Last month, our Upper Elementary class went away for two nights to Lake Motosu in Yamanashi prefecture for Willow Camp, restarting a tradition that had been put on hold during the pandemic. With a huge lodging and sports facility all to ourselves nestled amidst the mountains around Fuji, we enjoyed our getaway into nature.
A highlight of the camp was our Sports Day (Undokai) event led by Koji and Yukimasa on our first afternoon. With the Willow class divided into 4 very thoughtfully balanced teams, the children competed in obstacle course relay races, track relays, a jump rope tournament, and even tug-of-war (tsuna-hiki). Jumping rope was a surprising hit, and throughout the camp, children could be spotted at just about any time of day working on their jumping coordination.
Taking a group of almost forty 9 to 12-year-olds on an overnight trip takes dedicated staff, a lot of planning, and a strong rationale. Our purpose for this trip was to give the students an opportunity to experience independence and a sense of responsibility away from home.
The children’s work started while they were still at home with the packing of their own bags. And before camp, when the roommate groups are announced the students excitedly got together and decide on the rules for their rooms (“Protect nature”, “Pick up your things”, “Don’t snore”). The work continued at camp, when they needed to keep track of their belongings, show up to activities, and choose what to wear depending on the weather (which got cold in the evenings).
Class bonding is a big part of the trip, too, and it’s why we take this trip near the start of the year. The children get a chance to make memories together–like roasting marshmallows around the campfire, cooking a barbecue dinner, and playing with rocks by the lake. Ups and downs among friends are expected when everyone is living in close quarters for a few days, and learning to get through the inevitable rough spots with compassion and flexibility is part of why we take the trip.
I’d like to thank our Motosu-ko camp teachers for a great trip: Kari, Koji, Yukimasa, Wind, Shoko, and James, as well as Chisa for all her planning. Please take a look at the photos of our trip!
Elementary Level Lead and Willow Teacher