Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve compiled answers to the questions we most frequently receive from families.
If you don’t find your question here or would like more detailed information, please feel free to contact us via our official WhatsApp account or through the inquiry form.
General Program Inquiries
Cancellations can be made at any time through the cancellation form.
For details, please see our Cancellation Policy.
Cancellation Policy
If we decide to cancel the program due to weather or other conditions, we will refund the full amount you have paid.
Yes, absolutely.
Many children join on their own, and we have support systems and group arrangements in place to help first-time and solo participants feel comfortable and settle in quickly.
Yes, of course.
Feel free to contact us via our official WhatsApp account. If needed, we can also arrange a phone call or an online consultation.
Yes.
Please note your request in the “Additional Notes” section when applying, or contact us through our official WhatsApp account.
Yes, we do.
We coordinate closely with parents and accommodation providers to determine an appropriate plan based on each child’s situation.
If your child requires allergy accommodations, please indicate this when applying.
We will send all details—including the packing list and finalized schedule—approximately three weeks before the program begins.
(For some programs, this may be two weeks prior.)
Our leaders are registered volunteer student and adult leaders who have completed our training program. Most leaders are university or high school students. We have both male and female leaders, allowing us to provide support that aligns with each child’s needs and comfort.
For more details, please see our Staff Introduction page.
It varies by program, but participants generally range from kindergarten (age 5–6) to junior high school (grade 9).
In past programs, children in grades 2–4 have tended to be the most common.
Rooms are divided by gender, with typically 4–7 children per room.
Room size and bed availability may result in some variation.
Yes, they may bring a small amount for souvenirs (within a set limit).
Because it is considered a valuable item and not for free use during the program, we collect the money at check-in and return it to the child when needed.
The exact amount will be shared in the detailed information sent before the program.
To encourage independence and cooperation through shared living, we ask that mobile phones and gaming devices not be brought to the program.
If your child needs a phone for travel to and from the meeting point, we will collect it at check-in and return it at dismissal.
We send an orientation video to parents about 2–3 weeks before the program begins.
If you have additional questions, we are happy to provide further explanations via WhatsApp or phone.
For certain co-hosted programs with cram schools, after-school programs, or preschools, we may not hold a separate CampShip Academy orientation.
Yes.
We can provide pick-up and drop-off support at locations such as Tokyo Station, Shinagawa Station, or Haneda Airport.
Availability is limited, so please contact us via our official WhatsApp account if needed.
This depends on the specific program.
Please check the program details or contact us via our official WhatsApp account.
Explore Programs
We will send a packing list 2–3 weeks before the program begins.
Yes, as most facilities are not reserved exclusively for us.
However, we make arrangements to use separate areas (such as different buildings or floors) whenever possible to ensure comfort and safety for our group.
Payment can be made by bank transfer only.
This allows us to minimize external processing fees and continue providing high-quality programs at accessible prices.
Thank you for your understanding.
If the scheduled flight, train, or ferry is canceled due to severe weather such as a typhoon, we may adjust the itinerary and operate the program using alternative transportation as long as it is judged safe to do so.
If we determine that safe and smooth travel cannot be ensured, the program will be canceled and a full refund will be issued.
Please note:
If you choose to cancel before the official status of your reserved transportation is confirmed, it will be treated as a customer-initiated cancellation, and cancellation fees will apply.
If a natural disaster occurs at the program destination and we determine that safe and smooth operation is not possible, we will cancel the program and issue a full refund.
However, if you choose to cancel on your own when we have not canceled the program, it will be treated as a customer-initiated cancellation, and cancellation fees will apply.
During the Program
We post updates on our official CAMPSHIP ACADEMY Instagram and sub-account Stories throughout the program.
Please check them during the program period.
For some co-hosted programs (with cram schools, after-school programs, preschools, etc.), updates may not be posted on the official CAMPSHIP ACADEMY Instagram.
Official Instagram account
Official Instagram sub-account
To encourage independence, direct contact with children is generally not permitted during the program, except in special circumstances.
In such cases, we will coordinate with our staff to arrange communication.
Please bring a water bottle.
We refill bottles daily using drinking water available on-site (tap water when safe to drink).
Children regularly wash their bottles themselves using a cleaning set provided by our staff, with reminders and support as needed.
It varies by program, but we select accommodations that prioritize safety and health, support cooperative living, foster independence, and provide smooth access to activities.
Aside from allergy accommodations, we cannot accept requests to remove or substitute specific ingredients.
If a child receives a dish containing items they don’t like, we ask them to simply set aside what they cannot eat.
Leaders are available to support children if they have any concerns.
We offer seasonal activities such as:
- Nature experiences (tent camping, outdoor cooking, campfires, stargazing, field work)
- Marine activities (snorkeling, kayaking, canoeing, super float)
- Outdoor recreation (adventure courses, team sports, water battles)
- Astronomy observation
- Craft activities
- Winter activities (skiing, snow play, snow huts, sweet red-bean soup experience)
Activities vary depending on the season and location.
Before the program, we ask families to complete a “Participant Support Form,” which includes questions about medication needs.
If your child requires assistance, our leaders will support them in taking their medication as instructed.
We never force children to continue if they are distressed.
Leaders stay close and support them so they can return to the program at their own pace.
At bedtime or in other moments where children may feel anxious in an unfamiliar environment, leaders take the time to stay with them and provide comfort and reassurance.
We manage the schedule with appropriate restroom breaks to ensure children are comfortable.
If your child has specific concerns, please let us know in advance so their leader can check in with them regularly.
We assess overall safety based on weather conditions and decide whether to continue the program with adjustments, or to cancel.
If it is deemed safe, we may modify the schedule or change transportation and proceed with the program.
If we determine that safe and smooth travel is not possible, we will cancel the program and refund the portion of the trip that cannot be provided.
We use chartered buses, bullet trains, trains, airplanes, ferries, taxis, and other appropriate transportation depending on the program.
If your child is prone to motion sickness, please give their motion-sickness medication to the leader in advance, and we will help them take it when needed.
If transportation or accommodation becomes unavailable due to uncontrollable factors (weather, sea conditions, accidents, etc.), we will explain the situation promptly and adjust the schedule or services used.
Because these events fall under “force majeure” and are not the responsibility of the travel agency, any additional accommodation or transportation costs required for the revised itinerary must be borne by the customer, as stipulated by Japanese travel law.
Safety & Health Management
While we take extensive safety precautions, it is difficult to eliminate all risks because many activities take place outdoors.
Please see our Safety & Health Management page for details on our risk management and injury response procedures.
Following the instructions of the program director, leaders confirm the safety of all children.
We then determine whether evacuation is necessary based on the condition of the building, nearby fire risks, and overall safety.
- If indoor evacuation is safest: we coordinate with facility staff to secure a safe area.
- If outdoor evacuation is necessary: we move to a designated safe location after confirming surrounding safely.
We will contact parents as quickly as possible using the fastest available method (phone, WhatsApp, etc.) to report their child’s safety.
We first move the child to the infirmary and contact parents via our official WhatsApp account.
We then discuss the situation through WhatsApp or phone and proceed based on the child’s condition.
If medical care is necessary, we arrange a hospital visit.
Depending on the situation, we may also ask parents to pick up their child, in consultation with them.
During hot and humid seasons, we take heatstroke prevention very seriously.
Children often get absorbed in activities and forget to drink water, so leaders encourage frequent hydration.
We also supply salt supplements when needed, as balancing water and salt intake is important.
Others
Participation for children with disabilities is considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the disability and the content of the program.
We can consider participation if all of the following conditions are met:
- judged that the child can participate without requiring changes to the program content or schedule.
- It is judged that the child can participate in group living without significant difficulty.
- Parents understand and agree that if the above conditions cannot be met during the program, they may be asked to pick up their child.
if the above conditions cannot be met during the program, they may be asked to pick up their child.
For safety reasons, if we determine that additional one-on-one support from a leader is necessary, we will discuss any additional costs with the family.
Please contact our administrative office to discuss your situation.
Yes, we do.
After the program ends, we will send information on how to purchase the photos.
Ski Program - General
Don’t worry.
We will send a packing list and detailed schedule about three weeks before the program (or two weeks for some programs).
Absolutely.
For first-time skiers, our leaders provide support, and a certified instructor from the Ski Association of Japan (SAJ) will conduct the lessons.
If you are concerned, feel free to contact us via our official LINE account.
Yes. You can rent the basic ski set (skis, poles, boots), ski wear (jacket and pants), and helmets.
Some ski resorts may offer rental of small items such as gloves, goggles, or lift-pass holders, but in general we ask families to prepare these themselves.
Rental prices vary by program, so please check each program’s details.
Yes.
If you let us know in advance, leaders will help your child as needed.
No problem.
Leaders will provide assistance.
In ski camps of two nights or more, we aim for children to reach a level where they can ski independently—equivalent to SAJ Levels 5–6.
Ski lesson groups are divided by skill level and course.
If both children have similar experience levels, they can join the same group.
For safety reasons, children do not ski on their own.
However, we provide “team skiing” time, where children ski freely together with Campship Academy staff.
It depends on the program.
Some programs include night skiing, while others do not.
Please check the details for each program.
Yes.
If you prepare a round-trip shipping label, the accommodation can handle the return shipment.
We will provide the destination address and details in the parent orientation sent after registration.
It is up to each family.
If your child will bring heavy items such as skis, we recommend shipping them in advance.
The delivery address will be provided in the parent orientation after registration.
We operate programs only in areas where sufficient snow is available.
If conditions make it difficult to run the program safely, we will cancel it and issue a full refund.
Ski Program - Lessons
We group children based on their Ski Association of Japan (SAJ) certification level and by checking their actual skiing ability.
Levels may include “First-time,” “Beginner 1–2,” “Intermediate 1–2,” and “Advanced 1–2.”
Lessons are conducted by instructors certified by the Ski Association of Japan (SAJ).
No.
In addition to lesson time, we also include team skiing sessions with Campship Academy staff.
The schedule balances time for learning during lessons and practice through active skiing.
Depending on the program, some offer an optional private lesson, while others do not.
Please check the details for each specific program.
Some programs offer certification testing as an optional add-on, while others do not.
Please check the details for each specific program.
English Programs
Yes.
The program is conducted fully in English, and both international and Japanese staff speak to children in English.
If a child does not understand, a Japanese-speaking staff member will provide support.
There are no English proficiency requirements for participation.
Our goal is to provide an English-speaking environment, so staff will communicate with children in English.
Children with higher proficiency will naturally engage more in English conversation, while beginners can try simple expressions and use Japanese when needed.
Yes, they can.
However, please understand that the primary language used during the program is English. If a child does not understand something, Japanese-speaking staff will support them.
All emergency communication is conducted in Japanese to ensure full understanding.
No, it is not prohibited.
Staff speak to children in English and encourage English communication, but Japanese conversation among children is not forbidden.
Yes.
To ensure safety, all emergency communication is conducted in the child’s primary language (Japanese for Japanese-speaking children).
