This time, we asked Yamato about his leadership experience at Campship Academy.
Of all the options available, why did you choose to attend Campship Academy?
I've been working with children as a soccer coach since I was in high school, and during that time, I've received a lot of energy and growth from the children. That's why, at a time when I was thinking, " I want to do something that will allow me to be more involved with children ," a childhood friend introduced me to Campship Academy. The big trigger for me to decide to participate was an Instagram highlight. Seeing the children's eyes shining with joy and their smiling interactions with the leaders, I strongly felt that "this is where I can have an experience where I can truly interact with the children." My hopes that Campship Academy would allow me to create a special time for both the children and myself grew, and I decided to participate.
Why did you decide to participate as a leader multiple times?
What particularly impressed me when I first participated in Campship Academy was the realization that " by watching the children grow up close, I can grow as well ." Through these extraordinary experiences, the children accumulate many "I did it!" moments as they cooperate with their peers and try new things. Each leader's way of supporting this process was unique, and I was able to learn a lot from watching the other leaders. By incorporating and practicing the parts of the way I felt "this way of interacting is wonderful," I realized that I was growing as a leader, step by step.
Also, when I see the children laughing happily and the proud looks on their faces when they overcome something, I feel as happy as if it were my own achievement and it gives me great strength. Wanting to have more experiences like this, to interact with more children, and to grow more, I decided to participate multiple times as a leader.
What is your most memorable experience from the program?
What I remember most is the time on the bus and bullet train on the way back .
On the way there, the children's emotions were truly varied: some were excited, others looked anxious, and some even cried, saying, "I don't want to be separated from my mom and dad." However, through the Campship Academy program, each child's expression gradually changed as they experienced new things and helped each other. On the final day, I heard many children say things like, "I want to play more!" "I don't want to go home!" "Let's take a detour on the way home!" I felt that it was a time that would stay in the children's hearts. On the way home, every time I saw the children sadly reminiscing about their memories and saying goodbye to their leaders, my heart warmed no matter which program I remembered, and I realized that it was an irreplaceable time for me as well.
What was the most challenging aspect of the program?
The most challenging thing for me was giving the children in my group the power to lead .
While it's easy for a leader to give instructions like, "Let's do this next," I felt it was important to create an environment where children could think and act for themselves in order to become independent. Therefore, I made particular use of time spent in the living group, ensuring that the children discussed among themselves what they should do now and what they should prepare next. On the first day, there were many anxious moments, with many children acting independently and confused, often acting independently. However, as the days went by, we gradually began to see them encouraging each other within their groups, and by the final day, we could see many children taking action on their own, saying things like, "Next is XX, right?" and "It's bath time, can I get ready?" I was a bit nervous at first, but being able to watch the children grow day by day made me truly glad that I took on this challenge.
What do you think is the role of a leader at Campship Academy?
I believe the role of a Campship Academy leader can be broadly divided into two parts. The first is to support the experiences that will help children grow . The second is to have fun and share memories with the children .
In the extraordinary environment of camp, children grow significantly while gaining a variety of experiences through new challenges and interactions with their peers. We believe that an important role of leaders is to gently support and encourage this growth. It is also important for leaders to not just provide support, but also to enjoy the experience from the same perspective as the children. Sharing laughter, surprises, and emotions together creates irreplaceable memories for both the children and the leaders. In each program, we strive to interact with the children while valuing both the perspectives of "supporter" and "friend enjoying the experience."
What do you think is good about campships?
I think the best thing about campships is that they provide an "unusual experience" for both the children and the leaders .
I myself have experienced many new challenges and many fun memories while participating in the campship. Furthermore, because the experiences differ for each program, it feels fresh every time, and even I, as the leader, am able to enjoy it to the fullest.
I also feel that the appeal of Campship lies not only in the interaction with the children, but also in the connections between the leaders . Every program has a very homey atmosphere, and even leaders participating for the first time can quickly feel at ease. While seriously engaging with the children, you can also have a lot of fun and build deep bonds with your peers. I feel that this is the unique appeal of Campship.
A message to future leaders!
While putting the children first, you can also create many memories of your own! Come join us as a Campship Academy leader!
