Why did you decide to include your child in an overnight nature experience?
My husband and I both live far away and work. Also, my daughter is an only child, so she doesn't have many opportunities to interact with large groups of children or children of different ages outside of school.
We had them participate in the program with the hope that by stepping outside the small unit of family and having the opportunity to think for themselves, live and act independently with friends they had never met before, they would be able to focus not only on themselves but also on those around them.
I had high hopes that my child would develop the ability to think and act, to do things for himself that his parents usually do for him.
Why did you choose Campship Academy?
I first learned about Campship Academy from a friend.
My daughter had never stayed overnight away from her parents before, so I was quite worried at first, but I was able to get smooth answers to my questions via LINE and the atmosphere was relaxed and not too formal, so I decided to stay here .
They are also happy to take on the management of my regular medications and provide support with taking them, which I am very grateful for.
What kind of conversation did you have with your child when they first joined?
At first, both the parent and child were anxious about the fact that it would be their first time staying overnight alone (although their friends were also there, it would be their first time staying overnight away from their parents), and they were hesitant to decide whether to participate.
My daughter expressed many concerns, saying , "I'd like to go, but... Will I be able to sleep alone? I've never skied before, so I wonder if it will be okay? Will they help me with my medication?"
I had the same concerns.
I wondered if I could do it with my daughter. Can I ask for help when I'm in trouble? Can I say "I don't understand" when I don't know? You can't know something you've never done before until you try it, right? I had these kinds of conversations and tried to resolve each of my daughter's questions one by one.
Gradually, my daughter became more positive, saying, "If I can't sleep, I'll just say, 'I'll be fine because there will be a teacher for skiing. I'll also need help with my medication.'"
In the end, it was us, the parents, who were worried and anxious until the very end.
How did your child do after the program ended?
Whenever I come back, I always say, "It was fun!"
They also tell us lots of stories, like, "I made friends with someone I met for the first time!" or "We all did this in our room and laughed!"
I was a little hopeful that they would say something like, "I missed you, Mommy and Daddy."
I did, but no one has ever said that to me (laughs).
When I hear them ask, "When is the next campship? I want to go again!" I always feel glad that they participated.
Please tell us if there are any aspects of Campship Academy that you feel are uniquely good.
I like that there are programs with different lengths of stay. If it's your first time staying overnight, it can be a bit daunting to suddenly stay for a long period of time, and if you've participated multiple times, a program that's too short can be unsatisfying.
Every time I come home I receive a letter from the leader, which makes me very happy.
This summer's programs had so many different types that it was exciting just to look at them.
I'm also happy that I can participate even if I take regular medication.
