This was Campship Academy's first airplane program. At the meeting point at Haneda Airport, there were a variety of expressions on the faces of students, some excited about the plane and others nervous and anxious, making it the most exciting start to the program to date.
We quickly split into groups, introduced ourselves, and boarded the plane. On the plane, we exchanged sweets, drank the juice we were given, and chatted, and the flight of just under three hours went by in a flash.
After arriving, the group transferred to a bus and headed to the DMM Kariyushi Aquarium. Here too, they split into groups and enjoyed exploring the aquarium in their own way. The children's favorite part was the area where they could take off their shoes and stand on top of the aquarium tanks. Some found it a little scary, but they were excited and had a great time. Afterwards, they had planned to take a boat to Tokashiki Island, but the boat was cancelled due to bad weather. They had to spend the first day in Naha at the last minute. Even so, the children had fun talking with the friends they had just met and coming up with their own games to play.
The boys were playing soccer and baseball in a nearby park when some local elementary school students showed up and started playing together. Experiences like this are unique to travel, and I was touched by how resilient they were despite the unexpected events that occurred.
On the second day, we headed to the long-awaited Tokashiki Island! The weather was fine, and we were able to go out onto the deck of the boat and enjoy the view of the ocean.
Of course, after arriving at Tokashiki Island, we headed to the ocean! Everyone's excitement grew as they waited to see the long-awaited Kerama blue ocean. Although they were told that the water was still not very clear that day due to the rain the day before, the children kept saying, "I've never been in such beautiful water!" The leaders were also excited, enjoying the ocean together with the campers.
Then came the long-awaited snorkeling! We split into groups to look at the corals and fish. There were many small ecosystems in the crystal clear water. On the third day, we snorkeled and got to see sea turtles up close, giving us the opportunity to interact with many wild animals that we don't normally get to see.
We camped in a tents right next to the beach, listening to the sounds of the ocean. It was a wonderful location. We all cooked dinner together, and after eating, we went to the beach to watch the sunset. The contrast between the orange light that spread all over the place and the surface of the sea was a beauty that only those who have been there can understand.
However, unlike camping in the forest, marine camping can be a hassle, with many things to worry about, such as ants and the comfort of sleeping on the ground, and both the children and the leaders voiced their dissatisfaction. However, everyone agreed that it was still a good experience, and enjoyed this rare marine camping experience. Waking up to the sound of the ocean was fantastic.
We had a barbecue, had fun, and even became good friends with the photographer, Kazu, and we all competed to take pictures together. It was a space where we could see the friendship that only a 5-day, 4-night trip could create, and friendship that transcends gender and age. The starry sky we all looked at together was surely an unforgettable experience.
We kept our focus until the very end, cleaning our rooms and leaving Tokashiki Island by boat. In fact, this was the program in which the tidying and cleaning went most smoothly out of all the 2024 summer programs, and we even received praise from the facility staff. This was probably due to the mutual consideration that was shown through the interaction between people of different ages. After returning to Naha and having lunch, it was time for the much-anticipated souvenir shopping. We made the most of the time with each group leader and enjoyed shopping for souvenirs on Kokusai Street.
After purchasing souvenirs, we headed to Naha Airport and wrapped up the program. Participants talked about what they enjoyed and what made an impression on them, and each leader gave a speech. The participants also shared their experiences. Once on the plane, everyone fell asleep instantly, unlike on the outbound flight. Some even said that the flight to Tokyo was short!
26 people The 4 nights and 5 days we spent with the participants provided many new discoveries for Campship. Although the participants ranged in age from first grade elementary school students to first year junior high school students, the sense of unity as a team was outstanding. We hope that the experience on Okinawa's remote island will be a cherished memory for all the campers. See you again!
