Summer Camp 2009

Session 1 (MD): July 6th (Mon) - July 10th (Fri)

Session 2 (VA): August 17th (Mon) - August 21st (Fri)

You do not have to be the resident of the area where the camp is offered.  If you don't mind driving, you are more than welcome to particpate in any session.

Hours
(new hours this year: 30 minutes earlier start)
Monday - Wednesday: 9:30am - 2:00pm
Thursday drop off: 9:30am
Thursday pick up (for non sleepover campers)
1. 3:00pm  or  2. 8:30pm
Friday pick up: 12:00pm

New This year!!Chibikko （ちびっこ）Camp
for 3 years old and 4 years old
Monday-Thursday 9:30am - 12:30pm
Session 1 ONLY
We are going to offer half-day camp (4 days) for 3 and 4 years old children. They are going to have lots of outdoor play, water play, art&craft activities and cultural experience in Japanese immersion environment.
We provide light snack. 
Campers must be toilet-trained, and familiar with Japanese language (do not have to be native or fluent but comfortable enough to be spoken in Japanese.)
If the child is 4.9 years old and older and a sibling attends our regular camp, the child may attend our regular camp.

Space is limited for Chibikko camp.

Optional Extended Program (extra fee)
Monday-Wednesday 2:00pm - 3:15pm
Those who wish to stay longer can sign up for the extended program. We will offer special activities such as a fieldtrip to a near site, boating, traditional art and crafts with professional guests, projects, and/or manga club, depending upon the camp site and availabilities.

Daily Activities
We will spend our days outdoor! During camp, campers will enjoy cooking, crafts, games, songs and playing with counselors. It is a great opportunity for them to build friendships and community sense with peers. Campers will also enjoy water play, suika-wari, hiking, Japanese summer festival games, and dancing in Japanese immersion environment.

In the afternoon, campers will be able to select some special interest activities such as brush paiting and calligraphy, bamboo crafts, drama etc (depending upon the camp location and availability)

Sleepover Camp
Campers will experience being away from home and to challenge some evening outdoor activities as well as to celebrate the friendship they have build by spending a night together.
This is mainly for those who participate the entire session to spend the night together before the last day of camp.
Overnight campers will remain at the campsite with more afternoon activities.  We will cook dinner, will have campfire, evening activities and group projects.  On Friday, we will enjoy early morning exercise and special activities such as "suika wari" or "Undokai" (Field-day), presentation of each group project/performance, and spend the last day with friends till noon.

Session 1(MD):  For this year, the dormitory we usually stay is already full.  We are on a waiting list.  At the same time, we booked the campground in the park.  We will use tents (just like VA camp).  HOWEVER, there are only portable bathrooms at this campsite.  Therefore, it is not recommended for young children.
Those who do not want to sleep in a tent can still stay till 8:30 pm for dinner and campfire.

Session 2 (VA):  Just like last year, we all are going to sleep in tent.  We had young campers stayed for sleepover, however we suggest you to talk with your child if your child has never slept in a tent and your child is 5 or 6 years old.

If you are not sure if your child is not comfortable for the sleepover camp, please contact first.

Homestay/Host Family Option
We would like to accept participants from other areas.  For those who participate from other than Washington DC metropolitan area will stay at one of the local campers home.  We will help finding the best match of the host family.  In other words, those who are in local will have an opportunity to accept a child staying at your home during the camp week.

Requirements
There is NO requirement.  Anyone who is interestd in Japanese language and culture can participate.  Children or any other participants do not have to be able to speak Japanese.  We welcome both native and non-native Japanese participants.  HOWEVER, we strongly recommend that the child has a steady emotional and social skills as well as good self-esteem if he/she does not have any Japanese skills at all.  We will create the total immersion environment.  All the staff will be speaking Japanese.  It is very important that the child knows that it is okay that he/she does not understand or cannot speak Japanese but it is the opportunity for him/her to challenge himself/herself.  All our staff is trained to support each child no matter if the child understands Japanese or not, to meet his/her own needs.  And most of our staff can speak English so they are always available to give individual support in English.  We just want parents and the child to know that all the activities will be done in Japanese but we are willing to support.  Please make sure that your child is ready to be challenged, to take a risk to be in the total immersion environment and has strong motivation with trust and confident.

We suggest that a camper is at least 5 years old but this is not absolute (please contact us if your child is under 5).  We also welcome older children.  We will separate campers into two groups (up to 8 years old; older than 8 years old) in Session 2.

Those who are 12 and 13 years old have a choice of participating as a camper or a Jr. counselor.  It depends on child's personality, maturity, and Japanese skills. Please contact before you register.

Fee
Package (5 days + sleepover)        $200

Monday - Friday (5 days without sleepover)   $195

Extended Program        $15 per day

過去のオーエンキャンプの様子はこちらから。