誰もが当たり前に自然に触れられる、ビジターセンターを設立したい！

Ocean Family's 40th Anniversary Project

 

 

“Uniting People, Nature, and Society in a Bold New Venture.”

 

For four decades, Ocean Family has brought joyous natural experiences to both children and adults. Now, with a fresh mission to 'connect people, nature, and society,' we're dedicated to expanding this connection to even more hearts.

 

Yet, our path is still unfolding. The universal accessibility to nature remains a work in progress. We envision a world where everyone effortlessly embraces nature, and we're determined to enhance our remarkable haven surrounded by pristine seas and lush forests.

 

As we celebrate 40 years, we're embarking on groundbreaking initiatives. As a pivotal part of our 40th-anniversary project, we're introducing a state-of-the-art Visitor Center in Hayama. Our goal is to make the captivating nature of Hayama more intimate and accessible to all.

 

Join us in this transformative journey to cultivate a deeper love for nature and broaden our community of nature enthusiasts. Your generous donation will help us achieve this vision."

 

 

About ”Ocean Family”

 

Thank you for taking the time to explore our page. I'm Tanaka, representing Ocean Family.

 

Since our inception in 1984 with the 'Miyakejima Summer School,' we've been dedicated to environmental education, focusing on fostering an appreciation for the sea among the next generation. Our guiding principles—'The sea is interesting and fun,' 'The sea is wonderful,' and 'The sea is precious'—underscore our commitment to Earth's environmental conservation and the establishment of a sustainable society.

 

Throughout the year, we facilitate diverse nature experiential activities, including snorkeling and coastal creature observation. This initiative spans four decades, providing a platform for learning about fish, marine life, and broader environmental awareness for participants ranging from preschoolers to adults. Triggered by the evacuation of Miyakejima due to volcanic activity, we relocated to Hayama Town, Kanagawa Prefecture, in 2002, and we're thrilled to celebrate our 21st year in this vibrant community.

 

 

Currently engaging around 200 participants annually, our weekend activities attract individuals from Tokyo, Yokohama, and beyond. Hayama Town, nestled on the western side of the Miura Peninsula, offers a unique blend of sandy beaches, tidal flats, and thriving mountains inhabited by owls and pheasants.

 

From snorkeling adventures to navigating dark mountain trails without lights, and cooking homegrown rice in bamboo rice cookers—these activities contribute to the development of resilient, nature-loving individuals. Our approach aligns with the natural rhythms of seasons, weather, and sea conditions, fostering 'falling in love with nature.'

 

 

Over the years, we've provided inclusive nature experiences for diverse age groups, including families spanning three generations. By amplifying moments of 'I love the sea! I love the mountains! I love nature!,' we believe in making a positive impact on society and contributing to a brighter future for our planet.

 

To further extend our reach within the community and society, we aspire to transform our current 100-year-old traditional house, utilized as an office, into the 'Hayama Visitor Center.' This envisioned space will be warmly open to everyone for casual use, promoting a deeper connection with nature.

 

Why a Visitor Center?

 

Throughout our years of dedicated activities, we have cultivated profound and enduring relationships with each child. However, the decision to inaugurate a Visitor Center is born out of the challenges we've discerned through our wholehearted engagement with our participants.

 

After a specific experiential learning session, we received gratifying feedback from the parent of a child with disabilities: 'It was heartening that my child could experience the sea. I never anticipated it would be feasible.' In our commitment to inclusivity, we consistently equip ourselves with tools like amphibious wheelchairs and offer expert staff support in handling equipment and facilitating sea entry, enabling families to partake in our activities with utmost reassurance.

 

 

Yet, when posed with the question, 'Would you like to return to the sea?' some expressed reservations: 'I desire to, but due to a shortage of adult assistance, it proves challenging.' Undertaking a family outing to the sea entails substantial responsibilities such as orchestrating clothing changes and providing shower assistance. This compounds the obstacle to sea entry, impeding those enthusiastic about nature play and compromising firsthand experiences.

 

Recognizing that realizing a society where everyone can seamlessly engage in nature necessitates not only support but also robust infrastructure, we identified the imperative for enhancement. For instance, having facilities where individuals, including those with disabilities, can autonomously prepare and safely immerse themselves in nature would significantly diminish entry barriers.

 

 

Drawing upon the knowledge amassed over the past 40 years, our aspiration is to craft environments facilitating accessible connections with nature, cultivating an expanding community inherently drawn to the outdoors. However, to actualize the society we envision, our present activities alone fall short. Consequently, as an initial stride, we aim to establish a space in Hayama, progressively disseminating our vision and expertise from the local to the broader community.

 

In light of the aging condition of the traditional house currently housing our office, the idea resonated among our staff to repurpose it for this project. Accordingly, the decision was reached to transform it into the envisioned 'Hayama Visitor Center,' serving as a foundational point for this transformative initiative.

 

 

Bringing opportunities to connect with nature closer and more casually, from Hayama.

 

The current traditional house lacks adequate heating and cooling systems, displaying signs of deterioration with gaps in the walls and poorly fitted windows, making it particularly challenging during the extreme temperatures of summer and winter.

 

Additionally, there are safety concerns, such as a missing part at the entrance of the bathroom area, posing a risk of injury due to walking barefoot. As we plan to continue using the space as an office, prompt renovation is essential, and we aim to enhance safety measures.

 

 

In this project, we intend to renovate the traditional house, providing not only a comfortable workspace but also creating an information center for visitors to learn more about Hayama's environment. We plan to install shower booths for convenient preparation before and after activities.

 

With the establishment of the Visitor Center, we aim to lower barriers to playing in nature, encouraging people to integrate nature into their daily lives. We believe it will be beneficial not only for occasional leisure during summer vacations but also as a resource for various recreational activities.

 

After the opening, we will actively seek feedback from users to tailor the functionality of the center based on their needs, striving to create a communal hub that reflects the collective input of the community.

 

 

The Visitor Center serves various roles:

- Changing & Shower Facilities

- Rest Area

- Storage for belongings during nature activities

- Equipment Rental

- Relaxation space usable as a meeting point

- Information center for nearby recreational areas

• Light refreshments, etc...

 

 

Use of Donations Received

 

Ocean Family's sustained activities since its inception have been made possible through the dedicated efforts of our staff, volunteers, and the invaluable support from participants. As we aim to continue our initiatives for the next 10 to 20 years, we aspire to evolve into an organization that contributes even more to the local community and society.

 

To achieve this, our first step is to ensure the success of this project and, hand in hand with our donors, expand our vision and aspirations towards the society we envision.

 

＜Fundraising Goal＞

Primary Goal: 5 million JPY

Fund Usage: Construction costs related to establishing the Visitor Center

 

＜Overview of Construction＞

■ Project Duration: Commencing in mid-March 2024, scheduled for completion by the summer of 2024.

■ Expected Opening: Around summer to fall 2024

■ Total Project Cost: Approximately 14million JPY

 

 

Ocean Family's Vision for Nature and Our Existence

 

In an era where technology advances, allowing us to create almost anything, we firmly believe it is crucial to recognize that "we, as humanity, are an integral part of nature." Moreover, the direct experiences of connecting with nature should become a fundamental support for each individual's life.

 

Our conviction lies in bringing more people closer to nature, increasing the overall count of enjoyable tangible experiences. We aim to foster an awareness of being sustained by nature and strive to expand the number of individuals supporting the natural environment in our future endeavors.

 

From the humble experiences in this small town with its rich natural surroundings, we aspire to cultivate a "heart" network that supports the bright future of Japanese society and, ultimately, the world, through this crowdfunding initiative.

 

We sincerely appreciate your generous donations. Thank you.