AEON Fantasy Launches Experiential Club for Local Elementary School Students at "Mew no Mori" in Uenohara, Yamanashi Prefecture, to Connect Children with the Rich Satoyama for the Future!
AEON Fantasy Co., Ltd. will launch an annual experiential club activity, "Morikko Club (tentative)," for local elementary school students at its glamping facility "Mew no Mori" in Uenohara, Yamanashi Prefecture, starting April 19, 2026. This initiative inherits the spirit of the popular "Satokko Club" from the closed "Yuzurihara Prefectural Youth Nature Village," aiming to foster community coexistence and biodiversity conservation.
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AEON Fantasy Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Nobuyuki Fujiwara; hereinafter "the Company"), which operates the glamping facility "Mew no Mori" in Uenohara City, Yamanashi Prefecture, as a designated administrator, will launch an annual experiential club activity, "Morikko Club (tentative)," for local elementary school students starting Sunday, April 19, 2026.
This activity inherits the spirit of the popular experiential club "Satokko Club," which was cherished at the "Yuzurihara Prefectural Youth Nature Village" (closed in fiscal year 2022), and revives it with a new look. The club aims to provide opportunities for children from different schools and grades in the region to interact with nature, cooperate in crafting, and engage in various experiences. Recruitment through local elementary schools has resulted in 46 children, exceeding the capacity, joining the club.
### ■ Background and Purpose: Rediscovering the Value of the Natural Environment and Creating a "Cycle" with Children's Hands, Under Community Coexistence
The Company has set "Deepening Communication with Local Communities" and "Realizing Biodiversity Conservation" as material issues in its sustainability efforts. The initiative to "Deepen Communication with Local Communities" has so far involved inviting local children to indoor facilities both domestically and internationally, making this the first endeavor in the outdoor business. Furthermore, regarding "Realizing Biodiversity Conservation," the mid-term goal is to "create places and opportunities for humans and nature to coexist and conserve biodiversity." This club is positioned as an initiative to achieve this mid-term goal, and activities will proceed accordingly.
By utilizing the rich natural fields of "Mew no Mori" and maintaining and regenerating forests and fields together with children, we will preserve the richness of the satoyama and nurture a "rich heart" that connects to the next generation.
### ■ "New Club Name" Officially Announced at the Inauguration Ceremony on Sunday, April 19!
At the inauguration ceremony on April 19, the first day of activities, the "new club name," selected from publicly solicited proposals, will be officially announced in front of the participating children. With a name they can be proud of, they will start their year-long activities. On the day, in addition to an explanation session for parents and self-introductions by the children, plans include games to develop observation skills in nature conducted in teams, free play in the great outdoors, and a "time capsule" activity where children write letters to their future selves one year later.
### ■ Annual Activity Program (Planned)
Throughout the year, a diverse program is prepared to stimulate the five senses, protect and nurture nature, together with friends in nature.
April: Inauguration ceremony, nature games, time capsule
May: Name tag making, field work
June: Wild plant tempura cooking (learning to identify edible wild plants), crafts
July: Field weeding, river play
October: "Nature Bingo" to learn about creatures in the forest, sweet potato harvesting and outdoor cooking
November: Forest Mystery Adventure
December: Christmas crafts
January: Mochi pounding, karuta making
February: Cooperative games
March: Completion ceremony, time capsule excavation
### ■ Inauguration Ceremony Overview
Date and Time: Sunday, April 19, 2026, 9:30 AM reception / 10:00 AM start
Location: Mew no Mori Multipurpose Hall
Content: Inauguration ceremony, explanation session, announcement of new club name, first activity
The Company will continue to strengthen its partnership with Uenohara City and contribute to the local community through "Mew no Mori."
This activity inherits the spirit of the popular experiential club "Satokko Club," which was cherished at the "Yuzurihara Prefectural Youth Nature Village" (closed in fiscal year 2022), and revives it with a new look. The club aims to provide opportunities for children from different schools and grades in the region to interact with nature, cooperate in crafting, and engage in various experiences. Recruitment through local elementary schools has resulted in 46 children, exceeding the capacity, joining the club.
### ■ Background and Purpose: Rediscovering the Value of the Natural Environment and Creating a "Cycle" with Children's Hands, Under Community Coexistence
The Company has set "Deepening Communication with Local Communities" and "Realizing Biodiversity Conservation" as material issues in its sustainability efforts. The initiative to "Deepen Communication with Local Communities" has so far involved inviting local children to indoor facilities both domestically and internationally, making this the first endeavor in the outdoor business. Furthermore, regarding "Realizing Biodiversity Conservation," the mid-term goal is to "create places and opportunities for humans and nature to coexist and conserve biodiversity." This club is positioned as an initiative to achieve this mid-term goal, and activities will proceed accordingly.
By utilizing the rich natural fields of "Mew no Mori" and maintaining and regenerating forests and fields together with children, we will preserve the richness of the satoyama and nurture a "rich heart" that connects to the next generation.
### ■ "New Club Name" Officially Announced at the Inauguration Ceremony on Sunday, April 19!
At the inauguration ceremony on April 19, the first day of activities, the "new club name," selected from publicly solicited proposals, will be officially announced in front of the participating children. With a name they can be proud of, they will start their year-long activities. On the day, in addition to an explanation session for parents and self-introductions by the children, plans include games to develop observation skills in nature conducted in teams, free play in the great outdoors, and a "time capsule" activity where children write letters to their future selves one year later.
### ■ Annual Activity Program (Planned)
Throughout the year, a diverse program is prepared to stimulate the five senses, protect and nurture nature, together with friends in nature.
April: Inauguration ceremony, nature games, time capsule
May: Name tag making, field work
June: Wild plant tempura cooking (learning to identify edible wild plants), crafts
July: Field weeding, river play
October: "Nature Bingo" to learn about creatures in the forest, sweet potato harvesting and outdoor cooking
November: Forest Mystery Adventure
December: Christmas crafts
January: Mochi pounding, karuta making
February: Cooperative games
March: Completion ceremony, time capsule excavation
### ■ Inauguration Ceremony Overview
Date and Time: Sunday, April 19, 2026, 9:30 AM reception / 10:00 AM start
Location: Mew no Mori Multipurpose Hall
Content: Inauguration ceremony, explanation session, announcement of new club name, first activity
The Company will continue to strengthen its partnership with Uenohara City and contribute to the local community through "Mew no Mori."