Sky Class Camping Experience at TARPtoTARP

Sky class (age 5) visited TARPtoTARP, the camping-themed cafe where Mountain class (age 4) had enjoyed a camping lesson in July.

Just like Mountain class, the children were thinking about the s’mores snack before we even arrived!
After greeting our hosts, it was time for the camping lesson to begin.

The owner, Suyama, who has lived overseas, asked the children in English what they could see in camping photographs. They eagerly raised their hands and shared their answers.

Next, we put together a tent, chairs and a table for our own little camping experience!
The tent began inside a small bag. When we took out and assembled the frame, its pieces became long poles. At that point, the children were fascinated, unable to imagine how the poles would turn into a tent. Then we threaded them through the fabric. As the poles bent and the tent took shape, the children burst into cheers and applause.
The chairs also needed assembling. When what first looked like separate sticks turned into a chair, the children’s faces showed a wonderful mixture of surprise and delight.
I think that sense of wonder came from seeing and understanding the whole process: small separate pieces became poles, then a three-dimensional structure.

The children were equally excited to try the finished tent with sleeping bags inside.

Finally, it was time to make the s’mores they had been looking forward to. A s’more is a classic camping dessert made by sandwiching toasted marshmallow and chocolate between graham crackers.
We put marshmallows on disposable chopsticks and toasted them over a camping stove. Once they were browned and beginning to melt, we sandwiched them with chocolate between graham crackers. The children happily ate their much-anticipated snack!

At the end, the children had a chance to ask Suyama questions.
“Where can you go camping?”
“How do you go to the bathroom when you go camping?”
Because camping means sleeping outdoors, they seemed curious about whether toilets would be available.
“Where can you get food for camping?”
Perhaps being outdoors made them wonder whether people had to hunt for food!

Those were just some of their questions. With both strong English skills and the ability to think and imagine, the Sky children asked plenty of questions and learned a great deal about camping.

Through the connections Suyama has helped us make, we are also planning a camping event in November.

At CGK, we value experiences that bring excitement, surprise and discovery, nurturing the intellectual curiosity that makes children want to learn more. Thanks to many people’s support, our children can enjoy a wide range of experiences. We look forward to seeing what they take from them and how they grow.

The cafe that supported this visit
[TARPtoTARP]
Inoue Building 2F, 6-70 Otamachi, Naka-ku, Yokohama (about a one-minute walk, in a building along the same street as CGK)