aboout this project

Photo: Rune Stenseth,Chizuru Morikawa　　　　　

About The Research Project of Exploratory & Creative Education

From the first day mankind evolved, the history of adventures continues on to this day. One of our main purposes is to pass on our wisdom through education, to the children of the next generation. However, I wonder if todayﾕs adults are paying enough attention to create the proper environment where the children have the ability and strength to question things and to head in to the future.

Towards the end of last year, I happened to overhear a rumor that a young European explorer was planning a project to cross the Antarctica all by himself. I instinctively felt that to closely follow his adventure was an opportunity for me to think about and attempt to understand the meaning of "living and learning".

Here at the Research Project of Exploratory & Creative Education, we hope to establish a platform where we can study adventures within the framework of education, as well as to try to understand what the creativity of people consist of. We provide the opportunity to discuss these thoughts while we follow every processes and the adventure that will take place in Antarctica as a live educational material. The idea that we are proposing is basically an attempt to give the opportunity for children to learn by directly watching the adults who are making history.

This feeling was reaffirmed and made stronger when we went to Norway to meet this explorer, Mr. Rune Gjeldnes and made contact with the local population. We hope that in the next two years, we can continue to develop stronger relationships that cross cultural and generational borders to transmit these ideas we represent, all over the world.

Chizuru Morikawa
Representative
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　January,2005
→Essay

＜Purpose＞
■Contribute to lifelong education
　（To bring out creativity and the spirit of adventure in people of all ages）
■Contribute to educational teaching materials
　（To bring out the curiosity in children by setting an example as adults）
■To make available the opportunity for students to follow current live activities, 　
　that can be useful as teaching material.

＜About those who want to participate in this research group or events... ＞
■Both adults and children who seek adventure
■Those who have interest in a theme or the process of educational materials development.　　
■Those who want to utilize contents and educational materials at schools.

＜Organization of the Research Group＞
The group will be active for two years from January of 2004.
Before the two years is up, we will evaluate the activities accomplished in that time span and decide on a follow up program.

■Invitational Members-
　(The purpose of these members are to get the opinions of those
　 in variety of fields) 　　　
　Katsumi Namba (Director of Project Adventure Japan) 　　　
　Georges Mihaies (Computer Scientist/Consultant) 　　　
　Masayoshi Koga (Professor of Literature, Dept. of Education, Chuo University) 　　　
　Heishi Fujimori (Principal of Seigano-mori nursery)
　Shinji Matsumoto(UNESCO/CLT Executive Officer）
■Individual Members-These members are actively involved in the project.
　 (Annual Fee-10000yen)
■Child Members　
-　Members under 16 years old, with the consent of a guardian.
■Corporate Associate Members　
-　Groups or companies that are actively involved in the project.
(Annual Fee-100000yen)
■ Support Members

＜Topic＞
"The Longest March"/Following an adventure of a North European explorer.

＜Program Ideas＞
■Method-Workshops. We will research and develop the educational material.
■Using the Internet ･ Creation of a public website (Information exchange, Public relations, Weblog access for participants) ･ Research Group Site (Prospectus, Trends, Members Weblog communication) ･ Publication of e-magazine