Okinawa Explorers Summer Camp
July 29th to August 8th, 2024
Ages 4 to 15
Come join us for some fun in the sun as we explore all that Okinawa has to offer, from the ocean to the mystical Yanbaru forests to the islands’ rich history, traditional music, and food. Mornings will be spent learning about our topic of the day, followed by hands-on activities and tours exploring our topic of the day. Upper elementary and middle school students will work on their Okinawa Explorers journal, while younger campers will create Okinawan-themed crafts. Weather permitting, we will also have time for some water-based games and fun. August 7th to August 8th will be an overnight stay at Eco Park in Higashison. Please note that this schedule is subject to change.
All activities will be bilingual English / Japanese with English or Japanese support provided as needed. Drop off and pick up locations are indicated for each day.
Week 1: July 29th to August 2nd (5 days)
Monday July 29th, 9am to 3pm: Ryukyu History and Traditional Music
Drop off and pick up: JA Yunta Ichiba, Yomitan
Our first day of summer camp will feature an overview of the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom with a visit to Zakimi Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a guided tour of the Yuntanza Historical Museum. The afternoon will be spent with professional sanshin instructors who will provide a hands-on introduction to this musical instrument unique to the Okinawan and Amami islands.
Tuesday, July 30th, 9am to 3pm: Yomitan Caves / Cooking with Okinawan Fruit and Vegetables
Drop off and pick up: JA Yunta Ichiba, Yomitan
Building on our exploration of Ryukyu history, we will take a closer look at Okinawa’s more recent history by exploring two local caves in Yomitan that played a critical role during the Battle of Okinawa. After this excursion, campers will visit a local farmer’s market to learn more about Okinawan produce with licensed nutritionist Kumi Izawa and make their own lunch.
Wednesday, July 31st, 9am to 3pm: 9am to 3pm: Okinawa and Space
Drop off and pick up: JA Yunta Ichiba, Yomitan
After learning about the mechanism and purpose of satellites, we will visit the Jaxa Center in Onnason for a guided tour of the facilities to learn more about the unique role that Okinawa plays in the the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
Optional Yomitan Night Hike, 7pm to 9pm (drop off in Yomitan at 6:30pm, pick up 9:30pm)
Come join us on a real-life adventure with Emmy-Award winning cameraman Mark Thorpe, whose work has been featured in National Geographic and other prominent publications. Mark will take us on a night hike to see the amazing wildlife of the Okinawa. As we may also encounter Habu and other not-so-friendly critters, children must wear long rain boots and have a headlamp. Night Hike fee: 7,000 yen per participant
Thursday, August 1st, 9am to 3pm: Sustainability and Marine Conservation Snorkel
Drop off and pick up: Hakumokka Cafe
After spending some time catching up on our journaling for the week, we will discuss sustainability in the context of the local environment and head to Cape Maeda to learn about marine conservation. Local guides will take campers on a snorkeling tour. If your child is not comfortable snorkeling, they will learn about marine conservation with the other campers and participate in a craft activity while others are snorkeling.
Friday, August 2nd, 6:45am to 11:30 am: Fishing in Okinawa
Drop off and pick up: Toya Community Center, Yomitan
The last day of Week 1 will start bright and early with a ride on a local fishing boat to the stationary nets near the Toya Port in Yomitan. We will discuss where fishing falls in the context of our earlier discussions on sustainability and marine conservation. Back on land, campers will see how fish are sold at the auction at the local port. Campers only participating in Week 1 of Okinawa Explorers will receive a certificate at our Breakfast at the Beach celebration.
Week 2: August 5th to 8th (4 days)
Monday, August 5th, 9am to 3pm: The Okinawan Diet
Drop off and pick up: Toya Community Center, Yomitan
In the morning, campers will learn about the nutritional value of staples in the Okinawan diet and how these have changed over the years with licensed nutritionist Kumi Izawa. They will learn how to make a kid-friendly dish using traditional Okinawan ingredients with a twist. The afternoon will be spent cleaning and playing at a local beach.
Tuesday, August 6th, The Oceans of Okinawa–Marine Research and Sea Turtle Conservation
Drop off and pick up: JA Yunta Ichiba, Yomitan
Our day will start with a visit to the Global Oceanographic Data Center (GODAC) where campers will participate in a guided tour of the facility and learn about deep sea research and organisms. The afternoon will feature a talk by a resident scientist at the Okinawa Churashima Foundation in Nago. Campers will learn about their work with sea turtles and see the baby sea turtles born at the Churaumi Aquarium that are raised at the facility. Our visit will end on the beach as campers will learn firsthand about the obstacles faced by sea turtles when finding a place to nest!
Wednesday, August 7th, 9am to Overnight: Exploring Yanbaru
Drop off: JA Yunta Ichiba, Yomitan
Our last two days of camp will be an overnight trip to the Yanbaru forests in the far north, recently registered as a UNESCO natural heritage site. We will visit Hentona High School, the northernmost public high school in Okinawa with one of the few high school environmental studies programs in Japan, and pay a visit to its Ikimono Hakubutsukan (Museum of Living Things). Former Hentona High School science teacher and Yanbaru wildlife expert Ryuichiro Azuma will take us on a nature walk to explore the flora and fauna of the Yanbaru region. Campers will spend the night at cabins in Tsutsuji Eco Park in Higashison, where we will make dinner together followed by an evening of smores, board games, and stargazing.
Thursday, August 8th, Pick Up 1pm (11:30 am if joining us for lunch): Camper Presentations and Lunch
Drop off and pick up: Hakumokka Cafe
On the final day of camp, we will drive back to Onnason for lunch and presentations by our older campers on their assigned journal themes. Campers will receive a certificate for camp participation. Parents are welcome to join us for this activity; please indicate in the sign up how many adults will be joining. Additional fee for adult participants: 1,500 yen per person (including lunch at the cafe). If you will not be joining us, please plan to pick up your child at Hakumokka Cafe by 1pm.
Fee:
Weeks 1 and 2: 90,000 yen (includes all transportation, activities, lunch, snacks, and final cafe lunch)
Sibling discount for 2 weeks: 3,000 yen (87,000 yen)
Week 1 only: 45,000 yen (includes all transportation, activities, lunch, and snacks)
Sibling discount for week 1: 2,000 yen (43,000 yen)
Week 2 only: 50,000 yen (includes all transportation, activities, lodging, lunch, snacks, and final cafe lunch)
Sibling discount for week 2: 2,000 yen (48,000 yen)
Sign Up:
Please complete the Google Signup from the link below. Participation is limited to 20 campers. Once we have received your signup, we will contact you.
Payment must be received in full to reserve your spot.
Cancellation Policy:
We realize that plans can change and will make every effort to work with you to accommodate changes in plans.
Until 6/30: No cancellation fee (full refund minus bank transfer fees)
Cancellation after 7/1: 25% cancellation fee (75% refund minus bank transfer fees)
Cancellation after 7/15: 50% cancellation fee (50% refund minus bank transfer fees)
After 8/1: No refunds will be issued.
Should we need to cancel the camp, a full refund minus bank transfer fees will be issued.
About the Organizers:
Ayako Nakanishi, M.A.
A graduate of the prestigious Norland College and Childcare Consultant for infant product brand Pigeon, Ayako specializes in early childhood education and designs age-appropriate activities for our younger campers. She is a licensed daycare worker and licensed elementary school, middle school, and high school teacher in the Japanese school system. Ayako offers consultation services to parents and daycare programs. She is excited to be back in Okinawa this summer!
Anna-Marie Farrier, Ph.D.
Anna-Marie holds a Ph.D. in modern Japanese and English literature from Princeton University, and has extensive experience teaching Japanese and English literature and language from the preschool to graduate levels. She was also a columnist for the Japan Times, and is particularly excited to get campers hooked on writing this summer! As a freelance translator based in Okinawa, she looks forward to exploring the wonders of her new home with your children!