Help out by donating to Recreational Volunteer Support Fund!
We are collecting donations in order to support Team Recrew's activities. The money will be used for the recreational volunteer programs.The bank transfer fee is free.
- Bank transfer details (Dedicated account for.)
Account name: National Recreation Association of JAPAN
[Mizuho bank(Code:0001), Toranomon branch(Code:046), a checking account No.2746628]
- We do not accept donations of goods.
- Contact details:
National Recreation Association of Japan, Department of General Affairs
E-mail: soumu@recreation.or.jp
During the two nights and three days camp, the children took part in activities including setting up tents, outdoor cooking, night hike, craft, outdoor games and campfire.
Camping freely in midst of nature!
- Fukushima Prefecture Recreation Association
Many children of the disaster affected areas are restricted from playing outdoors because of radiation. With the aim of offering them a chance to enjoy themselves freely in nature, Fukushima Prefecture Recreation Association held a Nature Adventure Camp from August 5 to 7 at Kitakata city Yamanaka Forest Park. Altogether, 56 children from Fukushima and Iwaki city took part in the event.
On the first nights, the children climbed atop a small mountain with a candle light in their hand. It was quite a thrill when the candle light blew out and the shrubs rustled. Once through the forest, they were awed by the sight of Milky Way and shooting stars.
On the second night, children formed into groups for dinner preparation and played games of rock-paper-scissors over the ingredients. First, the groups tried to win the meat. Next, they strategically played over ingredients like potatoes, carrots, and curry spices or shallots and burdock roots for pork vegetable soup.
The children at the camp come from families in all kinds of circumstances. Some families evacuated immediately after the disaster. Some of the children had experienced living in evacuation centers and temporary housing. Some live in an area where playing outdoors is restricted, and some not. There were schools that had nothing but instant food to feed the children, so some children would take lunch from home instead. Despite the different circumstances back home, the children at the camp shared their ordeal other and tried to understand each others experiences.
The association staff watched over the children as they played energetically to relieve the stress built-up from their evacuation center life where they are not able to play outdoors.
Beside the camping program, Fukushima Prefecture Recreation Association along with Fukushima City Recreation Association has begun offering support to the people in temporary housing across Fukushima city and Souma city.
Cooking was great fun. They especially enjoyed the game of ingredients war.
Children playing a game called Kubb. Although it was their first time, it didn't take long before they became good at throwing batons. They played in groups as well as match of boys vs. girls.
Support activity initiated by the voices of townspeople
- Shichigahama Recreation Association
The town of Shichigahama in Miyagi sustained extensive damaged from the recent Tsunami. With many residents living in evacuation centers, they began requesting for a chance to engage in physical activities. The town of Shichigahama had always put a lot of energy into preventing need for nursing care and many of its residents are practitioners of physically active lifestyle.
Two weeks on from the earthquake disaster, Shichigahama Recreation Association answered the voices of such residents and began hosting daily exercise programs across four evacuation centers. And from July, the association has also begun offering their support at the assembly hall of temporary housing.
On August 20, the association held a session of exercise, stretching and game activities. Some of the participant had come from temporary housing locate some distance away. The association promoted this event by suggesting it'll be good opportunity to catch up with the locals. Soon, the 30m2 assembly hall was full with people.
During the tea break, people enjoyed catching up, socializing and sharing their experiences with others.
When the tea break was over, the people made fish shaped craft using paper tape and used them to play fishing game. Whenever a fish was caught, the children clapped and laughed in excitement.
Chairman Tateoka says "I want people to enjoy themselves here".
Since the earthquake disaster, a lot people haven't been able to spend time with friends because many of the evacuation centers and temporary housing are far apart. "I want to continue this effort of helping people connect" says Chairman Tateoka.
Besides the weekly program at the Uto district temporary housing, Shichigahama Recreation Association also carries out bimonthly exercise stretch program at Daiichi Sports field temporary housing.
Nine o'clock in the morning. People gather as Shichigahama Recreation Association staff arrives.
Fishing game using handcrafted fish. The rod was also made by the staff. From singing to exercise to games, everybody enjoyed doing what they're good at.
Game of beanbag passing using towels. As laughter and cheering grew, more adults and children started taking interest.
A Festival for the children of Noda village
- Hachinohe Recreation Association
On August 1, the Hachinohe Recreation Association invited families with children from Noda village, Iwate Prefecture, to take part in Jomon bonfire experience and the Hachinohe Three-Shrines festival float pulling.
At eight o'clock in the morning, participants gathered in front of Noda village office. Hachinohe city is one & half hour bus ride away. Led by the association staff Ms. Toshimi Otsuka, the children played various games during the journey and the bus was soon filled with screams and laughter.
They first visited the Hachinohe archaeological center Korekawa Jomon museum. Mr. Kousuke Isojima (one of the volunteer staff) is an employee here so he gave everyone a crash tour of the place. The children also had a go of starting fire using a bow drill. It was quite a challenge but after three, four tries, they figured it out. In the end, the children had sore arms.
In the afternoon, the children attended the Hachinohe Three-Shrines festival. At the festival there are 27 floats themed on ancient myths that are pulled around the city. When volunteers said "The floats are big aren't they?" the children replied "The floats in Noda village are big too". Infract, the children of Noda village pull floats year. "Noda village also has a float pulling festival but with the recent earthquake disaster, it's unlikely that it'll be held for some time to come. "That's why I invited them to join the float pulling festival in Hachinohe." says Mr. Masaki Takahashi of Hachinoe Recreation Association.
On this day, the children pulled the float belonging to the local Kamikumi Youth team. They were impressed by the size and beauty of the doll on top of the float. As the parents watched over, they reminisced over the festival in Noda village, saying "It makes you sad to think that was our last festival...". But they were also saying that "We and our children have been going through some heavy times. But joining this program has really cheered us up".
Children energetically pull the festival float as spectators cheer on.
Children learnt how to starting fire with a bow drill. They lit the finely shaved cedar bark by blowing on air.
The children of Noda village were given a big welcome. During the "Tiger dance", the tiger mascot teased the children by biting their heads.
The Hachinohe Recreation Association gained media coverage for their volunteer activities with interviews by NHK, The Iwate Daily and The Daily Tohoku.
Nature & Recreation Camp [Activity Report]
Student volunteers hosts a nine day outstanding camp
52 students from accredit schools around the nation take part.
From August 1 to 9, the "Nature & Recreation Camp" was held in three consecutive terms at the National Bandai Youth Exchange Center. The camp was hosted for the children of Fukushima prefecture that are unable to play outside because of radiation, with 90 participants in each term.
Popular leaders!
"Come on, let's play!" "Ms…." "What are you doing?"
The camp activity leaders, who are student volunteers, were very popular with children. With two leaders for each group, the children did everything with the leaders for three days. The leaders were selected by calling out to accredit schools around the country. All together 52 students from Miyagi prefecture in the north to Fukuoka prefecture in the south took part in this camp as leaders.
On the first day, the leaders and children seemed a little nervous. The leaders try to break the ice by actively talking to the children. When making the group flags, there were groups that could not decide on the group name or the flag design, but in the end, the leaders guided the children to completion.
On the second day, the leaders and children were getting along very well. During the "Water pistol making exercise / completion", they spray each other with the pistol without hesitation. Soon the children were orchestrating group attack on the leaders. They seriously had a time of their life and there seemed to be no end to the game.
The amazing leaders!
During the camp fire, the leaders put on a performance of torch dancing. The performance involved leaders holding a fire lit torch stick in each hand and doing a dance.
For most of the leaders, it was their first time and they only had one hour of practice that day on torch spinning techniques and the dance formation. The show kicked off in pitch dark. The leaders' torches are lit by the goddess of fire and the performance starts. With a light look on their face, the leaders perform in rhythm. The children become mesmerized by the spinning torches. Fire spinning in the darkness of night is not a common sight. The children were totally overwhelmed by the beauty of the fire.
When asked how the camp was, most of the children answered "It was so much fun, I want to go again!" Thanks to the charismatic student leaders, the good memories will stay in the hearts of children.
The 16 first term leaders gather for a photo!
- It was my first time camping. It was a valuable experience because I normally don't have the chance to interact with young children. (Yumi Okanda, Nihon Kogakuin College of Hachioji)
- It was so much fun because there was so much to experience. The relaxed atmosphere of the meetings made it easy to get along with other staff and share opinions. (Maki Kikuchi, Sendai University)
- It's so sad to say goodbye to the children even though it's only been three days. (Eri Sakuma, International Budo University)
Everybody was mesmerized by the torch dancing act.