Noah's 5th grade class camping trip...

Immediately the day right after Noah and I got back from Guam. We got back Wednesday June 15th. Early evening. The following morning was Noah's 5th grade class camping trip! That just meant 2 things. #1, I had to make sure Noah was ready 100% and fully packed to go on his camping trip *before* he and I went to Guam. And #2, that airplane better not break down and stuff because we 100% absolutely needed to get back to Japan June 15th or else...Noah would miss his camping trip. So packing ahead of schedule absolutely no problems with that. The airplane being on time and not breaking down was out of our hands though. Needless to say when I heard it was going to be a 1 hour delay. I was nervous as heck... but didn't mind as long as Noah and I made it back to Japan! So glad we arrived in Japan. And Noah was all ready for his camping trip! I snapped a few pics right before I drove him to school at regular time, the morning of his camping trip. In the yellow Spongebob bag was Noah's bath kit/set. Towel... toiletries, chisai towel, scrubby nylon mesh. That sorta thing. A thermos in his hand. And in his stripey bag/backpack, he had to have 2 days worth of underwear, socks, 2 sets of school gym clothes (uniform) and an mini umbrella and raincoat. Handkerchiefs etc. : ) 

I'm sure going to miss you...my little snuggle bunny! But, I know you need to go. Have fun okay!

Noah usually gets 2 new gym shorts and shirts every year. His shirts he will get right before undokai. However the shorts he needed now. Height wise, he needed to switch from his 140cm shorts to these 150cm length shorts. I made sure and bought them a week before his camping trip and our trip to Guam. I cut off all the tags and washed them on the fast/quick wash cycle. Before he wears them. I made sure they were all nicely dried and then I packed them up in his striped backpack. And Noah has 3 gym shirts right now, so that's why I didn't rush right out and replace them. However like I said...I will add 2 new shirts towards undokai. But I did pack Noah 2 freshly cleaned gym shirts and packed them away in his striped backpack too. Also, no snacks of any kind were not allowed. So that was a difference from when Bran had this camping trip. 

Shampoo and conditoner was the Shiseido Super Mild. The Biore face wash and body wash was just bought 1 month before for Bran's Kyoto trip, which is why that particular set has Bran's name on it and not Noah's. But everything else was bought for Noah. Toothbrush kit and a brush for brushing his hair the next day. Inside that Biore kit has a mini nylon mesh for scrubbing your body with in the shower. 

The note said to bring 2 chisai towels, so I made sure to pack them. The note also said to pack 2 handkerchiefs. And so I did that too. And the note also said 2 packs of tissue and I packed those too. The note also said, apron, face mask and bandana for cooking. And sure enough I made sure everything was clean and folded. I had everything packed up the Saturday...a few days before we went to Guam. So, I was a bit busy that weekend before.

The bath kit I kept in the Spongebob bag. And this was everything Noah needed for cooking specifically which is why I placed it all together...which means easier to find and I placed it all in a disposable waterproof bag. I did this with everything I packed for him. The 2 sets of gym clothes were not packed in a ziplock though obviously. They were put into his handmade gym bag. But everything that went together...was indeed lumped together. Just makes things easier for my boys to find. Yes I know, I am freakishly organized. @_@ Hahaha. : )

And the note did ask for everything to have your child's name on it. However... since this is clearly not my first rodeo to to speak. I made sure that yes everything had Noah's name on it. Meanwhile...the limousine bus that brought all the kids home. Made 3 stops in our town the day the 5th graders came back, and it was just a...1 over night trip for what it's worth. All the kids that live in our housing community. Got dropped off at the entrance of our housing community. And another stop and a final stop was at the plaza. Bran and I were waiting for Noah. He had a lot of fun. Noah had a bunch of exciting stories from his camping trip. They sang and danced around the campfire. They ate all their meals together. Went on a long nature walk. They kids made curry on an open fire outside in the great outdoors. They showered and bathed...in a huge community style Japanese style bathing shower area... which is so fun. The tubs are like huge huge hot tubs All the girls showered and bathed together in the girls side and all the boys showered and bathed together. With their teachers supervision of course. They had a ton of fun! 

I made Branden a special meal/dinner the night he got back from Kyoto. And the same for Noah too. I treat them "Even Stevens." So, I made a special meal I know Noah really loves. And I made a great big tray of cheesy gratin potatoes from scratch. Pictured here. 

Everyone had salads, American style fried pork chops, gratin potatoes, fresh corn on the cob with butter, salt and pepper and for dessert we had some fresh sliced up cantaloupe. I clearly wasn't planning to take pics of the meal hence the pic of an eaten corn on the cob and potatoes missing from the gratin pic. It happens. : )  Noah took a nice hot shower and I immediately threw every clothing item that were inside his bags into the washing machine because all his clothes smelled like camping. LOL. : ) And his backpack aired out the entire day afterwards, outside on the laundry pole to get the campfire scent off. : ) Noah had fun but he was so happy to be home! And we were so happy he was home. We missed him! : )

Pictures from Branden's 5th grade camping trip

Here are both 5th grade classes combined together taking the group photo. Branden's male sensei is on the left and the female sensei is on the right hand side. Branden's sensei, made a CD of 200 pictures from the camping trip and then gave a CD of the 200 pics to each child to give to their parents. We were very happy receiving these pictures from Branden's camping trip. So, that's why I am sharing them here, so you also can take a peek and hopefully enjoy these pictures also. They went on the camping trip someplace in Ibaraki, they said it was about a 50 minute drive away from our town.

This is just the 5th grade #2 class, Branden's class. His sensei in the blue in the middle at the back. Here they were all normally smiling.

And here they were all doing goofy poses. Branden and his friend on the right of him. And the boy at the back in red doing and "oh my!!!" pose. Hands on the face. Even the sensei being silly.

At the start of their very long walking rally. Remember they arrived there morning-ish still. So they jumped right into the rally right away. With thermos from home in their backpacks.

Halfway point with their walk.

And done, time for lunch. The school provided. After all that walking they must have been hungry. : )

Time for fun! Making the name plates. First they were browning the wood in the fire. The "boy next door" in the black zip up jacket.

Cleaning the wood down. Branden in the right bottom corner. 

Time for decorating their name plates. Branden in the green in the back of this pic.

About to start the bonfire! Ohhh what fun!

Very pretty!

As you may or may not know when Branden started this elementary school, and we went to orientation and heard the schools philosophy and way they run things we were a little surprised. Our school definitely has a different way of thinking, teaching and doing things. Branden's teacher told Noboru during the last Father's Club meeting, I love that Branden has an opinion and he said how it's hard to get opinions from the others at times but he's working on it. They also believe kids can get a better understanding not just by opening a book but also from "experiences"...like gardening at school or planting rice (our school is big on learning through experiences, which is why they start cooking class as soon as they enter this school. Also for example, the 2nd graders went out catching zarigani last week for an hour for class. And the sensei's went with. They also do have a lot of studies but they do want these kids to be kids. So instead of standing rigidly around the campfire. These kids danced. And they danced and they danced. They got their boogie on! : )

Get down get down...get down get down! Here they are getting their dance on yet again! I said to Branden, the fire was much smaller, then the pic up above and it was pitch black, surely you all didn't dance THAT long, did you? "Yes we did", he said. And apparently the teachers got into it also. So it would be a fair statement to say....they danced all night long (well until dinner and bath time). : )

The facility made dinner but the kids served it to their fellow classmates. They had hamburg, rice potato or macaroni salad, miso soup and rice and veggie.

This is my favorite picture of Branden from this camping trip. His smile is so genuine. He is *so* happy you guys!

Is this right before bed or right in the morning? I think I see daylight outside through the window. They had so much fun these kids.

Yep, I think this is morning alright. Branden at the back on the futon in green sweatshirt. He slept next to Genki in yochien at the overnight stay and he slept next to Genki on the 5th grade overnight stay too!

Breakfast! Branden chatting with Yuki. And Genki on the other side of Branden. Didn't Genki get a bit older. How cute! I see him all the time so it's hard for me to tell. But yeah, they've grown up together. Branden looks like he's in mid conversation during this pic. But he does have lots of friends.

An after breakfast play on the playground. Yes they are still kids. : ) And I'm happy our school recognizes that.

Time for lunch, time to make it yourselves kids! @_@ Good luck! Gambatte! You can do it! They made a fire from wood. And are now boiling water for pasta. The teachers walked around to make sure everyone was safe though.

Genki adding some more wood pieces. Right on Genki-kun.

A pic of them eating their pizza and pasta they made.

Branden drinking...someone doing the peace sign and 2 eating. : )

Branden rolling out the dough. He told me, the rolling pin was teeny tiny, I could see what he meant after seeing this picture. : )

I am so proud of you kiddo.

The boy standing up, you may notice his face is covered. He was in a very bad car accident 4 days before they went on their trip. Branden said, when Kouta took off his face mask/cover for the bath time, it looked really badly hurt under there. Poor kid. I hope he heals 100%. He lives in the same housing community as us. I hope he gets better.  Everyone was worried if he'd be able to make the trip since we all knew he was hurt, but he wanted to come.

Tomato and garlic pasta. Very simple.

And everyone cleaned up afterwards (this pic is of K-kun). Branden says they had a blast. And after looking at the pictures, I can tell. : )

Did you have a class camping trip growing up? I remember mine back in the US. I was in the 6th grade. We stayed in cabins. I think me and my group slept in the "blue jay" cabin. We did have a very long walk.  We ate all our meals together. I did archery, first time. I did wood work, but with a bunch of nails and thread. I missed home terribly at first but I did also have a lot of fun. Each cabin had a college aged type girl making sure we were all okay. At night, every night she brought out some music. We danced and danced. I slept on the top bunk, I remember that clearly. Even today, whenever I hear certain songs I am instantly transported.....and think back about being in that cabin dancing and having the time of my life. And now I get to hear about my son having a similiar experience. It's like coming full circle sometimes you know.