Send 40 Fukushima Children to a Safe Summer Camp

Our safe summer camps for Fukushima children held in July and August were a great success.

The children were taken by bus to a camping facility in Miyagi Prefecture, where they enjoyed outdoor barbeque, campfire, songs, craft time and bedtime story.

The following day, the children piled into the buses and traveled to Shiogawa Port where they boarded a ferry which took them to Katsurajima Island. Here they were met by one of the local fishermen who was our guide to the island.

The children looked for crabs and other sea creatures in the sand with the tide out, and also did some cleanup of the beach from trash that had drifted ashore.

After a "seafood" lunch prepared by the local fishermen's wives, the children were able to play on another private beach on the island and paddle in the water. 

After returning to the mainland campsite, there was dinner and time for singing and bedtime story.

On the last day, the children had another morning session with crafts and then were taken to an adventure playground at a nearby wooded area before heading home on the bus.

Misaki's mother reported that this was the first time that her daughter had been able to swim in the ocean since the disaster. She felt her child has grown stronger, and more cooperative since attending the camp. Other parents gave similar high marks for the camp and were excited that their child could spend time in the great outdoors.

Thank you for creating special memories for these precious children from Fukushima.

 Slots for safe summer camp are filling fast! First camp is slated for July 26 - 28, and second camp will be August 23 - 25.

Children will be picked up in Minami Soma and taken by bus to the retreat center in Miyagi Prefecture, where lots of fun at the wooded campsite are in store.

On the second day, children will be taken by ferry into Matsushima Bay to the Urato Islands, where they will enjoy looking for shellfish on the beach, and having a swim.

Plans are also in the works for a campfire, crafts and games.

Staff are making the preparations, and there is a lot of excitement.

Thank you for your support of this important project to give the children in Fukushima a reprieve from their environment in the shadow of the nuclear disaster.