TANOSHII Fun Camp in July - Nikkei Heritage Day Camp Apply (2nd-5th Grade)NEW

TANOSHII Fun Camp is a Nikkei heritage day camp for 2nd through 5th graders in partnership with the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute every July. Please read more about the program here and on our newly launched website tanoshiifuncamp.org!

Camp Length
Week

Information Comes Out
January - February

Camp Date
July 11 - 15th

Age Requirements
Grade 2-5th, 7-10 age

We are now in the planning stage for our 4th TANOSHII Fun Camp. The 3rd TANOSHII Fun Camp was successfully completed in July 2010 and everyone including the campers, counselors and volunteers had a great time. The weeklong Japanese American cultural youth camp sponsored by the South Bay JACL and the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (GVJCI) was held at the GVJCI facilities.

The 4th TANOSHII Fun Camp will be held from July 11 thru 15, 2011. More information about registration will be available in February 2011.The camp will be open to elementary school-aged students, 7 years old to 10 years old with camp counselors composed of college students and high school juniors and seniors.

TANOSHII Fun Camp Goals
The goal of the TANOSHII Fun Camp is to spark interest in Japanese American culture and heritage through hands-on experiences and interaction with people in the community. The feedback from parents expressed their appreciation and showed that this was successfully accomplished. Last year we created a camp "theme", Oshōgatsu, which provided a focal point for all activities. We introduced the significance of the Japanese New Year and its traditions with various hands-on activities. We had the campers make their own Nengajō, Japanese New Year Card and discussed the origin of the Japanese Zodiac Animals. The campers attended Japanese Song and Language Class in which they learned to sing the Oshōgatsu Song. The campers learned about Sadako Sasaki, the two year old girl who survived the Hiroshima atomic bomb in August 1945 but was diagnosed with leukemia in January 1955. Sadako's best friend taught her to fold and make paper cranes, tsuru, and was spurred on by the Japanese saying that one who folded 1,000 cranes would be granted a wish. The TANOSHII campers had a goal to fold 1,000 cranes by the end of the camp in honor of Sadako. The 1,000 cranes were mailed to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial in memory of Sadako in November. Other activities that signified the Japanese New Year included the history of and making of Daruma Dolls, Kadomatsu and the Kasane Mochi. A highlight of the week was the actual hands-on activity of mochitsuki where the campers learned about the history and tradition of pounding mochi or rice cakes. The last day of camp included a family luncheon, and traditional Bon Dancing, where the campers learned the steps to popular Bon dances.

Mission
To Promote the legacy of Japanese American culture and heritage to our youth by:
-Enhancing the legacy of the Japanese American values introduced by the Issei
-Exploring the Japanese American culture, traditions and their adaptations
-Sharing the Japanese American experiences and history