been accumulating on the forest floor for hundreds of years, and this acts as a filter for rainwater, helping produce high-quality drinking water."

The climb to the top of Mt. Kodake took about two hours. On the way up, many alpine plants were spotted, such as the mountain ash and alpine rose. The peak itself offered a spectacular view of other mountains in the Shirakami range. The climbers enjoyed lunch against this magnificent backdrop before climbing back down.

In September, a visit was made to Oga City in Akita Prefecture to see geological formations. Participants enjoyed themselves immensely excavating fossil shells.

Future activities
The Noshiro club will meet five times this year in July and August. Like last year, trips to the Shirakami Mountains and other nearby areas will be made. Other activities that are being planned include inspections of water quality by observing marine organisms and a visit to the ruins of prehistoric villages. About the same number of participants are expected to join the club this year.


Photos: (Top) Club members after a hike in the Shirakami Mountains; (above) a visit to a water purification plant. (Noshiro Kids' Eco Club)