An overseas creative, cultural and nature camp designed for children to unleash creativity, build cross-cultural relationships, connect with nature, and broaden their perspective of the world.
Children will:
Experience life beyond the comforts of home, and be exposed to a fresh way of living and thinking
Slow down from the hyper-pace of home, and unplug from the stressful environment of school
Go screen-less, and immerse in wild, untouched nature
Experience creative arts as a medium of expression, and to discover themselves creatively.
Be part of a community of like-minded children who are curious about the world beyond home.
Spend time in reflection
Date: 25th, 26th, 27th November 2024 (9:00-3:00pm)
Location: Izumi Mango Orchard, Okinawa, Japan
For Ages: 6 to 12 years old
📍 Camp Location:
Izumi Mango Orchard
We’re partnering with our friends at Izumi Mango Orchard, a family-owned mango farm in the foothills of Mt. Yae, Motobu Town, Okinawa.
📍 Address: 1080-2 Izumi, Motobu, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0221, Japan (〒905-0221沖縄県国頭郡本部町伊豆味1080-2)
Izumi Mango Orchard was founded by Masahiro Gima in 1983 and was one of the first mango orchards in Okinawa. Since the summer of 2017, the farm was taken over by Shiro and Kirsten Gima, Mr Gima's son and daughter-in-law, who currently run both the Izumi Mango Orchard and Phumula Guest Cottage on the property. The farm grows a unique type of mango called IRWIN, also known as apple mango. Lush bushes and thick jungle vegetation surrounds the farm.
Children will be based at Izumi Mango Orchard throughout the duration of the camp.
Creativity
Immerse in the creative culture of the land
Culture Exchange
Form friendships & embrace cultures beyond differences
Nature
Explore outside the classroom
Empowerment
Elevate creative confidence through podcast & a showcase at the end of the programme
What Will My Kids Learn?
Over the course of three days, we will observe, wonder, and create together. We will slow down, take inspiration from the nature that surrounds us, and gain insights of the culture from the stories of this island.
*Subject to change / weather conditions
They came, they loved it! ☻
Helen Clare Rozario,
mother of Sophie Clare, 7 years old
“The mere fact that Sophie Clare, as a neurodivergent child, gifted with ADHD and Dyslexia, showed interest in writing on the first day of the programme truly surprised me and touched my heart. It offered compelling insight into alternative, more effective learning methods when creativity was incorporated for her.
The facilitators were professional, respectful, and had an intuitive connection with the children. Although I wasn't present, this was noticed when Sophie Clare discussed how the day went and observed through her interactions with the facilitators during drop-off and pick-up. The way she interacted with them clearly reflected the level of trust and comfort she felt with them.
Despite the drop-off requirement, the whole experience significantly transformed both of us and further strengthened our already close mother-daughter bond. It also unlocked another level of independence and autonomy for her, and the act of letting go for me. I am also pretty pleased with the fact that I was able to work productively with a peace of mind and ease while she was engaged in the camp. I even managed to do some sightseeing on my own during free moments when I wasn't working.”
Gurmit and Denise,
parents of Trent, 8 years old
“What we initially thought would be wholly indoors turned out to be a very interactive and eye opening programme that consisted of storytelling, hiking, photography, marine life exploration, and a unique hands-on experience using unripe persimmon juices as dye. Trent’s imagination and curiosity were stoked and inspired by the engaging facilitators who were encouraging cheerleaders pushing the boundaries of creativity and uplifting his confidence. The facilitators were always on hand to update parents at pick up time.
Trent truly was sad when it ended, which only goes to show how much fun he had making new memories and friends, and absorbing the world beyond Singapore.”
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Three days of a wide-array of creative, cultural and nature activities and workshops
Hands-on creativity with Japanese art forms
Farming activities
Studio podcasting experience with group discussions
Engage in reflective journaling
Create memories by photographing their favourite sights and creating their personal portfolio
Strengthen teamwork, leadership and communication skills
Gain global and diverse perspectives from Japanese, Singaporean and South African educators
Intimate attention and connection through a 1:5 student-teacher ratio
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Early-bird special of SGD $960 per child (offer ends 1st Sep 2024). Thereafter, SGD $1,200 per child.
Please note that this price only includes the camp fee. For accommodation, flights and transport, parents should arrange them at their own convenience.
Optional: We are collaborating with Japan Tourism Board (JTB) to provide an exclusive package for parents who are not intending to plan their own itinerary. Please contact us so that we can send you the details.
For ages 6 - 12 years oldThis includes:
Three days, six-hour programme from 9:00am to 3:00pm
Gosh! Kids explorer backpack (notebooks, stickers, Gosh! Kids T-Shirt etc.)
Japanese bento lunch sets and snacks
All equipment and materials (*cameras will be provided)
Transportation during camp hours
*Kids are highly encouraged to bring their own cameras if they have one
Need recommendations on accommodation, food and activities that are both family-friendly and fun? We’ve curated a list just for you here.
Why is it important for your child to see the world?
Programme Leaders
Gladys Soh (aka Miss G),
Co-founder of Gosh! Kids / Photographer / Illustrator
Miss G is the co-founder and head mentor of Gosh! Kids. She has a vast experience working in the creative children’s environment in Singapore, Thailand and Japan. Her heart is to see children empowered so that they can be a positive influence to those around them. Previously a photographer, illustrator and creative director, Miss G’s attention and focus is now upon the children of the world. Creativity, fun and children—that’s what she’s all about!
Mathieu Beth Tan (aka Teacher Mat), Co-founder of Gosh! Kids / Photographer / Writer
Teacher Mat began his career as a photographer in the areas of branding and conceptual photography. His work was featured on the global stage with Apple and other prolific brands. Now a father of one, teacher Mat is on a mission to elevate children to a point where they can be seen and heard. He also writes for his online publication around the themes of creativity, strategy, business, parenting, education and life.
Shiro & Kirsten Gima, Owners of Izumi Mango Orchard
Shiro is a locally born and raised Okinawan. Kirsten is originally from South Africa but moved to Okinawa in 2001. They were married in 2006 and have lived here in Izumi, on the farm, since 2008. They share the space with their twin daughters who are in Junior High School second grade and our energetic dog, Franki!
Shiro and Kirsten took over the family run Mango Farm in the summer of 2017. Prior to this Shiro was working in inventory management on the US Marine Corp base. Kirsten was the owner of her own English School.
Yasuhiro & Ritsuko Fukushima, Master Artisians at バナナネシア
Yasuhiro and Ritsuko Fukushima have been running their dyeing and weaving atelier since 1992. Yasuhiro's studies in anthropology led him to the Okinawa islands, in the southernmost prefecture of the Japanese archipelago. With a major focus on the Ryūkyū Archipelago, he wanted to settle in the region to experience it as a seikatsu-sha – a person who pursues “the everyday life.” With the bashō, or the fibre from the Musa balbisiana stem, Yasuhiro learned to master the complete process of clothes and paper making. In parallel, his wife Ritsuko has specialised in Bingata, the traditional dyeing technique from Okinawa. Her dedication to Bingata since the year 2000 comes from her initial passion for illustration, the incredibly rich nature of the island, as well as her appreciation of the bashō that her husband provides her with. They both feel gratitude and respect for working as a couple with such a precious material.
Shion Teruya, Founder of Ryukyu Indigo Namiai
Shion was impressed by the colors of herb dye produced from Okinawan plants and started her dye practices. Since 2021, she has been growing Ryukyu indigo plants, making dyes, and using it for her works in Mihara, Nago City, with her husband. The couple grows indigo at the foot of a mountain without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. They rely on the power of nature to produce dyes and to complete whole dyeing process.
Interest Form
Fill in the form below and we will contact you soon.
FAQs
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As a creative art school for kids, we are in constant search for powerful ways to strengthen creativity in our children. We recognise that the world is our oyster—creativity is not confined to what we find familiar or to our immediate surroundings. There are benefits in exploring fresh and new frontiers. Children can learn effectively about the world and discover their creative identities by experiencing novel and foreign expressions.
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We have an early-bird promo of SGD 960 per child that will end on 1st Sep 2024.
Thereafter, it will be SGD 1,200 per child.
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We are collaborating with Japan Tourism Board (JTB) to provide an exclusive package for parents who are not intending to plan their own itinerary. Please contact us so that we can send you the details.
If you’re intending to plan your own itinerary, please make the necessary arrangements with regards to flights, accommodation, transport and travel insurance. We highly recommend to arrive in Okinawa the day before the camp begins.
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If you’re not taking up our package with JTB, once you’ve made payment, please take the time to:
1) Book flight tickets
2) Book accommodation
3) Book transport options -
We understand that your schedules can be unpredictable and changes are inevitable. Gosh! Kids Go requires extensive months-in-advance planning and coordination with a large number of families, and with our partners in the country. Our cancellation policy entitles you to get a 100% refund within 24 hours of making payment, only if the payment is made before 1st August 2024. To ensure the smooth process and flow of our programme, we will not be able to issue any after this date. Rest assured, if you’ve already made payment and are unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances, reach out to us and we can discuss alternative arrangements for you and your child :)
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We are definitely planning something similar for the rest of the year. Stay connected by subscribing to our newsletter, follow our socials, and subscribe to our Telegram channel to get fresh updates on where we’re going next.
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Of course! Delicious Japanese lunches will be served on all three days, as well as a buffet of snacks and beverages to keep the energy levels high. If your child has any dietary restrictions or allergies, do let us know in the enrollment form and we will do our best to accommodate their needs.
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If you or your child test positive for COVID-19 before your scheduled flight, please contact us promptly, and we will explore ways to assist you. If you feel unwell and receive a positive test result during the trip, or are feeling unwell, we kindly ask for your cooperation in isolating yourself immediately and refraining from further activities until a negative test result is obtained. Rest assured, we are committed to offering maximum assistance during this ordeal.
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This programme is specially curated for ages 6 to 12 years old. To ensure that the children maximise the full experience individually and as a whole, we regretfully cannot accommodate children outside this age group. Thank you for understanding.
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Nov is cool and windy! Come dress like how you would in Singapore, but do come in long pants and covered shoes.
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The physical aspects of the programme will include nature trails and hiking. It’s beginner-friendly and isn’t physically-demanding. We will ensure that frequent breaks are incorporated into our schedule. However, do let us know if you foresee your child experiencing problems. We will do our best to tailor the experience to their comfort levels.
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This is a day camp, commencing promptly at 9:00 am and concluding at 4:00 pm. Parents are responsible for organising transportation to and from Pilco Studio.
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English will be the main language of communication throughout the programme.
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As with all our workshops in Singapore, we believe this programme provides a rare opportunity for children to explore independence without constant parental presence. The majority of the camp is designed to be for the children, and we’ve allocated some time for parents and children to come together at certain times. All our programme leaders are experienced in handling large groups of children. Safety measures will be put in place to ensure that the children are taken care of. If you have any concerns, do let us know.
Still have questions?
Whatsapp us at +65 9112 8738, or drop us an email at hello@goshkids.org
Or drop us an enquiry below: