will be rescheduled – dates tbd
Japan – Land of the Rising Sun – 21 Day Teen Learning Community
April 8th – April 28th, 2020
This 21 day learning community takes place in Japan with an emphasis on cultural and customary exploration. During our stay in the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’ we’ll experience local history, artistry, agriculture, tradition and modern day pop culture, all while exploring the Japanese countryside. This trip is perfectly timed for the cherry blossom season!
The 2020 Japan Retreat is a temporary learning-community, utilizing the landscape and culture of Japan as a means for immersive discovery in history, art, local tradition, and mythology. Project World School is not a typical study abroad program as it takes advantage of the power of a learning-community to produce collaborative goals, knowledge acquisition, personal development and changes in global perspectives.
01 WHEN
April 8th – April 28th, 2020
02 WHERE
Chiba Prefecture, Tokyo, Kyoto, Teshima - Japan
03 WHO
8 or more participants (ages 13-25) self-directed learners, unschooolers, homeschoolers & worldschoolers
04 COST
$4500 USD - after January 1st, 2020
05 STATUS
Open & Accepting Applications
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
01 WHAT'S INCLUDED
Full accommodation for the duration of the learning community retreat
• All airport transfers
• All ground transportation
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinners during the retreat
• Entrance fees to all the included attractions
• All workshops, talks, guided tours, and classes throughout the retreat.
• Filtered drinking water to refill your water bottles (water bottle not included).
• Fun!
02 WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
• International airfare
• Laundry
• Snacks
• Souvenirs
• Other personal items
• Meals on travel days (arrival & departure)
• International flights from your home country to each retreat location are not included
03 MEALS
Many of our meals will be prepared by our team in our hostel. Breakfasts will consist of fresh fruit, juice, eggs, fresh yogurts, cheeses and local breads. Lunches will be a combination of local dishes, salads, fish and other local Japanese flavors such as sashimi, ramen and sushi. On the days we have full-day outings, we’ll prepare and pack lunches for our trip, including sandwiches, fruit, chips and juice. Dinners will be a combination of self-prepared meals in our lodging and dinners in local restaurants. We will make every effort to accommodate everyone’s diet restrictions including having vegetarian and gluten-free options. Please indicate any special needs on your application.
04 ACCOMMODATIONS
During the Japan – Land of the Rising Sun – 21 Day Teen Learning Community, we will stay in several locations including one hostel in Tokyo and a lodge a few hours from Osaka. Generally, we always occupy dorm rooms that consist of bunk beds, so between 4-8 of our teen participants will be sharing a room at any given time.
05 PACKING LIST
Packing List
What to Bring?
You’ll be gone for a month, and for those of you who haven’t traveled for long periods of time, we’ve prepared this list in case you might need some assistance with deciding what you should pack. So here it is, our packing list ‘suggestions‘! Our recommendation to you is not to over do it. You’ll have to haul everything you pack around initially, and there are weight restrictions through all airlines. Also, keep in mind you will be living in shared space. There will be laundry available, and you will be able to purchase replacement shampoos, lotions, etc. during the trip, so no need to haul around ‘family size’ bottles of anything.
NOTE: Remember the list below is a suggested list! Feel free to modify, based on your own needs.
Packing List:
Clothing
1 Long Sleeve Shirt
1 Long pants (I would recommend wearing this on the plane)
4 T-shirts (one should be a formal shirt)
2 bathing suits
3 shorts
1 raincoat
1 sunhat with a brim
Sneakers
personal items / toiletries
tooth paste & toothbrush
soap
shampoo & conditioner
sunscreen
lotion
insect repellant
travel towel
electronics
headlamp
small flashlight
camera
laptop computer
mp3 player/iPod
Japanese outlet converter
miscellaneous
passport
copy of passport
water bottle
day pack
anything you will need to lead a session
sunglasses
tiny first aid kit
duct tape
laundry bag
small padlock
ATM card
small journal or notepad and pens
musical instrument
costume, wigs, funky hats, etc. (if you are into that sort of thing)
sketch book
06 ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
All participants must fly in and out of the Kansai International Airport (KIX). Departing flights must be after 4pm.
SCHEDULE
Schedule for Japan
Day 1 – Arrival in Osaka, Travel to Zion Guest House
Day 2 – Team building exercises, Gateball Lesson
Day 3 – Calligraphy and Japanese Lessons
Day 4 – Japanese Vegetable Harvest
Day 5 – Story Telling and Relax Day
Day 6 – Go Lesson and Sushi Making
Day 7 – Excursion to Kyoto
Day 8 – Koto Lesson
Day 9 – Excursion to Itsukushima Shrine
Day 10 – Kimono Wearing and Japanese Tea Ceremony
Day 11 – Travel to Teshima Island
Day 12 – Cruising Tour
Day 13 – Local Fishing Class
Day 14– Project ‘Save the Island’
Day 15 – Practice for Puppet Show and Japanese Lessons
Day 16– Storytelling and Relax Day
Day 17 – Travel to Tokyo
Day 18 – Puppet Show in Japanese
Day 19 – Explore Tokyo, Shibuya and Otaku Centre
Day 20 – Half Day in Tokyo, Night bus to Osaka
Day 21 – Teens Fly Home
*Schedule is subject to shift
FACILITATORS & PARTNERS FOR THIS RETREAT
MIRO SIEGEL
TRIP CO-FACILITATOR
Miro Siegel is a 21 year old Project World School co-founder and facilitator, who specializes in writing, mythology, history and cultural studies. Miro acts as both a mentor, and a friend to all. To read more about him, click here.
