Resol no Mori
Willow Camp is a three-day trip for upper elementary students, the first time for many of them to travel away from their families. Lead Willow Teacher Kelly explains that the camp "gives the students an opportunity to experience independence and a sense of responsibility away from home.”
This year, Willowers stayed at Resol no Mori in Chiba, a world class training retreat surrounded by forests. In contrast to last year’s more rustic, outdoorsy experience (with stunning surroundings of Motosuko Lake), last month’s setting had luxurious facilities.
Resol no Mori has a storied history, with entire Olympic teams training there and many of the most elite Japanese and international athletes honing their skills there, as shown in their impressive memorabilia displays and the walls of autographs that decorate the main training center.
The campers stayed in a private ryokan-style lodge that had several common spaces for both active and quiet activities.
Undokai
Even with rain on the first day for the very popular Undokai Sports Festival, the spacious, brightly lit gym easily accommodated all the activities. The obstacle course, “tricky” relay, the relay race proper, were as much about mental agility and teamwork as much as speed. The children also got to test their brute strength with a tug-o-war tournament. Head of School James tried his best not to tip the scales for his team.
The event that Willowers had especially been looking forward to was the jump rope tournament. During the last Willow Camp, kids became obsessed with jumping rope, and after practicing all year during recesses and PE classes, the four teams competed for the most consecutive jumps. Team Thunder held the record with 111 jumps!
This exciting tournament was the result of detailed planning by Willow teachers, Koji and Yukimasa.
Campers made good use of the space as the kids split off into various sporting activities after the undokai, including badminton, races, and a spirited basketball game that included several of the teachers.
Parachutes, Drama and Nature
On the second day, the camping party split into three groups which rotated between three activities. PE Teacher Vitalii led activities with the parachute in the outdoor field. Lead Willow teacher Kelly ran drama games. And Wind, Manamaya and Elizabeth led silent outdoor walks; the kids naturally fell into the outdoors experience pointing out the many details of the life around them.
After lunch, the children sharpened their accuracy skills with miniature golf and frisbee golf in a picturesque valley.
That evening, there was a thumping dance karaoke party in the spacious basement of their lodge, with a quiet crafts area upstairs. Intermittent pillow fights erupted throughout the proceedings and into the next morning. Smores also found their way among the revelers.
Student Tristan’s favorite activities included "the relay in the undokai, and also seeing a huge spider on the nature walk, AND singing and dancing in the karaoke party.” Fellow student Mia agreed. “The dance party was very fun because everyone sang their hearts out.”
Shoe Cream and Water Slides
The dining hall buffet was a big hit. One student made sure to try a bit of literally everything. But the biggest hit were the cream puffs, or better known locally as “shoe cream”.
And even with all these activities the camp organizers still found a way to stop off at a water park/onsen before heading back to Tokyo through the Aqualine, capping off, what turned out to be, with the rain on the first day, a packed water-themed adventure.
–Wind Edward Kim