Photo By Aya Ichihashi | U.S. Marines with 3d Intelligence Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and the...... read more read more
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KIN TOWN, OKINAWA, Japan – On a warm early summer day, April 28, 2026, local preschool students from Kin Town walked hand-in-hand with U.S. Marines, kicking off a day of environmental education.
The group gathered at Nature Mirai Kan, Kin Town, Okinawa Japan to celebrate Earth Day, learning about the planet and environment through an annual beach cleanup and mangrove planting event.
Twenty-seven volunteers from 3d Intelligence Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force, and the Camp Hansen Single Marine Program arrived to support the students with their cleanup and planting efforts.
As part of their community relations initiatives, 3d Intelligence Battalion visits the preschool monthly to host an English language program. Because of these regular interactions with the energetic Marines, the children were completely comfortable, eagerly approaching them without any shyness.
A particular favorite among the students was Sergeant Wyatt Spiegel. He leads the battalion's volunteers and actively participates in community service. Stationed in Okinawa for over three years with only a few months left in his tour, Spiegel shared his fondness for the island.
"I consider Okinawa my second home, and I definitely want to come back someday," Spiegel said with a smile.
During his three years in Japan, he traveled across the country, even venturing into the deep mountains of Shikoku. He fondly recalled his travels, noting that the people he met were "warm, unique, and fun."
Camp Hansen has long cherished its enduring friendship and bond with Kin Town, dedicating immense effort to community service through weekly volunteer activities. This spirit of giving back is continuously passed down, regardless of changes in command. Showcasing this leadership commitment, U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Joshua J. Mayoral, camp commander of Camp Hansen, and Sergeant Major Erick Cortes, Sergeant Major of Camp Hansen, also participated in the event.
With the Marines' guidance, the children picked up trash and learned proper waste sorting methods. Along the way, they discovered crabs and insects, experiencing the importance of nature firsthand on the beach. Afterward, riding on the Marines' shoulders, the children moved through the facility to the Okukubi River observation deck to learn about mangroves. Okinawa’s main island is home to four of Japan’s seven mangrove species, all of which can be observed at Nature Mirai Kan.
The mangrove forest spreading at the mouth of the Okukubi River also features a cluster of Yaeyama mangroves, which are rare on the main island. The children enthusiastically scrambled to catch fiddler crabs, known for their single large, white claws, and eagerly searched for mudskippers jumping around using their pectoral fins.
The Marines helped dig large holes, and the preschoolers did their best digging alongside them with small shovels. Together, they successfully planted 11 mangrove saplings.
Even after the planting, the children enthusiastically observed the waterside creatures before the day's activities concluded. Waved off by the Marines, the preschoolers boarded their buses with beaming smiles and headed home.
| Date Taken: | 04.27.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 06.30.2026 20:04 |
| Story ID: | 564055 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 11 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Camp Hansen Earth Day 2026, by Aya Ichihashi, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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