This program was the third in a series of Azumino farm experience programs that began in April, and was an expanded version with a total of 45 participants, lasting three days and two nights.

This program in a nutshell

It was a luxurious program packed with summer-like experiences, including camping in a tent, outdoor cooking, fireworks, playing in the river, and harvesting over the course of two nights and three days.

Through the experience of setting up tents and cooking their own meals, the children naturally learned the importance of cooperation and developed a sense of self-worth that they could do it on their own.

By experiencing the rich nature of Azumino and playing in the Kurokawa River, where meltwater flows, in the freezing cold of 14°C, we were able to forget the heat even in the middle of summer and have a great time.

Program Highlights

The children looked a little nervous when they gathered at Shinjuku Station. Many of them were participating for the first time, and some were seen holding hands with their parents, looking anxious.

However, once we boarded the Azusa, everything changed.

As they enjoyed playing card games, exchanging sweets, and Sudoku, smiles gradually spread and the atmosphere became more relaxed. By the time the train arrived at Matsumoto Station, the train was so lively that some were shouting, "Please don't arrive yet!"

After a swaying bus ride, we arrived at Susado Campground.

After the leaders introduced themselves, it was time for lunch. Some children ate leisurely by the river, while others ate together in a circle at the campsite. Eating lunch under the blue sky was a special experience.

In the afternoon we set up the tents.

The adults barely intervened, and the children took on the challenge themselves, reading the manual as they went.

There were times when the pegs wouldn't go in properly or the poles were inserted backwards, but by encouraging each other, the groups managed to successfully complete a great tent! The children's expressions, brimming with a sense of accomplishment as they said, "We did it ourselves!", were very impressive!

During their free time, some children ran around with butterfly nets, while others tried their hand at athletics, enjoying nature in their own way.

Suddenly, someone brought a water gun and a fight started! The leader joined in, and before we knew it, everyone was soaked. Laughter echoed throughout the campsite at this unexpected turn of events.

One of the camp rules is "He who doesn't work doesn't eat."

Of course, cooking dinner was also the children's role. They started by putting firewood in the fire and starting a fire. Although they were unfamiliar with the technique, they worked together to keep the fire going.

The menu includes rice cooked with sardines and fried tofu, rice cooked with minced chicken and shiitake mushrooms, grilled pork, and chilled tomatoes.

Each group cooked the seasoned rice in a Dutch oven, and the older boys were mainly in charge of grilling the meat. Smiles naturally spread across the children's faces as they ate the food they had cooked with their own hands.

After the meal, we went to the hot springs.

At the hot spring, a boy from elementary school ran out, saying, "I'm going to the open-air bath outside!" and, surrounded by the steam, exclaimed, "It's paradise!" in a way that would put any adult to shame.

After returning to the campsite, we gathered around the campfire and enjoyed roasting marshmallows and fireworks. Some children chatted while staring at the flames, while others laughed out loud at the burnt marshmallows. Everyone had a memorable night.

The next morning, the children got up early and went out to catch bugs and play at the athletic facilities, playing in nature as they pleased.

Some of them were holding bug nets and saying with enthusiasm, "Today we're going to look for stag beetles!" After breakfast, they packed up their tents themselves.

We packed up our bags and set off on foot to Alps Azumino Park, 1.8km away. Although we took breaks along the way, everyone made it the entire way.

When we arrived at the park, we went to the paddling pool and the large playground equipment, the Marshmallow Dome! A jumping contest began at the Marshmallow Dome, and everyone had a blast trying to see who could jump the highest.

Afterwards, some children played basketball and soccer, and everyone got to move their bodies to their heart's content in nature.

One child who loves insects even discovered a stag beetle, and the children were able to fully enjoy the rich nature.

After lunch, it's time to play in the river.

The leader thoroughly explained the rules for playing in the river before we entered the water.

The water temperature was a cold 14 degrees, and at first some children just dipped their feet in, but gradually more and more children started trying to jump off the rocks, and they couldn't stop saying, "One more time!"

At the end, many people took a spectacular dive! The moment was filled with cheers and smiles.

In the evening, we checked into the hotel. The children were delighted with the sumptuous dinner menu, which included tempura, hamburger steak, tuna rolls, and sashimi .

After dinner, we had a sweets party! We played charades and had a blast, then went to bed exhausted from laughing.

On the final day, we will have an agricultural experience at Azumino Friend Farm.

When harvesting the corn, he was amazed at how big it was, as he couldn't hold it in his arms, and when he took a bite, his eyes lit up as he exclaimed, "It's the sweetest thing I've ever tasted in my life!"

Next, we had a peach harvesting experience, where we harvested two types of peach: ``Odoroki'' and ``Golden Peach.''

The first one was firm, while the golden peaches were soft and juicy. The children were amazed at how different the peaches were, even though they were the same type. The children enjoyed comparing the weights, and cheered when they saw the largest peach weighing 648g.

We packed bags full of peaches, corn, and prunes as souvenirs and headed home with both hands.

For lunch, we went to Chikyu-yado and had summer vegetable curry and potato salad. It was made with plenty of local vegetables, including zucchini, tomatoes, and edamame, and we were also given some watermelon and peaches after the meal.

After stopping by a souvenir shop, we headed back to the Azusa.

The children ranged in age, from having fun playing card games to completely lost in a dream, but when they were reunited with their parents at Shinjuku Station, they all looked proud, and one even told them, while being hugged, "I managed to jump into the river!"

In this camp,

"Violence will never be tolerated"

"He who does not work shall not eat"

"Teamwork"

While adhering to these three rules, the children experienced many challenges in the wild: setting up tents, making a fire, cooking, walking long distances, jumping into a river, and experiencing farming... Each of these experiences helped the children develop self-confidence and bonds with their peers.

Looking back, the three days were filled with the children's smiles and serious expressions.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all parents for entrusting their precious children to us.

We look forward to seeing the children grow even more through new experiences and encounters in the next program.