Labo and Labo Summer Camp

While staying in Japan we are under the Labo organization. Labo is a youth organization that is available to children as young as 2 until the age of 18. There are also many college and university students involved in the program assisting as college mates. Labo is our sister organization for the exchange program and hosts us while in Japan.

The mission of Labo is to provide Japanese youth with a place to improve their English language stills as well as learn about other cultures and gain an international understanding. Language learning is done through songs, stories and drama.

A Labo tutor hosts a Labo party. Labo parties can be held in the tutor's home or at a community hall or location. Tutors may have one or more group they are looking after in different locations. At the host I am currently staying, the host mother is a Labo tutor. In my fourteen day stay at their home, there is only two days that she is not overseeing a Labo group or activity. This time of the year is especially busy for the Labo tutors as there are send off parties for those students going to Canada, America and Australia for exchange as well as many parties hosting a special day. This special day is like a party were the students demonstrate what they have been doing and learning. This often includes the students acting out a story they have learned. There are no props but the students themselves act out any props they might need such as a tree, house etc.

During the summer time, Labo students also have the opportunity to attend Labo Summer Camp. Labo has five different camps located throughout Japan. All the students in Japan with me this summer will be attending one of these camps with their host sister or brother. I will be also attending a camp. The camps are four days in length.

Camps

Niseko – this camp is located on Hokkaido island.

Zeo – this camp is usually held at a mountain ski lodge.

Kurohime – this is the main camp and can host over 1,000 students per session. Many of the students on exchange this summer will attend one of the sessions at Kurohime.

Daisen – this camp is located in the Chugoku region and is held at a ski resort.

Yutsubo – this camp is located at the foot of Mt. Kujyu, a live but mostly dormant volcano.

The Japanese do not view camp as a time to relax and have free time but to stay busy and make the most of their camp experience. Attending summer camp is very expense so they want to have many different experiences. Camp is very busy with a strict schedule. Some of the activities we will be enjoying while at camp includes mountain climbing and nature hikes, crafts, looking at the wildflowers and local historic attractions.

While staying at camp, everyone will be placed in a lodge. We will also be taking part in lodge based activities.

Camp lodge

In each lodge, there are about 20 to 30 children. All meals are eaten in the lodge. Everyone helps with duties including getting the food, cleaning up and keeping the lodge neat. Sleeping in the lodge is on futons. These are pulled out of the closest in the evening and placed on the tatami mats (the room we sleep in is our activity area during the day). Bathing at the camp is using the public bath with time set aside for different groups to access the bath.

Camp can be an interesting experience for those on exchange but will provide some great memories of the activities they did and people they met. This summer I will be attending the main Labo camp, Kurohime, from July 25^th through to July 28^th.