Yatsu Higata Nature Observation Center

Volunteer Activities

This page explains the duties of volunteers at the Observation Center. This page is under maintenance by the volunteers.

The role of volunteers at the Observation Center is work with visitors to teach them about the wildlife and explain the ecosystem.

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What's the volunteer of the Observation Center

A volunteer at the Observation Center should represents the goals of the Center. Observation Center volunteer don't need special knowledge or skills, just the Desire to help visitors at the center in every way possible. Everyone can become to volunteer at the center from High school student.

The Observation Center is an institution which values the natural environment, and wildlife, and wishes to teach our visitors about the tidal flats. We provide such events as lectures and nature tours. The volunteers and staff work together to maintain the exhibits and facilities.

The center is managed by the Narashino City, but we feel that involving volunteers and citizen is important. These are 130 volunteers from age 15-80.

The staffs and volunteers work together to activate events at the center.

The center can't pay volunteers for transportation or food expenses. Volunteers are covered by the center insurance policy in case of an accident.

You may register to be a volunteer at any time of the year.

Volunteer orientation meetings are held on every year.

Activity Menu

There are various activities which we would like volunteers to help with such as environmental education, environmental management, facility management.

Individial Activity
Event Support
Group Activity
Class Studies

1. Individual Activity
It is activity of an individual unit.
	Visitor's Guide Answers visitor's enquiries on wild birds or the tidal flat. The center here aims at increasing these people's concern for wild birds and tidal flats, and by having direct interaction with visitors they are able to achieve this aim. This is the foundation of the volunteer activities. Click Here for More Information
	Small Program Guid Description and explanation of birds or the tidal flats are given to the visitors in the lecture room.
	Guide Walk Walking around inside of the center, the volunteer guides the visitors from exhibit to exhibit, discussing topics such as Yatsu Higata's history, Ramsar, volunteer activities etc. It takes approximately 30 minutes. There is script to follow, so even a beginner can guide this walk.
	Tora-san Show The customer is invited to the world in the tidal flat by explanation by a vagabond “Tora-san styleE The number of those who peer through a telescope to the tidal flat increases after the humorous explanation of creatures like the crabs and the ducks. Don't you wanna get involved?
	Translation, Language Interpretation The volunteer translates English documents, and also conducts observation guiding for foreign visitors. On Yatsu Higata Day, the volunteer acts as guides to Brisbane visitors, and also interprets during exchange communications with the center volunteers.
2. Event Support
It becomes the management staff, such as an nature tour which a center sponsors.
	Nature Tour Staff There are many nature tours presented by the center, for example, “BrattoEWalking (observation guide tour for beginners), “YatsukkoEAdventure (adventure tour for kids), Bird Carving Classes (construction and photography), Brooch making Classes, and so on. These activities have their own volunteer groups that plan and facilitate the tours/activities. Bookings and safety management are undertaken by center staff.
	The Yatsu Higata Day Yatsu Higata Day, is held every year in June to commemorate the registration of Yatsu Higata under the Ramsar Convention. The volunteers support a symposium, observation activities, orientation of visitors, and other roles throughout the celebration.
	Freshwater Pond Management Cutting of the grass around the pond south of the center is undertaken. Though not an official activity, everyone participates with enthusiasm and is enjoyed by all. Click Here for More Information
3. Group Activity
It Works into Group with a Certain Purpose.
	Waterfowl Data Analysis Group The predominant work of this group is the analysis of waterfowl flight patterns. Data from numerous individual bird observations from Yatsu Higata are analysed from the report "Result of the birds survey - Yatsu wildlife protection section, the Ministry of the Environment". This includes 30 years data since 1990. Existing data for sandpipers and the plovers were analysed and the results presented in an exhibit. Also, specific groups are surveyed and studied. In spring, the feeding patterns of turnstones were investigated. Currently, an analysis of ducks are being undertaken.
	Picture Drama Show Project We make Picture Drama Shows that stars birds and living creatures of Yatsu Higata. The play opens with the sound of a wooden clapper. The show presented from the back of a bicycle is reminiscent of the past. There are 3-5 performers for the play so it is a lot of fun. The regular show: the 3rd Sunday of every month. The members: 60 years + gentleman and ladies that have lots of life experience - able to partake in various discussions, and sometimes younger men and women. Click Here for More Information
	Solomon's Ring Project This project is organized by predominantly university students. The program involves wild bird observation for children visiting the center. The aim is to connect the children to nature by engaging them in a play which relate to the birds. A unique feature is that at the end of the program, they have conversations with the birds. There currently three stories. Please come and participate and have some fun. The members are currently being recruited. Click Here for More Information
	Toys Factory Our group started from the idea of trying to get visiting children to develop an interest in the wetlands through play. To date some of the items we have made are: stuffed toy and mat of wetland creatures, picture book (Spotbill duck named "Ai-chan"), puzzle (bird puzzle, dice puzzle, wetland restaurant), bird costumes, Yatsu Higata ‘karuta’ * playing cards, bird cap ,and so on. These hand made products are displayed in various locations around the center and attract the attension of the children. There are "origami" classes and ‘karuta’ card game matches on the Yatsu Higata Day and during the winter vacation. Our goal is a toys factory where people have lots of fun and get engaged in the wetlands. * karuta playing cards – A Japanese card game. The basic idea of a karuta game is to be able to quickly determine which card out of an array of cards is required and then to grab the card before it is grabbed by an opponent. Click Here for More Information
	Bird Carving Group Our group makes the bird carving of Yatsu Higata birds for teaching materials in the center. We are beginners, but our works are interesting. There are classes also where people are able to learn about the birds morphology through the bird carving. It is a lot of work to prepare the materials for the classes, but the smiles of the students when they complete the bird carvings are unforgettable. The regular activity is on the 4th Sunday of every month, from 10am to 3pm. There are two classrooms for the visitors. One is "plover brooch making" in June, and another is "Summer family bird carving classes" in August (two days). There are staff training courses in February and March. Click Here for More Information
	Nature Information Team Nature Information Team conducts activities twice a month. On the first Tuesday of every month, we make a bulletin board about trees, flowers and insects around wetlands. On the 3rd Tuesday of every month, we focus on creating name tags of trees and/or making simple guide books. Click Here for More Information
	Publication Work of News Letters Our group produces a newsletter for the center and the volunteers. [Activity] We release a quartely newsletter. Two months before publication, we have an editing meeting. One month, before, we confirm the manuscripts, and type them into the PC and proofread them. 2 weeks before, we complete proofreading by staff. Two days before, it goes to print, and on the last day is the distribution. To date, we have released 100 issues. We have 4 members. [Contents]: 1) Current data of the volunteer activities and the events of the center; 2) Update on the aims of the exchange; 3) Dissemination of the upcoming volunteer activities, and 4) Introduction of the volunteer persons, and so on. We welcome your participation with us! Click Here for More Information
	Woodwork Club Woodwork Club conducts the maintenance and construction of equipment that we are necessary for protection and the observations of the wild birds of the Yatsu Higata wetland and the environment. We have made items such as the big wooden table, exhibition stands, binoculars steps, and the wooden box near the ranger counter in the Observation Center. Outside the Observation Center, we have made the information bulletin board installed in the observation shelter stands around the Yatsu Higata.
	"Burakan" Mates "Burakan" Mates manages the "Buratto" (Trans = Casual) Observation Walking group. We have 17 members, and we are all bird lovers. "Buratto" Walking activity is predominantly targeted for beginners. Every session involves interpretation and information of the birds present in Yatsu Higata that season, and we teach people how to use binoculars. The veteran members will kindly teach bird watching techniques, and additionally, every last Saturday we have Self "Buratto" Walking and Self "Buratto" Walking lessons for preparaing the members for a level up in their skills. "Buratto" Walking takes place at 10:00 until 12:30 every first Sunday. Please come and join us! Click Here for More Information
	Great Reed Warbler Study Group This group with just 10 members in the spring break has been making observations for the past 21 years of the "Great Reed Warbler" that migrates from down south. Sixteen years ago, they submitted to the research magazine named "Strix" presented by Wild Bird Society of Japan, their research results on the habitat information of the Great Reed Warbler. We have issued summarized Research Report of Great Reed Warbler in Yatsu Higata on 2020. Click Here for More Information
	Librarians There is a book corner on the first floor in the underground section of the center. Here there are books related to nature, environment, and various nature information papers that reach us each month from various locations. Visitors can use these resources for study and the examination of the living thing that they see it in the tidal flats. It is the Librarians who support the management of these resources. We do monthly management tasks and additionally we have story reading where picture books are read out to both small children and adults. Please visit the books corner by when you come to the center. We are currently recruiting members, please contact the center if you are interested in joining. Click Here for More Information
	The Yatsu Higata Children’s Expeditionary Party The activity is conducted on the afternoon of the third Sunday every month. We plan and execute an observational group targeted to elementary school students called "The Yatsu Higata Children's Expeditionary Party" who observe the habitat and plants of Yatsu Higata. Why don't you step into the tidal flat with the children, and see the life and the value of the life of the tidal flat? Please call to the Yatsu Higata Observation Center to participate. Click Here for More Information
	The Water Flea Club Our group observes and keeps records of planktons to present to visitors. Once a month, we conduct regular sampling of planktons using a plankton net in Yatsu creek's watercourse near the Yatsu Higata Observation Center. We make observations and recordings using microscopes and monitors and show it to the participants. For the centre visitors, we have a activities such as Plankton Observation Corner (Every first Saturday afternoon), Plankton Observation (three times a year; requires booking), and a Summer Holiday Living Thing Exhibition - "Yatsu Higata Research Room". Please join our group to experience and share to the visitors the wonderful rich world that can be found in a simple drop of water! Click Here for More Information
	Reed Screen Group The Reed Screen Group started with the idea of getting the visitors to see and experience that there are great uses for the reeds harvested during the Yatsu Higata Fresh Water Management activities. It takes time to make Reed Screens, but there is great satisfaction when we complete the screens and everyone enjoys the activity - including the group members. During the summer vacation, we hold Reed Screen Family Classes. Come and let's make some Reed Screens together! Click Here for More Information
	Home Page Group The purpose of this activity is to promote the volunteer work at the center within and also outside Japan. We introduce various volunteer activities in Japanese and English. In addition, we are receiving the latest activity information from groups or by directly gathering information; we are currently creating a new page that features updates or new activities undertaken by centre volunteers. We hope this homepage will not only promote the volunteer activities, but will also be utilised to present research results and information. Click Here for More Information
4. Class Studies
The lecture which a center holds and The study meeting which a volunteer carries out independently.
	Class for Nature-Tour Guiding This group focuses on those who wishes to be volunteer at the center. The students study the rudimentary knowledge and the technique needed for a volunteer guide. The course is five time series from spring to autumn. For further information please see the event information. Click Here for More Information
	Class for Volunteers Students learn necessary knowledge and the technique needed for a volunteer. It is a study meeting concerning indispensable skills for wild bird, tidal flat, nature and societal volunteer work. For example, themes include "Identification of the sandpiper and plover" or “Nature explanation (interpretation) technique", and so on.
	Class for Self Study This is a study association that the volunteers independently hold. We learn about the birds that visit Yatsu Higata, and the living thing of the area. We are studying hard to be able to identify the common birds and the living things in Yatsu Higata. The results are demonstrated in the observation guide. It is executed once a month.
	Class for Carving It is a classroom for the volunteer staff who wants to experience carving. One carving is completed over four days. The member of the carving group kindly facilitates this activity. The student learn not only the technique of construction and carving but also the structure of the bird's body and the feathers, and thus deepen observational skills.

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