Summer Camp in Japan－Experence Japanese and Japanese Culture

Japanese(日本語)


While living in America, it is not easy to achieve a true understanding of Japan’s natural surroundings, its culture and its history. Nowadays, it is difficult to come into contact with people from other countries, such as Japan, that would spark a personal interest towards Japan, thus resulting in a desire to learn about Japan and its language. However, even in Japan, this kind of opportunity is not in abundance. UJEEC’s “Summer Camp in Gifu Prefecture” can help aid in motivating one to broadening their knowledge of Japan. The western part of Gifu Prefecture has setup activity bases in its towns and districts to provide hands on learning for a total of 2 terms. Each term runs for two weeks (15 days and 14 nights). Group members will have the opportunity to participate in the lifestyles of the areas’ local people. While attending these home-stays, this program allows children to personally expand their minds by experiencing a land of colorful natural landscapes, an enriched cultural society, and a distinct ancient history. And to also introduce them to a new language they may for further study.

Clear flowing Ibi River	Green rich Ibigawa-county	Legendary pond	Yokokura temple	Kegon temple

Gifu castle	Nobunaga Oda	Castle town, Gifu	Sekigahara battle field	Historical museum
Schedule 2008
1st Term July 2, Wed. - July 16, Wed.
Program Implementation	School experience, Traditional technical arts experience, Exchange with community residents (Home stay, sports...etc. ), Lifestyle at the traditional house experience, Nature experience, Buddhist temple experience, Historic sites...etc.
2nd Term July 23, Wed - August 6, Wed
Program Implementation	Traditional technical arts experience, Agricultural experience, Exchange with community residents (Home stay, sports...etc. ), Lifestyle at the traditional house experience, Nature experience, Buddhist temple experience , Historic sites...etc.
Main Program Experiences: Nature / Culture / History
School Experience	Experience entrance into local Japanese public elementary / junior high school programs and study together with Japanese children / students while improving your Japanese. In addition, deepen interaction with Japanese children through school life and acquire real life Japanese language skills. Experience entranced into a scheduled school for one class of one grade with a small enrollment of 20 children / students. You will be able to open up to everyone in the class in no time.
Traditional Technical Arts Experience	Experience the joy of using natural materials to make traditional Japanese handmade products, utilizing techniques in straw work, bamboo work, Japanese paper handicrafts, indigo dyeing, weaving, woodworking and the like, passed down through the ages from generation to generation in warm splendid detail and receive an understanding of the profundity of its cultural importance.
Exchange with Community Residents Experience	Experience sports interaction with local primary and secondary students while you enjoy utilizing conversational Japanese. In addition, for one time at the close of each term, participate in a campfire where you can come into contact with nature and people that bring a pleasant atmosphere to the end of your program experience. 　Experience home-stays in local private homes while feeling the warmth of the hearts of the people living in the mountain village.
Agricultural Experience	Through helping out with farming and mountain work at private homes, learn how to skillfully utilize nature through the wisdom and splendid use of labor by the people who live this lifestyle. They always know personally how these farm products are grown. It is very important that the nature of the mountain is protected which certainly has an enormous impact on the hearts of the local people.
Nature Experience	Experience the beautiful natural allure of bird watching, firefly catching and walks under starlit skies, that will create memories to last a lifetime. Hike through mountain paths full of greenery. While in the midst of Nature, enjoy fishing in refreshing clear flowing mountain streams.
Lifestyle at Traditional House Experience	While staying in these traditional thatched houses and sharing in a lifestyle of cooking your own food, you may be able to feel the spiritual affluent richness of the early Japanese people. The traditional house experience is an original training program of NPO “School without Walls”.
Buddhist temple Experience	For this program, stay at local Zen Buddhist Temples and experience sutra chanting, Zen meditation and cooking for oneself. This will become a valuable life experience for the future.
Historic Site Seminar	There are many historic sites in Gifu prefecture. Visit historic spots of Ibigawa-town and suburban cities and learn about their related incidents and personal histories as well as the geography of the land. A trip is planned to visit Gifu Castle and the castle town, Ibigawa-town’s Buddhist Temples and Shinto Shrines.
☆The planning for various areas of activities for the non-profit organization “School without Walls” in combination with the administers will have Ibigawa-cho, Gifu Prefecture’s Seino district as the central hub for residents and medicine, general welfare, education, architecture, administration, and the like. ☆The above Program Implementation is subject to change due to weather and other circumstances. .
Accommodation/Center of activities
Learning Arbor Yokokura	A learning arbor Yokokura is unique staying training facilities. The building is a repair of the schoolhouse in the former elementary school closed in depopulation three years ago. Here is used for the student and the company employee, etc. to train and to training camp. Additionally, it comes in the place of the sports exchange and the meeting of people in local. Moreover, it is a base of various activities of NPO that is the cooperation group of UJEEC here. One of the activities is an experience course of the traditional craft production etc. Lecturers of this course are residents in local.
Traditional Thatched House	This "Thatched house" is a house built about 150 years ago. NPO that is the cooperation group of UJEEC has managed it as a training facilities. The living room, the kitchen, the bath, and the lavatory, etc. in the house are the one of the decreasing form also in Japan now. Old life of the Japanese can be experienced. However, it is equipped fully with electricity, the gas, and water service. Moreover, the lavatory is western- style. When the current one and the old one harmonize well, it is a viewpoint.
Note) The above-mentioned holding and the accommodation are schedules, and it is likely to be changed by every affection.
Introduction of camp place
The town of Ibigawa, in the western part of Gifu Prefecture, Fukui Prefecture and Shiga Prefecture come in contact with Seino Region’s mountainous region. Kiso Sansen’s one limpid stream, Ibigawa, embraces the greenery of the region. In this place, there is no lack of the inherent abundant nature, warm cultural tradition, and rich living history that is said to be the “Land of ones heart” for the Japanese people. For Japanese children based in America and those children who have an interest in the Japanese language and culture, this experience would probably be one they will never forget for the rest of their lives. *You can find town of Ibigawa when you find Nagoya and Gifu, then click these city and Ikeda by this map
Guidelines for applicants
Participation Qualification	A child / student that is an overseas resident or an international school's student, enrolled in Japanese studies or interested in Japanese culture and will be in grade 3 through grade 12, according to the Japanese school year, as of April, 2008. If you have any questions, please contact to UJEEC.
Participation number	20 (each term)
Application Method	Please contact IACE TRAVEL by E-mail (nyc@iace-usa.com) or telephone (1-800-872-4223). After receiving the predetermined application form, fill in the necessary information and mail the application including a check for the $200 non-refundable application fee to IACE TRAVEL . The application fee applies to participation expenses and is not refunded even in the event of a cancellation. Participation expenses (any remaining balance) must be paid until 1st Term: May 30, 2nd Term: June 20.
Participation cost	3rd grader to 9th grader US$1,750 10th grader to 12th grader US$1,800
Included Expenses	Program participation expense, accommodation fee, food expenses (breakfast and dinner – 2 meals) are included. Some lunch are provided during home stay, traditional house and temple experience program.
Non-Included Expenses	Transportation cost and air fair, overseas travel accident insurance cost (it is necessary to join), School Experience lunch fee, other programs’ lunch fees, personally expenses (souvenirs, dining, merchandise, cleaning fees...etc.) are not included. * UJEEC’s cooperation company IACE TRAVEL can arrange airline tickets and overseas travel accident insurance.
Other	The minimum availability is ten people per term. Therefore, please note that changes in term participation can be requested depending on applicant status.
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41649 Blair Drive, Novi, MI 48377 U.S.A.　 TEL : 1-248-346-3818 FAX : 1-248-668-8461 info@ujeec.org (C) 2006-2008 US-Japan Educational Exchange Council