MARINE CORPS AIR STATION, Japan -- Sitting on the couch playing Contra on the original Nintendo, eating Doritos and going out to cause trouble are not regular summer activities for the children aboard the Station enjoying their three-month break from school.
These children have the opportunity to enjoy a worthwhile and beneficial summer by attending Camp Adventure 2003, where they will go through ten weeks of adventure and gain knowledge from excursions, activities and events.
The camp runs Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and weekly themes like Wacky Wild West Hoedown and Tropical Sunrise Surprise, offer something new each week.
"We have a different theme every week, and all of our activities for that week are based around that theme," said Angela Glanz, camp project coordinator. "We go on a field trip once a week to someplace different so that the children have an opportunity to learn something and go someplace new."
Field trips include adventures to the transportation museum, Tokuyama Zoo, Chichiyasu and Kudamatsu Water Parks, Kaikyokan Aquarium, Oshima Island Beach and Hiroshima Forest Park.
"I liked riding the bikes at the transportation museum," said D'antre Bradford, 5-year-old camper. "We got to ride them all over the place."
Although the camp only takes one field trip a week outside the gate, they make trips to different parts of the Station, such as the bowling alley, movie theater and the swimming pool.
When the campers are not out exploring they are usually in the Youth Center rehearsing skits, making snacks or playing games.
"We have club hour so if the kids are interested in acting, they go into the acting club and produce a skit, and if they like to cook there is a cooking group," said Glanz. "The Youth Center is great. It has a big out door area for the kids to run around and it gives us a lot of options when we are planning activities."
With all the activities and events, Camp Adventure guarantees the campers a fun filled summer that they will never forget.
"The camp gives the children the chance to learn and have a good time and not waste away their summer playing Nintendo," said Glanz.
For more information call 253-4769.