Winter Camp in Tochigi

The Scouts present were Haruto, Misaki, Yota, and Alexander.

We started with a bright and early pick-up so we could have as much time as possible to explore Tochigi. The drive went as quickly and easily as it could, with a quick stop at a rest area for drinks and to stretch our legs.

Our first activity of the day was a pottery class with a local teacher, where the Scouts could choose to make a cup, bowl, or plate. Although the teacher gave instructions and helped the Scouts when needed, they were free to design their pottery as they liked. Misaki and Yota made cups, Alexander made a bowl, and Haruto made his own plate with Mr. Mark. The Scouts decorated their pottery by writing their names, and molding faces or shapes on the sides. At the end of the class, all the Scouts were kindly given Hina Matsuri themed snacks as a gift from the shop owners. The pottery will be cured, glazed, and baked in the coming months; so please look out for a delivery in the post or directly from Mr. Mark sometime around May or early June.

By the time we had finished, it was already noon and everyone was ready for lunch, making it the perfect time for our next activity. We went to a pond fishing restaurant, where any fish you catch can be cooked fresh in front of you by the grill masters. After Mr. Mark gave a demonstration of how to safely use the fishing rod and catch a fish, the Scouts took turns at the pond with either Dylan or Mr. Mark to guide them. Every Scout was able to catch at least one fish, and some caught two! Apologies for missing a picture of Alexander's catch. It took a minute for the fish to begin to bite, but when they started they just kept rolling in! Soon enough we had seven fish and we turned them in to be grilled. We caught rainbow trout and a Japanese trout called Iwana. For lunch we had our own grilled fish as well as a choice of soba or curry udon. When everyone was stuffed with delicious food, it was time to clean up and head up to the cabin.

At the cabin- once we had put away all our bags and made up our beds- the Scouts had some free time outside in the snowy forest, exploring, playing tag, and playing hide-and-seek with Dylan. As it grew darker we gathered inside, to wind down more with board and card games between taking showers. Alexander was the referee while we played UNO, and Yota made up his own game using a backgammon board which we all enjoyed trying out. When all the Scouts had finished showering, we started to prepare our dinner: White Stew! Misaki peeled the carrots, Alexander de-stemmed the mushrooms, and both Yota and Misaki helped to stir the vegetables while they cooked. While it simmered, Dylan watched the movie 'Happy Feet' with the Scouts. At dinner time, we were able to have a stew that everyone loved thanks to all the Scouts' help.

Sunday began at 6:00 with a beautifully sunny morning. All the Scouts were full of energy to get dressed and clean up so we could start making breakfast. We chose pancakes with a twist- an addition of chopped dried fruit- bits of papaya, raisins, pineapple, mango, and cranberries. It was a team effort: Alexander cracked eggs, Misaki measured milk, and everyone took turns mixing while Haruto added the fruits and flour mix. The final product was a resounding success, everyone had at a second helping at least!

Once all the dishes were washed up and our bags were stowed again, we were ready to head up the mountain to go sledding. However, there was an unexpected obstacle to our adventure. On Mt. Nasu, the gusts of wind ranged from 70-80 km/h, and because of this the Ski resort had closed. That didn't mean that we abandoned all plans of sledding, instead we took that piece of luck and redirected to a new sledding spot. Once we got there, the wind was still very strong, but everyone was able to have a great time playing in the snow and sledding. Yota was a bit nervous at first, because the slope was quite steep, but he bravely overcame his nerves and had a lot of fun with the rest of the Scouts. Since the weather was still quite bad, we had to go back to the car faster than usual, since we were all getting a chill and lunch time was approaching. Despite the change of plans, we made the most of the weather and had a great time sledding on the mountain.

On the way home we stopped for lunch at the family restaurant Gusto, and all the Scouts chose their own meal off the kid’s menu. When the robot waiter came to the table, everyone was so excited! We all enjoyed our meals and then were on our way back to Tokyo.

Thank you all for coming for this weekend, everyone at TAK had a wonderful time with Alexander, Haruto, Misaki, and Yota, and we hope to see you again soon!