This time, we asked Riko about her leadership experience at Campship Academy.
Of all the options available, why did you choose to attend Campship Academy?
The biggest deciding factor was that during my interview with Tom, I felt that he would be able to create the kind of summer camp I was looking for.
Since I was in elementary school, I had been participating in summer camps in Canada, so camping was a regular part of every summer. From that experience, somewhere in my heart I felt that I wanted to create a summer camp in Japan someday. When talking with Tom , we both agreed that we wanted to create a "cool" camp, and that was the deciding factor that made me decide that Campship was the way to go .
I wanted to create a "cool" camp in Japan that wasn't a school trip or a training camp, but an environment run by adults who wanted to create an environment that wasn't restricted by age, gender, or background! That was my only goal.
A photo with Tom and Mayuyu at the 2024 Summer @ Nasu Koshi program
Why did you decide to participate as a leader multiple times?
Beyond just fun! Because it's not just "fun."
When you live with children, even if you're doing the same thing, everyone feels and sees different things . I love sharing that with the campers, and more than anything, I love doing fun things together. I openly tell the campers that I'm the one who has the most fun during the program, and I'm happiest just being able to spend time together that we can only have there. Also, with each program, I see the small growth in the campers who have participated multiple times, and I think being able to empathize with that is another joy.
I myself feel that I am growing with each program, and that I am breaking out of my shell. I had never tried skiing before, for no apparent reason other than because I was scared, but by participating in the winter program, I decided to give it a try. At first, I was really scared, but the feeling of being able to ski after going more and more was fun, and I went skiing four times on the program during my first ski season, and four times on my own. I realized that I want to cherish the spirit of never giving up, even as I get older.
I also had more opportunities to be entrusted with managing program content, which gave me confidence in public speaking. I also repeatedly thought about how to explain things in a way that would be easy to understand, which increased the variety of ways I could interact with campers, and I feel like I have become more powerful as an individual.
There are many moments when I feel like I am "Riko" while on the campship, and the fact that I always feel energized is another reason why I want to participate again and again .
What is your most memorable experience from the program?
I talked about all sorts of things with the campers!
I love the time I get to sit down with my group members and chat about trivial things, not only during breaks during the day, but also before the campers go to bed. At first, we just goof around and play pretend, but gradually they start to tell me what happened during camp, what they've been able to do, what was actually difficult/unpleasant, and I'm happy that we're building a relationship of trust . I also often hear that campers are eager to win leadership awards, and when I see a child I've been in charge of winning one in the past, it really touches my heart.
During the Spring 2025 Zao program, we had a time with the lower grade groups where we just played a "shareholders' meeting," deciding on positions and agendas with the campers and having lots of conversations, which left a lasting impression on me. We even had a conversation like, "Do you even know what a shareholders' meeting is?", and it was a time of laughter.
Also, during the Okinawa program in the summer of 2024, we all complained about how there were too many ants in the tents, but we all still talked about how much we wanted to live in Okinawa, which was a memorable experience.
Of course, I also love talking with the leaders! I always feel so grateful to have friends who can share in the excitement and empathy with me during the program. The time I spend catching up with the leaders after the campers go to bed and sharing what happened that day is also a precious and memorable experience.
What was the most challenging aspect of the program?
The most challenging thing for me is balancing my desire to spend time with each camper with my own capacity.
I am participating in this program because I believe it is my small mission to find out the characteristics of each camper and quickly create a place/environment where they can make use of those characteristics .
Just forming groups in advance doesn't tell you what kind of atmosphere each group will have, so by actually meeting and spending time together on the day, you find out what each person's strengths and weaknesses are. I think the speed at which I can set up the environment after finding out what each person is good at and weak at is a test of my ability, so I try to think carefully about how I speak and how I ask for help each time.
However, if the people there don't seem to be having any problems and seem to be having fun, I will do my best to maintain that environment and have fun and liven things up.I also enjoy thinking, so I always enjoy spending time with everyone.
What do you think is the role of a leader at Campship Academy?
The older sisters and brothers work with the campers to make the program even more enjoyable .
Being able to create excitement, responding to campers' requests with all my might, and sometimes feeling sad or taking on new challenges together. I believe that sharing a variety of emotions with campers as human beings will lead to creating a more enjoyable environment for campers and create the most fun possible. Although I am a leader, I also want to be the campers' number one understanding friend and friend . My life is brightened by the new discoveries I learn from each camper, and I want to be a leader who never forgets to be grateful to everyone and who can share my experience and knowledge.
What do you think makes a campship unique?
Be true to yourself. I think it means being yourself without any pretense .
The best part of camping is being able to face yourself thoroughly and think about what you want to do and what you don't want to do, what you want to eat and what you don't want to eat, and then express your opinions!
It's not that they'll just give you one answer to anything, but it's great that we have leaders who will accept your opinions, including the reasons and background to your thoughts!
Of course, we are strict when it comes to safety, but I think one of the reasons Campship can remain true to itself is that we are able to take the time to sit down and discuss things with our campers, and think, "Let's think about it together!"
Another factor is the trust that has been built among the leaders . I think that it is important to have teammates who are willing to take the program seriously through various conversations before the program, as well as team building. I think that the environment that can be created by building trust regardless of age, gender, or background, and by everyone receiving thorough safety training, is something that is unique to Campship.
A message to future leaders!
The responsibilities and roles are greater than anywhere else, and it's true that you can't get by on just having fun. But it's sure to be a formative experience in your life. If I hadn't encountered Campship, my life wouldn't have become so colorful, and I'm filled with gratitude to the campers, leaders, and management. I believe there are many new encounters and doors to new challenges waiting for you within the leader community. I want to create the most exciting experience together, so I look forward to seeing you at Campship!
