YIS Camping Club

For our second session, the students learned how to put up the tents. We have two different kinds of tents (two-man and three-man) which are pitched slightly differently. The campers have been divided into tent groups, with two or three students to a tent. Children will remain in the same group for the duration of the semester 3 camping club. Adults are assigned to each tent group. Each tent group has at least one returning camper who was able to guide the new-comers in pitching the tents.

Today was the first session of our Spring season Elementary School camping club. We were delighted to welcome back some returning campers from previous sessions and to welcome some new campers.  The returning campers introduced the new campers to the ES Camping Club blog.  It is important that campers and their parents get to know their way around the blog as this is where we post all information regarding our weekly training sessions and our over-night camping trips.

Returning Students shared some of their experiences from previous trips and reflected on what they would like to achieve this season.

Students in the Elementary School Camping Club had their final camp-out of the fall session this weekend. The huge development in students’ level of confidence and competence was evident throughout the expedition. Students were better prepared: There was more collaborative planning amongst tent groups including more adventurous meal planning; students reflected on and improved their packing lists; at our pre-departure kit inspection, it was clear that students had a better understanding of the importance of packing for bad weather and managing packaging and rubbish.

Camping Club Campout – Nov 18-19 on PhotoPeach

As on our previous trip, the students worked together, supporting each other to pitch tents, cook meals and solve a myriad of problems along the way. They took the wet weather in the stride and tramped cheerfully home in the rain. Good times in the great outdoors!

This afternoon we prepared for our trip to San Koen this Friday. Students worked with their tent buddies and their group’s supervising adult to create menus and review packing lists. Students used the reflections they had done last week to help them prepare for our next trip. Several students discovered last trip that their rainwear was not waterproof and have found solutions. Others have added more warm layers to their packing list, after their last experience. Some groups have increased or decreased the amount of food they will bring.

We checked out the equipment that the campers will use for the trip. Students checked their packs, tents and trangias to make sure all the necessary parts were there. Everyone made a note of the ID numbers on their equipment so that they can be responsible for making sure their gear is returned in good condition.

Today, at camping club, we reflected on our camp-out. Campers worked in tent groups to think about things that worked well and things that they would like to do differently. Then the tent groups came together and shared ideas with the whole group. The adults added their reflections as well.

Below are some of the ideas we talked about:

• Keeping play areas and tent areas
• Keeping the tent organized so there is more space
• Think about in-tent entertainment
• Think about amount of food
• Getting better waterproof clothes
• Warmer clothes because weather will be colder
• Leaving extra packaging at home
• Dont leave things in the main building as we none of the teachers have a key

After we had come up with a whole group list of “goods” and “not so goods”, the campers met back in their tent groups to think about their packing lists for the trip next Friday.

Next week tent groups will be planning their menus and deciding who will bring what. As last time, we will give out camping equipment so that campers can pack at home and get ready for Friday.

Children seem to have fewer and fewer opportunities to get outdoors and interact with nature. One of the aims of the Elementary School camping club is to give children opportunities to experience the wonder of living in nature even if just for a night or two. There is nothing quite like a good, hard hike, stopping on the way to climb a particularly inviting tree and crawl through some undergrowth before pitching camp, cooking your own supper and sitting around a bonfire in the dark, singing campfire songs, telling ghost stories and toasting marshmallows.

The weather forecast for the trip was, typically, rain, rain and more rain. We told the children that short of a direct hit by a typhoon, the expedition would go ahead, and they should come prepared with suitable clothes. As we set off after lunch, the weather was grey but dry. The campers had a skip in their step and there was a sense of anticipation in the air. We stopped here and there on the way, as nature called to us; an inviting rock to sit on, or secret space under the branches of a tree that demanded to be explored.

We got the campsite by about four o’clock and set about pitching tents before the weather changed. Everyone was cheerful and engaged and there was a wonderful team spirit as more experienced campers worked together with first time campers to put up tents, organize kit and cook super. There was time for some night-time exploration and a few ghost stories before bed.

We were very, very lucky with the weather, and though it teemed down all night, there was a break for a couple of hours in the morning, long enough for us to cook brekkie, strike camp and start the hike back. Despite being caught in heavy downpour on the way home, everyone was up-beat and entered into the experience with true adventuring spirit. The children are already talking about the next camp!

See below for a link on why it’s so important for children to get out-doors and into nature.

Why our children need to get outside and engage with nature

Dear Elementary Camping Club families,

This is a very important post for helping your child prepare for our first camping trip. Please read it carefully!

Our first trip is almost here, and we and your children need your support!

Next Monday there will be no club session because of parent-teacher conferences, so we will have only one more session (on October 17) before our camp out on October 21-22.

Yesterday, during our activity time the club members were introduced to the camping stoves they will be using with their tent buddies to cook their meals during our camp outs. Looking at the equipment helped them think about what sorts of foods they would easily be able to make.

The students then spent time brainstorming a range of breakfast, dinner and snack foods, as well as some hot drinks. They then got together with their tent partner and planned their own menus for the trip.

They have brought these lists home and will need your support to make sure they’ve purchased everything they need for our first camp on October 21-22.

Some examples of the foods they thought of are:

Dinner:
Instant noodles/ramen/soup (add water type)
Sandwiches
Instant rice/curry (add water type)

Breakfast:
Cereal
Sandwiches
Instant rice/soup/noodles

Snacks:
Sembei crackers
Dried fruit
Onigiri

Hot Drinks:
Cocoa
Tea

Please support your child in purchasing the items on their list.

On Monday, October 17th, club members will be issued with the school-provided elements of their packing lists. All of the packing list details are on the Packing List page of this blog, please check this ahead of time to be sure that your child will be ready.

On Friday, October 21st your child must bring their packed camping pack to school, along with their packed day pack. We will be leaving YIS at 1pm in order to hike to our campsite, learn how to set up our tents, and use the stoves in daylight! We will be returning to YIS at 12 noon on Saturday, October 22 and students will be dismissed from there.

In addition to their shopping list, your child has also brought home their permission slip. Please complete and return it, with the 1000 Yen trip cost by this Friday!

If you have any questions, please get in touch with us using the details on the ES Camping Club page of this blog. For inquiries in Japanese, please contact Ise sensei at isem@yis.ac.jp.

Thanks for your support!

The Elementary Camping Club

Today, students worked individually to come up with a list of things they would pack for the camping trip. After students had had time to work on their own, they went into groups to compare lists. Eventually we met as a whole group to share and compare lists. See the tabs at the top of the page for the packing lists.

We have only two more sessions before our first camping trip. During this time the children will work with their tent buddies to plan menus for their trip. We have decided to assign tent buddies for the first trip.

• Akhil + Julian + George
• Owen + Idan
• William + Joi
• Saya + Amane + Sayaka
• Grace + Reine
• Nina + Hana

We had our first camping club meeting today.  We began by looking at the Elementary School Camping Club blog.  There were some posts showing last year’s camping club sessions.  This gave the new campers an idea of what we would be doing.

Then we shared some of our previous camping experiences. Several of the children had been camping before. We heard stories of bonfires, lakes and encounters with bears. Some children have never been camping before.

View the Voicethread below and add your comments and reflections on our trip!