Recruitment for 2026 Members Begins!
Hello Woods Program
Elementary School Members
"Aquatic Creature Kids Researcher"
The "truth about living creatures" that you can't learn from TV or books is here!
Become a researcher and study the creatures living by the water that change with the seasons.
The experience of "observing, thinking, and trying" nurtures children's ability to think and their sensitivity.
Let's create environments where living creatures can thrive and raise and study aquatic organisms that we actually catch.
Activity Details
Research on Seasonal Themes
with Free Thinking
Rather than being told everything, our kid researchers will think for themselves, come up with ideas, and study living creatures that live by the water with a free and unrestricted mindset,
while experiencing the real nature.
| Activity Schedule (Held 10 times in total) |
April 2025 to March 2026 ⑩3/21(Sat) April 2026 to March 2027 ①4/18(Sat) ②5/23(Sat) ③6/13(Sat) ④7/18(Sat) ⑤9/26(Sat) ⑥10/17(Sat) ⑦11/28(Sat) ⑧12/20(Sun) ⑨2/23(Tue, holiday) ⑩3/21(Sun) |
|---|---|
| Activity Details | ・Investigation of creatures living by the water ・Research on creating environments where aquatic organisms can thrive ・Observation of seasonal changes in the ecology of aquatic organisms ・Creating waterside habitats for fireflies |
| Example Research Themes | ・April: Frog eggs, tadpoles, frogs, freshwater snails ・May: Fireflies, freshwater snails ・June to July: Dragonfly larvae, backswimmers ・September to October: Water scorpions, diving beetles, newts, crayfish ・November to February: Overwintering aquatic organisms, frogs, giant water bugs, freshwater snails ・March: Annual activity report, awards (final session) * Research themes may change depending on natural conditions. |
Member Benefits
* White coats, waders, and aquatic nets are not included in the member benefits for continuing and rejoining members.
* Waders will be sized on the day of the event, so they will be provided from the second session onward.
* The photos are for illustrative purposes only. Colors and designs may vary.
Schedule Example
* Hours of operation and activities may vary
| 10：00 | Reception starts Gathering Orientation Aquatic organism survey |
|---|---|
| 10：30 | Lunch (bring your own bento) Aquatic animal research lab management and environmental maintenance Lecture and reflection |
| 15：30 | End * If you wish to take home or keep any captured creatures, time will be set aside after the event to review care methods together with the guardians. |
Aquatic Animal Research Laboratory
Director Eiji Okuyama (Doctor)
[Lecturer]
Eiji Okuyama
Introduces creatures and outdoor play in various magazines, TV programs, and events nationwide.
At Shogakukan's BE-PAL, he serialized the small fish fishing news for 15 years. Since 2015, he has been teaching about the current nature as a guest speaker at Rikkyo University.
<Books>
New Nature Play (Yama to Keikoku Publishing)
12 Months of Playing with Insects (Deco Publishing)
Let's Take a Detour / Let's Play on the Rocky Shore! (Holp Publishing), etc.
＜Others＞
Learn from the Forest Masters at HondaWoods
Together with Kid Researchers
Creating the Aquatic Animal Research Laboratory
Information and survey results obtained in each study, as well as collected organisms, are displayed and disseminated at the Aquatic Animal Research Laboratory. The Kid Researchers and scientists work together to create the laboratory.
Aquatic Animal Research Activities
Participant-Only Program
"Foster Parent System"
The Foster Parent System is a program that allows you to temporarily take home living creatures inhabiting Hello Woods for breeding and research. Through breeding, it fosters new discoveries and curiosity.
* The creatures you have raised can be returned to Hello Woods at the end.
Examples of creatures:
Backswimmers, frogs, dragonfly larvae, and other collected aquatic insects
Full support for studying at home
Explore various aspects of your interest, such as the ecology and distribution of living things. Our scientists and staff will support you with any basic questions you may have about breeding methods and research procedures.
* Depending on the type of living creature, some cannot be taken home or kept.
"Aquatic Life Kids Researcher"
Recruitment Overview
| Number of Participants | 20 people |
|---|---|
| Target | Fiscal Year 2026: 3rd to 6th Grade Elementary School Students |
| Membership Fee | New Membership: 23,000yen per person (with member benefits) For continuation from 2025 or rejoining from 2024 or earlier without member benefits: 10,000yen * Continuation and rejoining members are not eligible for benefits such as lab coats, waders, and water nets. |
| Participation Fee | 4,000yen per person each time * Original goods will be given as a gift upon participation in 5 sessions. * An original monthly creature card will be given as a gift for each participation. * Includes admission and parking fees. |
| About Recruitment | First recruitment period until 4/4 (Sat)
Second recruitment period 4/5 (Sun) to 5/16 (Sat) ※If you apply on or after 4/5 (Sun), there is a possibility that the delivery of member benefits will be delayed. Thank you for your understanding |
| Member Benefits | Lab coat, waders, aquatic net, observation case, research notebook, original pin badge, original card (awarded for each participation) * White coats, waders, and aquatic nets are not included in the member benefits for continuing and rejoining members. * Waders will be sized on the day of the event, so they will be provided from the second session onward. |
※Content is subject to change without notice.
※The price is displayed as the total price.
※The photos and illustrations used are for illustration purposes only.