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Keio Holds Multi-Generational X-ship Global Survival Camp 2025 for Elementary School Students to Graduate Students
For three days from Friday, August 1 to Sunday, August 3, Keio held its “X-ship Global Survival Camp: A Multi-Generational Co-Creation Leadership Development Experience” at the Athletic Association Yamanaka Lodge in Hirano, Yamanakako Village, Yamanashi Prefecture. The goal of this program is to nurture the “X-ship qualities” that form a core aspect of Keio’s mission to raise up leaders and luminaries. The camp focused on “Friendship,” “Leadership,” “Followership,” “Ownership,” and “Global Citizenship,” in a cooperative and creative educational environment.
A preliminary workshop was held at Keio Yokohama Elementary School on Saturday, July 26, to help participants better understand each other, share their goals, and acquire the necessary knowledge and skills for camping, such as learning how to set up tents. A total of 36 students participated in the camp: 16 from Keio Yokohama Elementary School, eight from Keio Shonan Fujisawa Junior High School and Senior High School, six from the Graduate School of System Design and Management (four of whom are international students from the US, Italy, China, and the Philippines), and six students from the Keio University Rover Crew, an officially-recognized student organization. Including faculty and staff members from each of these organizations, about 50 people participated in various activities. In addition, this year’s program featured “houses,” with each house consisting of four elementary school students, two junior and senior high school students, and three undergraduate, graduate, and international students. By grouping students into four “houses” to work together and take on challenges, students were afforded plenty of opportunities for cross-generational collaborative activities. After the camp, a workshop was held on Wednesday, August 6, at the Graduate School of System Design and Management (SDM) on Hiyoshi Campus where individuals and houses held discussions and shared video recordings about how their ideas and behaviors related to the X-ship qualities evolved through the camp.
This initiative leveraged one of Keio’s unique characteristics, integrated education, as well as its diversity of experience and knowledge. The effectiveness of the program was measured through student surveys conducted before and after the event about “X-ship Qualities,” and through discussions on their experiences and observations.
Saturday, July 26: Preliminary Workshop
Participants gathered at Keio Yokohama Elementary School where they introduced themselves before being divided into four houses that emphasized diversity. Afterwards, students attended a workshop to acquire preliminary knowledge for their camp activities, set up tents to foster teamwork, and formulate group objectives as well as action plans to achieve them.
Friday, August 1: First Day of Camp
All participants gathered at Keio Yokohama Elementary School where they boarded a bus and departed for Yamanaka Lodge. They arrived at the site around noon and greeted the staff in charge. After that, they toured the surrounding area to check for hazards. Later on in the day, the participants set up the tents at the campsite, started the campfire, and cooked dinner which everyone enjoyed together. After that, the participants spent some time bonding by watching the fireworks display of the Yamanakako Houkosai Festival together.
Saturday, August 2: Second Day of Camp
The participants did morning exercises together, led by students from the Rover Crew. After that, the participants built campfires again to make hot dogs for breakfast. Many students were excited by seeing twin yolks for the first time in the boiled eggs that had been provided by local farmers. After breakfast, students from SDM led practices on how to set up emergency tarps on a slope and an activity known as “Marshmallow River,” while the Rover Crew then led a session on Morse code. In addition to the four houses of students, faculty and staff members also formed teams and participated in these challenges. In the afternoon, junior and high school students conducted a workshop on tenugui (Japanese traditional hand towels) indigo dyeing and a lesson on making French toast.
Later on in the evening, the houses restarted their campfires, a practice which they had become accustomed to, and had a barbecue. At the same time, they performed skits related to the X-ship qualities which they had practiced over the previous two days, creating a festive atmosphere.
Sunday, August 3: Third Day of Camp
On the third and final day of the camp, the participants had breakfast in the lodge’s cafeteria to have a taste of the meals that the Athletic Association members were having during their camp. After that, starting with the tents, the participants cleaned up the entire campsite, ensuring that the site was returned to an even cleaner state than on the first day of the camp. Finally, the participants bade farewell to the staff at the Yamanaka Lodge before boarding the bus back to Keio Yokohama Elementary School. After they got back, all students cleaned the tents and other equipment and participated in a post-camp debriefing.
Wednesday, August 6: Reflection Workshop
Students gathered on Hiyoshi Campus for a workshop where individuals and houses held discussions and shared video recordings about how their ideas and behaviors related to the X-ship qualities evolved over the month of activities. The workshop then concluded with a tour of Hiyoshi Campus, led by the undergraduate and graduate students.
Photo: Takeshi Kishi
