Experience "Beetles and Stag Beetles Made of Forest Craft Wood" at Mobility Resort Motegi!
Various activities are available at Mobility Resort Motegi.
This time, we bring you a report on the craft activity held in July that we experienced.
Challenge to make a beetle out of wood!
In the forest called Hello Woods within Mobility Resort Motegi, there are various activities where you can experience nature, and this time we participated in "Forest Craft: Making Beetles and Stag Beetles out of Wood."
First, we gathered at the Hello Woods information counter, then headed to a building called the Craft Workshop located further inside. Upon arrival, we listened to explanations and precautions from the staff and immediately started making our crafts.
First, decide whether to make a beetle or a stag beetle, then choose the base part for the craft from various sizes of wood. These pieces of wood are collected from the Hello Woods forest, and since the thickness, color, and texture you choose will affect the overall feel of the beetle or stag beetle you are about to create, this is a very important point.
Since we decided to make a beetle this time, we chose wood that was thick and had a texture that could be easily felt.
After selecting the wood for the body, cut it to your preferred size with a saw. The key is to apply force when pulling the saw and be gentle when pushing it.
Cutting straight without bending is quite difficult. When the wood is thick, it requires more strength, so it’s best to proceed with help not only from the children but also from their mothers and fathers!
Once you have cut the wood to your preferred size for the body, the next step is to use a hatchet to split it in half. The pattern of the tree bark changes depending on the direction you split with the hatchet, so take your time to think carefully before cutting.
Place the blade of the hatchet against the cut surface of the wood and tap it gently from above with a wooden mallet.
It split perfectly in half with a snap. At this point, half of the beetle-making process is complete!
Next, use an electric sander to smooth the split surface of the wood until it becomes silky smooth. This electric sander requires careful handling, as contact with the skin can cause serious injuries such as skin abrasion. Therefore, it is best for parents and children to operate it cautiously together. If you want it completely smooth, you can sand for a long time. If you prefer to keep some of the wood’s natural texture, sanding just a little is also fine. Adjust the finish to your liking.
Once you have polished the wood smoothly with the electric sander, the next step is to make the parts that will serve as the "legs." Choose small branches to use as legs from the material storage area, and cut them to your preferred length with pruning shears. Then, drill holes with an electric drill and insert the branches. Since the wood is natural, sometimes the branches don’t fit neatly even after drilling holes. Inserting each branch one by one was quite challenging! It’s best to carefully use tools like pruning shears and the electric drill, and work hard together as a parent and child.
After inserting the legs and finally inserting the part that corresponds to the horns, it is successfully completed!
From here, as an original element, we use carving knives to draw patterns and finish it with your favorite design. Time flew by, and we were able to complete the rhinoceros beetle within 90 minutes! I didn’t expect to start by cutting the wood with a saw, so even as an adult, it was quite a challenge! I’m glad we managed to complete it somehow.
In this activity, you can learn how to use tools that are not often used in daily life, such as saws, hatchets, electric sanders, electric drills, carving knives, and pruning shears. Recently, opportunities for children to be taught in detail how to handle blades may have decreased. However, by learning how to use these tools, children can gain various insights such as "this is the proper way to use it" and "this way is dangerous," which leads to a wide range of learning experiences for them.
Also, the wood used for the craft is carefully managed by dedicated staff and collected from Hello Woods, so it is safe and secure. You can feel the texture and color of the wood through your eyes and hands, and by experiencing it with your skin, I felt that you can enjoy nature even more deeply.
Furthermore, this activity can be enjoyed by parents and children together, allowing them to have fun while engaging in conversation. Among those who participate every year, some families have mentioned noticing their children’s growth, saying things like, "They have gotten better at using the saw" and "Their efficiency has improved." These aspects can also be considered part of the charm of this activity.
There are many more activities that parents and children can enjoy together.
If you are interested, please be sure to check out the activities page of Mobility Resort Motegi.
Details of the activities here >>
