Holding of "Taiyo Oil Presents Shimanami Kids"

2021.11.19

~Fall-mountain school: aiming to climb tallest mountain in Imabari Mt. Narabara~

 Starting this year, Taiyo Oil has been providing support for the “Shimanami Outdoor School,” which carries of outdoor-experience education activities, and receives special sponsorship from “Imabari. Yume Sports K.K.” For this year’s activities, the school is scheduled to hold programs (three in total) for elementary school students entitled “Taiyo Oil Presents Shimanami Kids” in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, where Taiyo Oil’s Shikoku Operations is located, and recently on November 13 (Sat.), the second of the programs was implemented.

 For the program on this occasion, which was entitled, “Fall-mountain school: aiming to climb tallest mountain in Imabari Mt. Narabara,” there was a group of 22 elementary school students from Ehime Prefecture.

 During the opening ceremony, Taiyo Oil Executive Officer Mamoru Watanabe gave remarks in which he encouraged the participants to, “energetically enjoy the mountain while being careful not to get hurt.” Following this, the participants were divided into a first-to-third grade team and a fourth-to-sixth grade team, and then the two teams set off to reach the peak of Mt. Narabara, which has an elevation of over 1,000 meters and is the highest mountain in Imabari City.

  The children of the first-to-third grade team walked steadily on their own all the way to the end of the course, and along the way, they were able to touch with their own hands, thick vegetation and small insects, as well as formations sculpted by nature that they ordinarily would not be able to encounter.

 The children of the fourth-to-sixth grade team went along a steep course with a high level of difficulty, and it appeared that along the way the group became increasingly unified as a team. Furthermore, each child demonstrated different characteristics, with one child moving to the front and providing leadership, one carefully analyzing the route by using a map and compass, one paying attention to the team and speaking with team members, and so on.

 Based on the shared goal of “aiming to climb tallest mountain in Imabari,” all of the participating children avoided getting hurt and appeared to thoroughly enjoy their autumn mountain walk through to the end.

 The activities of “Shimanami Kids” are aimed at cultivating a zest for living among children, and deepening their interest in the global environment and nature through experiences of harmony with nature. The final program for this year’s activities is scheduled to be held in December.

Event outline

Name

 Taiyo Oil Presents Shimanami Kids

 Fall-mountain school: aiming to climb tallest mountain in Imabari Mt. Narabara

Date of event

 November 13 (Sat.), 2021

Location

 Mt. Narabara (Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture)

Participants

 22 elementary school students (grades 1 through 6) of Ehime Prefecture

Scenes from the day

Scene from remarks during opening ceremony (Executive Officer Mamoru Watanabe)

Fourth-to-sixth grade team taking on challenge of steep course

 

Enjoying bento boxed meals, which taste especially good when eaten in nature 

Commemorative photograph of both teams together near mountain peak