This blog summarizes Campship Academy's Yatsugatake Summer Camp in Nagano Prefecture, which was held from August 9th to August 15th, 2025 (a total of 7 days).
I think you will get a sense of how this long-term, 6-night, 7-day program was "created by everyone."
To sum up this camp in one sentence (first of all):
For many of the children, this was their first time living away from their families for a week. Although the Yatsugatake area has a high rate of sunny days, unfortunately it rained a lot this week.
Even in these circumstances, the children who participated made new friends and tried out activities that interested them every day. By working together with the leaders and friends, the children lived together and created an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind camp experience.
Seven days may seem long, but in the context of a lifetime it is actually a very short time. I believe these seven days, which are a once in a lifetime experience for the children, were a great opportunity to develop independence and cooperation.
The venue for this 7-day trip is Yatsugatake Agricultural College
This program was held at Yatsugatake Agricultural College, which has a partnership with Campship Academy. Yatsugatake Agricultural College Located in Nagano Prefecture at an altitude of 1,300m on the slopes of the Yatsugatake mountain range , the vast 270 hectare site (equivalent to five Tokyo Disneylands) houses a dairy farm, a poultry farm, a dairy processing plant, There is a wide variety of content, including flower and vegetable fields, campsites, etc. Located in a beautiful natural setting with a very cool environment even in summer and a distant view of the Northern Alps, we rented out a pension at Yatsugatake Agricultural College and spent seven days with a group of 41 people, including 32 children and 9 leaders and staff members.
Major features of this program
This program is designed differently from other programs, and uses a Personal Individual Choice (PIC) activity selection system, similar to that found in Western summer camps. Children can choose the content they are interested in from a variety of activities and submit it to staff, allowing them to create their own original schedule. A major feature of this program is that it allows children to both participate in activities with the whole group and explore their own interests.
[PIC contents]
<Agricultural content>
・Dairy farming experience, poultry farming experience, butter and cheese making, jam making
<Nature experience content>
・Canoeing and river activities・Mountain bikes, Land sports (land activities)
<Arts and crafts content>
・Woodworking, art (making badges, stone art, bubble art)
<Playground equipment content>
・Athletics, putting golf, go-karts
Travel guides distributed to children
Program Highlights
Day 1
On the morning of the first day, the children gathered at Shinjuku Station, still looking nervous. Some of them were in tears as they waved goodbye to their parents and departed. On the two-hour Azusa Express train, the children became increasingly excited as they chatted and played card games with their new friends and leaders. The scenery outside the window gradually turned greener as they arrived at Kobuchizawa Station.
From Kobuchizawa Station, we boarded a chartered bus and headed to a pension in Hara Village, Yatsugatake! When we arrived at the pension, everyone ran inside excitedly. After eating a three-colored rice bowl and donuts for lunch, we listened to our leaders introduce themselves again. I was very happy to see that many of the children had already memorized their leaders' names. After that, it was time for our first group activity! We explored the village freely with our leaders, taking time to remember the names of our group members. We went to see the dog kept by a house near the pension, and then went to the river and strolled around as we pleased.
As mentioned at the beginning, the Yatsugatake Long Camp offered an elective activity called PIC (Personal Individual Choice), where participants could choose from a variety of activities that interested them, and over the seven days, they chose a total of six activities to enjoy.
Thanks to the wide variety of options, we were able to see many children trying out the things they wanted to try. We will introduce each activity little by little during PIC time from the second day.
Choosing a PIC with some hesitation
GO TIME
During GO Time, each leader had the opportunity to enjoy different activities with the children. On the first day, each leader had prepared activities for the children, including card and board games, drum baths, outdoor play, songwriting, and friendship bracelet making, and each child chose and enjoyed what interested them.
After GO Time and a bath, it's time for dinner. Tonight's menu is curry rice and salad! The salad is made up of cherry tomatoes, tuna, cucumber, and lettuce, and the children decide how much they want to eat. Many children have seconds. Many children had a second or third bowl of curry rice. After eating, the children also help with the washing up! Many volunteered. Thank you everyone!
The children worked together to put the sheets on the beds so that they could finish making them before the next activity, the campfire. Before they knew it, they had become very close friends.
The final event on the first day was a campfire. Everyone gathered around the fire and watched the flames flicker and change shape. Everyone was thrilled to hear there would be marshmallows. They all enjoyed the process of roasting them and eating them.
After brushing their teeth, the lights were turned off at 9 p.m. This was the first time for many of the children to stay overnight, and some of them were homesick. On the first day, we dealt with each child differently, comforting their feelings of loneliness and distracting them with fun activities.
Day 2
The kids wake up full of energy this morning! Today marks the start of the long-awaited PIC!
[PIC1]
Dairy farming experience
Guided by the Agricultural College We experienced dairy farming. After the opening lecture, we helped care for the cows! We put on protective clothing for disease prevention and rubber boots before entering the cowshed. When we helped clean up the manure, we initially heard people complaining, "It stinks!", but after we learned that the milk we drank that morning came from these cows, we gradually began to hear voices of gratitude, which was very impressive. We were also shown a calf born two weeks ago and a Japanese Black cow that was born just this morning. We learned that these cows will become beef in the future, and it was an opportunity to once again be grateful for life.
Canoe
The event took place at Lake Maruyachi in Hara Village. After a lecture on how to ride, each child got into a canoe and started by practicing the basic operation. Once they got used to it, they played mini races, tag, and chase games. The canoe itself is a very simple vehicle. The children improved quickly and were soon able to paddle freely. Even children who got tired partway through got in front of the leader's canoe and played chase to catch the tag, and everyone had a great time playing to their heart's content.
After lunch, there is a rest hour before the next afternoon PIC. Campship has a rest hour to ensure that the children can spend their long-term program in good health and with a smile. Here, the children are expected to take a nap, relax, or read a book to rest their bodies so that they can fully enjoy the next activity. During this free time, the children talk about various things and deepen their friendships.
We filled up on energy during the rest hour and headed to the PIC in the afternoon.
[PIC2]
Playing in the gym (land sports, athletics)
Unfortunately, it was raining, so we quickly changed the play to the gym! Despite the sudden change, the children quickly got excited and started playing original games. They added original rules to tag and played with balls. Everyone played with all their might, together with the leaders, until they were drenched in sweat!
Making can badges
Each child drew a picture of a view they saw at camp or something they liked. They watched with excitement as the leader transformed the pictures into one-of-a-kind badges using a special machine. It was heartwarming to see some children making badges to give to their friends or leaders. The leader's fond memories are of the happy expressions on the children's faces as they attached the badges they made to their T-shirts.
Jam making
The children tried their hand at making tomato and celery jam! Although they were a little hesitant at first, peeling tomatoes, using a food processor, and using a rarely seen scale, they made good progress. They also showed their willingness to share tasks, which showed their growth from the first day. After reducing the jam, the children were impressed and tasted it on crackers.
GO TIME
On the second day, the children enjoyed five activities during GO Time: songwriting, bonfires, card and board games, a night walk, and making friendship bracelets and bracelets. They combined guitar chords to decide on melodies, wrote down the words they wanted to include and turned them into lyrics, thought up ways to make a big fire, played games to ensure everyone could enjoy themselves, saw the village in a different light than during the day, and concentrated on making memorable bracelets under the guidance of the children. GO Time flew by before they knew it.
Day 3
Gymnasium Play: Get The King
Rain was forecast for the day, so instead of PIC3, everyone played in the gym! They had a great time playing serious dodgeball with the leaders, and Get The King, where the team came up with a strategy!
Get The King is a game that combines tag and the game of kings. To win, you must find and capture the opposing team's king while protecting your team's king, and win by rock-paper-scissors. The rules are designed so that everyone can enjoy the game, as it requires not only athletic ability but also strategy, teamwork, and luck.
After that, we played line tag, dodgeball, tag, etc. We had so much fun that we were hungry, so we went back to the pension and had lunch.
[PIC4]
Butter and cheese making
The children were surprised at how easy it was to make, which just involved constantly shaking the milk. They took turns making the butter and cheese, checking how much they had made. When they strained the finished butter and cheese through gauze, they cried out in delight at how well-made it was. At the end, the butter and cheese they had on crackers was so delicious that some children said they wanted to make it again when they got home!
River (stream) play
We had a lot of fun setting up targets and shooting at them with water guns, and even had a serious water gun fight with the leader.
Go-kart
We rented go-karts from the Natural and Cultural Garden and raced along a designated course. The speed was a slow 8km/h, but careful driving was required as there were many curves. The speed increased slightly on the downhill slopes, which made for some exciting fun! After the race, many people said, "I want to do it again!" It was such a fun experience that everyone became completely absorbed in it.
ETB
Today is ETB day. ETB stands for Early To Bed, and it is an early bedtime set aside on the middle day. This allows the children to get plenty of rest so they can be energetic and active the next day, and the leaders have more time to prepare.
During the day, the leader was asked, "How many more days until you go home?" The leader replied, "Four more days. Time flies, doesn't it? Do you want to go home?" The children responded with smiles, "No!" It made me very happy to see them getting over their homesickness little by little.
Day 4
After a healthy breakfast today, we head off to PIC!
[PIC]
Mountain Bike Ride
The group set off with great enthusiasm! The children pedaled hard, refusing to complain even on steep slopes. Whether going up or down the slope, they kept an eye on their friends, making sure no one was lagging behind, and would occasionally call out to them or go back to where they were. Their support for each other was brimming with sportsmanship. They entered the forest trail and let some strange two-colored leaves float in the stream, and it was wonderful to see their expressions of enjoyment as they enjoyed themselves in nature. Even when they were tired from pedaling, the children pushed their heavy mountain bikes to the end. It was a special time, with them working up a refreshing sweat.
Poultry farming experience
The students donned protective clothing and entered the university's chicken coop to collect eggs and clean up droppings. They experienced firsthand how the eggs they eat every day are harvested. They also had the chance to hold chickens, experiencing firsthand the warmth and importance of life.
After lunch, the children were free to play in the field. They enjoyed their free time in nature by rolling down the wide hill and feeding the goats kept nearby.
Ingredient acquisition game & cooking together
In the afternoon of the fourth day, each group cooked dinner. The ingredients used for dinner depended on the results of the food acquisition game! So, we chose the ingredients through a Get The King tournament.
The evaluation criteria for the ingredient acquisition game are not just based on winning or losing the game, but also on several other related items. Each evaluation category has a set group of ingredients, and the system determines a ranking for each category, allowing you to get your favorite ingredients from the top rankings.
<Evaluation items>
①Get The King result
②Teamwork
③ Strategy
④Sportsmanship
5. Creativity in team names
Here's a photo of the food group!
The food acquisition game was a big hit, right from deciding on team names! Each team fought with all their might, and some were able to get the food they wanted, while others were not. However, they were able to think about what they could make with the food they acquired,
1. Hamburger steak, fried green peppers, and corn
2. Yakiniku, soy sauce ramen, and salad
3. Udon, miso soup, and french fries
4. Tomato pasta
5. Chicken rice bowl with carrot and eggplant sauce
Each group worked together to make a completely different dish, and everyone enjoyed it!
Day 5
[PIC 7]
Stone Art
The stone art project began with children searching for their own unique stones in nature. Gazing at the ground, the children excitedly searched for their favorite stones, exclaiming, "This looks like a heart!" and "This one looks easier to draw on!" Some children even set a goal in mind, saying, "I want a big stone because I want it to stand out the most," and were completely serious about choosing their stones. With paints and Posca pens in hand, the children began to engross themselves in coloring the stones, and before they knew it, even their fingertips and clothes were colorful. It was quite impressive to see them holding up their creations with joy, exclaiming, "Look! It's a rainbow!" As they became absorbed in their work, time flew by, and the children cherished their finished stones in their palms.
athletics
They played freely on various wooden athletic play equipment such as Tarzan ropes, slides, tightrope walkers, etc. It was a PIC that showed the children becoming independent and getting along well with their friends .
Vegetable harvest
We harvested tomatoes and corn and ate them right there! There were red and yellow tomatoes, but they were all big and juicy, and so delicious that even kids who don't like tomatoes could eat them.
The cornfield, which most children have never set foot in before, was overgrown with leaves taller than the children's height. They searched for sweet-looking corn with dried stalks and each harvested one stalk. They bit into the freshly picked corn on the spot, and were all surprised at how much sweeter it was than they had imagined!!! Even the leaders were so impressed by how delicious it was that they had their eyes wide open as they ate it!
Capture the Flag
Then on the vast lawn We played Capture the Flag. The group was divided into two teams, and the winner was the one who could capture the flag from the opponent's base and bring it back to their own! It's not just about being fast, it's also a battle of wits. The leaders also participated, and everyone came up with strategies and fought seriously. Because they were so serious, some kids were so upset when they lost that they cried. It was heartwarming to see how serious everyone was. The leaders also went back to their childhood, coming up with strategies and fighting seriously. Maybe the leaders were the ones who were more absorbed in the game than us!? Lol
On the fifth night, we had an outdoor Movie Night! We visited the Starry Sky Film Festival held at the Natural and Cultural Garden and watched "Doraemon the Movie: Nobita's Picture World Story" with popcorn in hand. Unfortunately, it started raining and we had to stand halfway through, but everyone was watching intently and enjoying themselves until the very end.
Day 6
Tie-dye
On the morning of the sixth day, after breakfast, we did tie-dye! The children worked carefully to dye their favorite colors onto twisted and rolled T-shirts, and then lined up their completed colorful creations on the terrace.
[PIC8]
woodworking
We made a pig pen holder out of wood. The main tools were a saw and a hammer. The leader was nervous that the children would cut their fingers on the saw, but when he explained how to orient the blade to make it easier to cut, the children quickly absorbed the information and put it into practice, which was very reassuring. Although they all used the same steps, such as attaching birch ears and making eyes with screws, the shape of the wood and the placement of the eyes were different for each one, resulting in a unique piece of work.
Putting golf
The children praised and cheered each other on, and played eight holes with great teamwork. It was a beautiful blue sky and very hot weather, but thanks to the sportsmanship and consideration they had cultivated on the sixth day of camp, as well as the pleasant encouragement they had acquired, they were able to enjoy playing until the very end. There were lots of smiles, and it was a fun and precious time that the leaders will remember for a long time.
Camp Ship Party
On the last night of camp, we had a camp ship party where we could reminisce about the memories of the past six days. At the camp ship party, we all enjoyed sweets and shaved ice made by the camp leaders with our favorite syrups! We ate on the deck and in our rooms, and it was impressive to see everyone enjoying the food and enjoying it. Afterwards, the camp leaders joined in, dancing to music and singing along, and everyone had a great time.
Campship Little Theatre
After the Campship Party, there was the Campship Little Theater, where anyone who wanted to could perform. Some performed alone, others in groups with friends, and a total of eight groups performed songs, dances, and vocal percussion! A child who had been writing a song with the leader during GO Time performed the completed Campship song accompanied by the leader on guitar! The lyrics were heartwarming, and everyone sang along, which was a fond memory. At the end, the leader and all the children sang Aimyon's Sketch, the theme song to the Doraemon movie they had seen the night before, bringing everyone together as one!
And finally, we had the closing campfire. With our return to Tokyo just the next day, we all gathered around the fire to conclude our long camp. We roasted marshmallows, set off fireworks, and, although we felt a little lonely, enjoyed our final night. It had been raining for a while and we hadn't been able to see the stars, but it was sunny that day, so we lay down a little distance from the pension and observed the starry sky. It was even more beautiful than we had expected, and we couldn't help but exclaim, ``So this is what they mean when they say a sky full of stars!'' It was an unforgettable night.
Day 7 (final day)
On the last day, we started packing in the morning, tidying up the pension where we had been staying for the week and our bedding.
On the last day, one child turned 8! We all sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY and the leader presented him with a cream puff cake and a birthday card to celebrate!
We all had our last meal together on the lawn of the Natural and Cultural Garden! After eating, we played on the athletic equipment, climbed trees, and played soccer. We spent our last free time doing what we liked.
Just before heading home, we all stuffed ourselves with watermelon to finish off the day. It was so juicy and sweet, and everyone was excited about playing rock-paper-scissors to get a refill. On the way back, we stopped at Kobuchisawa Roadside Station to buy souvenirs! It was heartwarming to see so many children buying souvenirs for their families, all within a budget of a maximum of 3,000 yen.
On the train ride back, everyone rotated their seats just like they did on the way there, chatting until the very end. Perhaps because they were tired from the week, almost no one had slept at all when they arrived at Shinjuku Station. Even on the train ride there, it was hard to believe they had met for the first time, and seeing the children getting along even better on the way back, I was reminded once again that this week had been an irreplaceable time for deepening their friendships.
Time to say goodbye
For many of the children, this was their first time living away from their families for a week. They met new friends, tried different activities every day, and it was a week full of firsts. They sometimes felt homesick, but friends and siblings encouraged each other, and the leaders also came up with creative approaches, and everyone overcame it while evolving! I can say with confidence that everyone became stronger after this week!
The Yatsugatake Long Camp was a memorable and enjoyable experience for the leaders as well. As the name suggests, it was a seven-day camp created by everyone. We hope that it will also be a fun memory for the children, and that it will help them gain confidence for the future! We look forward to seeing everyone again on the camp ship!!!
