Camp - General
Who is the organizer?
Panorama GK, an English Adventure Group company and a licensed travel agency, organizes English Adventure camps. Since 2019 Panorama GK has officially become the camp organizer and coordinated travel-related logistics, while YK English Adventure continued to create and provide camp program contents. The two companies worked closely together to create special camp experiences for our Happy Campers.
In April 2023, the two companies became one. Now Panorama GK runs all of the camp operations, while English Adventure remains as our camp name.
Who are the staff?
Our Team Leaders come from as many as 30 countries including the USA, Canada, Australia, India, Philippines, France, UK and Japan. English Adventure's safeguards lead the camp industry in Japan. We obtain criminal background checks for all candidates within the legal bounds of their country of origin and their country of residence.
Each candidate goes through at least two carefully designed interviews with multiple members of the English Adventure team. Finally, we check the professional and character references that we require of each candidate, again with carefully designed questions. We eliminate any candidates who fail at any stage. Once we make the decision to hire a camp leader, they receive thorough training in our policies and practices to ensure that camp is a safe and secure experience for every child.
Our practices are in line with American Camp Association standards for protection of campers' welfare. We of course have a strict no tolerance policy regarding drug or alcohol abuse, or any other conduct that would endanger a child or detract from their camp experience.
Every summer hundreds of children join English Adventure for the first time. We understand the concerns of the parents as well as the nervousness that the children may feel. We take extra care to support first time campers, and make their first camp an unforgettable one.
At some camps we also have Leaders in Training—international high school students and even some former camp participants who have now grown up! Finally, we have a support staff of bilingual Japanese to ensure the smooth running of the camp.
What is the staff to camper ratio?
Typically we have a ratio of approximately 4 campers per staff member. Not only does this ensure adequate supervision and safety, but also lots of personal contact between your child and our staff.
What is the average age of the campers?
At almost every camp, we have kids from six years old up to middle school students, and we tailor our activities so that everyone can fully participate and enjoy them. We tend to have the greatest number of kids in the first through fifth grades.
Where do the children sleep?
At our facility in Tsunan, campers sleep on futons or bunk beds in a dormitory.
My child wants to go to camp with a friend. Can they stay together during camp?
Unfortunately we do not accept placement requests. We find that making new friends is a big part of the camp experience. Even young campers are able to make new friends the moment they arrive to camp. If friends do attend camp together, they may not be in the same group, but they will have plenty of time to interact during the day.
My child must take medicine each day. Can you help administer this?
Yes, please let us know on the
registration form. At the check-in point, we will collect your child’s
medication, and ensure that he/she takes it as directed. If medicines or
creams require refrigeration, we can arrange this.
If your child can manage his/her own medication, that is also fine.
My child has special dietary needs. Can you accommodate this?
We will do our best and can almost always accommodate your child’s needs. Please don’t forget to let us know at the time you register, so we can consult with you and make any advance preparation needed. For details on our allergy policy, please check this link
Can my child call home during camp?
We do not allow campers to bring cell phones to camp. Outside of emergency situations we also do not allow campers to use camp phones to contact parents.
If they would like to take pictures during camp, we encourage them to bring a camera. We feel this is the best way for campers to focus on the activities they are participating in and get the full experience of camp without any distractions. Cell phones/smartphones will be confiscated.
How can I contact my child or the staff during the camp?
Outside of emergencies, we do not allow parents to contact campers or staff during camp - we believe this distance from home plays an important part in fostering campers' independence and creating the magic of camp. During camp, our campsite staff is focused on ensuring the safety of your children and making camp an enjoyable place - so please understand that we may only respond to emergency inquiries.
- Please refrain from making non-emergency inquiries, for example: "How is my child doing? Is he/she having fun? My child doesn't look happy in this photo, are they ok?"
- You may not hear from us immediately if we consider the case non-urgent.
- If there were any incidents including serious injuries or illnesses, we will contact you immediately at your registered email address or phone number.
- We may also contact you to clarify any details about your child's medical or dietary needs.
Here is how best to contact us:
Weekday 10:00AM - 5:00PM (excepts Japanese Public Holidays)
English Adventure Customer Support
Email: info@english-adventure.org
Weekend, Public holidays, Outside of office hours (Weekday 5PM-10:00AM)
Campsite email address
campadmin@english-adventure.org
Do you have insurance?
Panorama GK, the organizer of English Adventure camps, contracts with Ryoko Jigyosha Kyosaikai and purchases a domestic travel mutual-aid insurance for every camper residing in or out of Japan. This insurance policy covers campers from check-in until check-out and includes special compensation for hospital visits and stays, personal effects compensation, and personal liability compensation.
For more details please visit our Safety and Health Care page.
What happens if my child gets sick or is injured?
For anything beyond a minor issue, we
will contact you as quickly as possible. In the case of mild injury or
illness, we will provide appropriate care on site and continue to
carefully monitor your child’s condition. In the event that medical
attention is required, we will take your child to the nearest
appropriate facility, and of course will communicate closely with
you.
If your child cannot continue to participate in camp, or poses an
infection risk to others, we may ask you to pick him/her up from camp.
Do you provide photo services?
Of course! Professional photographers will be there to shoot special photos of your children who are having lots of fun at camp! All camp photos will be available online for purchase.
Also, we will be posting a few photos on the English Adventure Facebook page during camp sessions.
Isn't the photo purchase price a bit expensive?
We have partnered with a professional photography company to provide you with high-quality photos of your children. We sometimes receive comments from parents that the price of photos is too expensive. We hope you'll understand that in order to cover our extremely spacious campus, we have 3 photographers taking pictures every day. In addition, another person in Tokyo manages the data. With that kind of manpower ensuring that all campers are well represented in photos, our photo costs are as high as ever. We don't aim to earn profit on photo sales - just to help make sure that you have access to all of the memories made at camp!
My child doesn't know anyone else. Can you make sure that he/she has a good time?
Most children come to
camp alone, but they quickly make friends! We begin the camp with
team-building and trust-building activities, to help everyone get to
know one another and get into the right spirit.
We love
seeing friendships continue after camp, and many kids return to camp to
find many familiar faces from the previous camp.
My child has never stayed away from home, and might become homesick. How do you handle that?
We’re ready to support your child if he/she is missing home. Not only will we listen to their feelings and reassure them, but we find that most kids soon get over those feelings as they make friends and get involved in the many fun activities. In fact, we hear more about parents feeling “kidsick” than campers feeling homesick!
Has there ever been a serious accident or injury during a camp?
No. Over many years and many
hundreds of campers, we have had zero serious incidents. Our staff are
trained in risk management and take this matter very seriously.
Of course, because we are running, playing, and exploring the outdoors,
we do encounter plenty of scraped knees, bumps, and so on. To us, this
means that kids are playing hard, testing their limits, and ultimately
learning for themselves how to be safe—critical elements of healthy
development. But when your child needs care, our Team Leaders are
all trained in first aid, and will take care of your child just as you
would.
How much money should I give my child to take to camp?
Campers do not need to bring money. We will supply everything they need during camp. Please do not send any money with your children.
How long is the bus trip between Tokyo and camp?
Without traffic, it takes about 3.5 hours to get from Shinjuku, where we meet the kids, to our facility in Tsunan machi, Niigata prefecture. We will add to that time by making one or two restroom stops along the way.
Why can't I receive the order confirmation email from English Adventure?
Please check your email settings, especially if you have registered your mobile phone address and make sure you can receive emails from "@english-adventure.org”.
We sometimes hear from parents who have not received e-mails we’ve sent. Most of the time this can be resolved by changing your e-mail settings. In particular, those who are using the e-mail service provided by their mobile phone company will need to check their settings to make sure our e-mails will not be blocked. Those using Gmail also sometimes have problems, as our e-mails get grouped under the “Promotions” tab. Please check there if you are not receiving our messages.
Immersion, Challenge or Challenge Plus
Should I choose English Immersion or English Challenge Program for my child?
Please view our
program comparison “English Levels:
Immersion vs. Challenge” to guide your choice. If you still have
questions about your child’s specific situation, please feel free to
contact us.
If your child is comfortable conversing in only English at a basic level, 24/7, the Immersion Program is right for her. If this sounds too difficult, please choose either the Challenge or Challenge Plus Program.
My child has forgotten a lot of English. Maybe he/she should join the English Challenge Program?
Many returnee kids become “rusty” when they are not in an English environment all the time. However, as long as they are willing to try and speak only English, we recommend the Immersion Program. You may be surprised at the improvement at fluency after camp!
My child can basically speak English, but his/her reading and writing are very poor. Which program is best?
Please register for the Immersion Program. While reading and writing are important skills, our camps are not reading- and writing-intensive. If your child can basically converse in English, we’ll help him/her with any gaps they may have in their skills.
My child can’t really speak English yet, but I want him/her to experience an ‘English shower.’ Is it OK to register for the English Immersion Program?
Please register for the
Challenge Program.
Just being at camp, your child will get
an ‘English shower’, don’t worry. But she will actually learn more
English in the Challenge Program. Also, we do promise parents that the
Immersion Program is an all-English environment. Please assist us by
registering for the program that best fits your child’s current
abilities.
Have a question that’s not answered here? Please contact us from here anytime!
