NOK Kids Backcountry Tour: Conveying the joy of skiing and the fascination of science to children through snow

Backcountry program for parents and children to enjoy

Sliding down snowy mountains is the essential way to enjoy skiing and snowboarding, which has existed since the days when there were no ski resorts. And it's not just an adult pastime. We want children to share the joy of sliding down snowy mountains. In fact, we want children to slide down snowy mountains

The NOK Kids Backcountry Tour was started with this wish in mind

This initiative, which began three years ago primarily in the Minamiuonuma and Yuzawa areas of Niigata Prefecture, is a backcountry program that parents and children can participate in together. Parents who enjoy backcountry skiing can share with their children the wonders of nature, the beauty of snow-covered mountains, and the joy of skiing, while children can encounter powder snow and scenery that they wouldn't normally experience on groomed slopes. It also provides an opportunity for children to grow by experiencing various landscapes and activities.
It is a valuable opportunity for parents and children to safely enjoy backcountry skiing together. The popularity of this tour is increasing year by year, and the number of participants is also growing.

Now, what exactly does the statement "We want children to ski" that I mentioned at the beginning mean?
That's where the inspiration for this initiative lies. We asked Takumi Nagai, the project's initiator and a backcountry guide, to tell us about the background of the project.

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A form of environmental education that conveys the scientific appeal of nature through skiing

"We started the NOK Kids Backcountry Tour with the hope of deepening the bond between parents and children by allowing them to experience the same backcountry skiing and snowboarding that their parents enjoy. Until now, we held the tour once a year, but it quickly filled up, so we have decided to hold it six times this season so that even more parents and children can participate

Of course, we want the children to have fun by climbing and skiing together on snowy mountains, but this initiative is also part of their environmental education. As they climb the snowy mountains, they will receive a thorough, scientifically based explanation of things about snow and nature that they don't usually learn in school, such as "Why does snow look white?" and "Why does it snow so much?" At the same time, an important role of this program is to convey that nature can also be destroyed by humans

The process is that we climb a mountain carrying a handmade slide. Then, during a break, we teach while looking at the slide, then we walk again, take a break, and teach again. Finally, we have the students experience sliding down a "snowy mountain," which is the essence of skiing and snowboarding

We believe it is important to understand things through a scientific approach. Because everything around us can be explained by science, knowing science means understanding our own lives, and it is essential for survival. Therefore, one of our aims is to increase the number of children who develop an interest in science at an early age

This initiative is a program aimed at children (strictly speaking, parents and children), so we are not planning to charge any fees. In today's world, the value of "experience" is increasing. If gaining various experiences can lead to future success or provide an opportunity for growth, we want all children to have that opportunity

Furthermore, while the program was held in the Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma areas until last year, we are preparing to expand beyond the prefecture this season to include national parks such as Tateyama and Oze. Currently, national parks have defined boundaries, but their use and awareness are not very active. Even among adults, few people know about national parks that have mountains unless they are familiar with mountain climbing or similar activities. We believe that
by introducing children to the existence of national parks and helping them become familiar with them from a young age, national parks will be used more, and more people will be able to appreciate the richness of Japan's nature. We hope that this program can play a part in that.

*Some children do not carry shovels and probes due to their size, but they always wear beacons

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The dates and locations currently confirmed for this season are as follows. Don't miss this great opportunity to enjoy backcountry skiing and snowboarding with your children

1st session: February 26th (Hakkaisan) *Fully booked
2nd session: March 12th (Maiko Snow Resort)
3rd session: March 21st (Kagura)
Details for sessions 4-6 will be announced via the link below once the venues are decided.

For inquiries and reservations, please click here