BST Outdoors
Utilising Japan’s stunning natural environment as a resource, BST Outdoors is a central part of BST’s holistic approach to education. Throughout the year, students benefit from being active, discovering new ways of learning, and gaining a greater understanding of themselves through various individual and collaborative activities.
A core part of the BST Outdoors programme is the annual residential trips. Students of all ages from Year 1 through to Year 13 take part in overnight residential trips. From river rafting to canyoning, mountain biking, hiking, and camping, students can discover new interests and learn about themselves.
1. Hakuba Valley, Nagano
The Hakuba Valley, is a place of outstanding natural beauty. This region is wonderful to experience all year round. BST students visit this area in the summer and autumn months for residentials and in the winter for ski trips.
During summer or autumn residential trips, students camp in this area. The rivers and gorges are perfect for canyoning, rafting and kayaking. Students also have access to world-class mountain biking, orienteering and hiking opportunities throughout the Hakuba Valley. Additionally, Geography field trips have taken place in the area as geography students put the skills they learned in the classroom into practice.
During the winter, the mountains of the Hakuba Valley transform into vast ski fields. BST students of all levels of ability can develop their winter sports skills. Students choose from skiing or snowboarding and learn with their friends in this fantastic setting.
1. Hakuba Valley, Nagano
The Hakuba Valley, is a place of outstanding natural beauty. This region is wonderful to experience all year round. BST students visit this area in the summer and autumn months for residentials and in the winter for ski trips.
During summer or autumn residential trips, students camp in this area. The rivers and gorges are perfect for canyoning, rafting and kayaking. Students also have access to world-class mountain biking, orienteering and hiking opportunities throughout the Hakuba Valley. Additionally, Geography field trips have taken place in the area as geography students put the skills they learned in the classroom into practice.
During the winter, the mountains of the Hakuba Valley transform into vast ski fields. BST students of all levels of ability can develop their winter sports skills. Students choose from skiing or snowboarding and learn with their friends in this fantastic setting.
2. Minakami, Gunma
Located in Gunma prefecture, the heart of Japan, Minakami is right at the source of the Tone River. The region benefits from natural hot springs, rivers for whitewater rafting, and trails for hiking.
BST students can challenge themselves in various outdoor learning activities. The Tone River provides students with the perfect setting for canyoning, whitewater rafting and rafting. Local guides and outdoor learning professionals support BST students in these water activities with cooking and camping skills, navigation skills and problem-solving and team-building challenges.
Additionally, field trips in specific subject areas provide students with depth and practical application of skills.
2. Minakami, Gunma
Located in Gunma prefecture, the heart of Japan, Minakami is right at the source of the Tone River. The region benefits from natural hot springs, rivers for whitewater rafting, and trails for hiking.
BST students can challenge themselves in various outdoor learning activities. The Tone River provides students with the perfect setting for canyoning, whitewater rafting and rafting. Local guides and outdoor learning professionals support BST students in these water activities with cooking and camping skills, navigation skills and problem-solving and team-building challenges.
Additionally, field trips in specific subject areas provide students with depth and practical application of skills.
3. Oshika, Kinkasan and Ogatsu, Miyagi
Accommodated in the converted building of a 96-year-old local schoolhouse, BST students visit Moriumius, a residential educational centre specialising in outdoor learning related to forestry, agriculture, fishery and sustainability.
Located in the hills above Ogatsu, a town devastated by the March 2011 tsunami, a key aim of Moriumius is to assist in the social and economic regeneration of the area. BST students learn about the area's recent history and participate in activities designed to educate and regenerate.
This trip combines with an excursion to the historical island of Kinkasan, located off the Oshika Peninsula. Kinkasan contains some remarkably well-preserved forest ecosystems and is a haven for wildlife. Sightings of deer and monkeys always accompany a visit to Kinkasan.
3. Oshika, Kinkasan and Ogatsu, Miyagi
Accommodated in the converted building of a 96-year-old local schoolhouse, BST students visit Moriumius, a residential educational centre specialising in outdoor learning related to forestry, agriculture, fishery and sustainability.
Located in the hills above Ogatsu, a town devastated by the March 2011 tsunami, a key aim of Moriumius is to assist in the social and economic regeneration of the area. BST students learn about the area's recent history and participate in activities designed to educate and regenerate.
This trip combines with an excursion to the historical island of Kinkasan, located off the Oshika Peninsula. Kinkasan contains some remarkably well-preserved forest ecosystems and is a haven for wildlife. Sightings of deer and monkeys always accompany a visit to Kinkasan.
4. Takaonomori Waku Waku Village, Hachioji, Tokyo
Each year, BST Year 1 students visit the Waku Waku Village. Whilst there, the students participate in a guided nature trail walk learning about the local flora and fauna as they begin their outdoor learning education. Students also participate in various team-building and problem-solving activities. Team building and problem-solving are two of the core elements of outdoor learning.
The natural setting provides a beautiful learning environment for the students, and the large field in the centre of the village is a safe and contained space for the students to learn. The students also enjoy themselves in the giant treehouse play area and enjoy a picnic lunch with their friends and teachers.
4. Takaonomori Waku Waku Village, Hachioji, Tokyo
Each year, BST Year 1 students visit the Waku Waku Village. Whilst there, the students participate in a guided nature trail walk learning about the local flora and fauna as they begin their outdoor learning education. Students also participate in various team-building and problem-solving activities. Team building and problem-solving are two of the core elements of outdoor learning.
The natural setting provides a beautiful learning environment for the students, and the large field in the centre of the village is a safe and contained space for the students to learn. The students also enjoy themselves in the giant treehouse play area and enjoy a picnic lunch with their friends and teachers.
5. BST Nagasawa Sports Ground, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
In addition to the extensive facilities at the BST campuses in central Tokyo, BST also has a purpose-built sports facility a short bus ride away.
BST’s Nagasawa Sports Ground consists of a large sports field, cricket nets, skateboard ramps, changing rooms and a clubhouse.
The Sports Ground is in use throughout the week and at weekends. BST sports teams train here, and the school hosts competitive home fixtures, tournaments and significant events that can be streamed through video technology. With BST and its partner sports teams performing at a high level in football, rugby, cricket and many other field sports, the Nagasawa Sports Ground is a home ground to be proud of.
5. BST Nagasawa Sports Ground, Kawasaki, Kanagawa
In addition to the extensive facilities at the BST campuses in central Tokyo, BST also has a purpose-built sports facility a short bus ride away.
BST’s Nagasawa Sports Ground consists of a large sports field, cricket nets, skateboard ramps, changing rooms and a clubhouse.
The Sports Ground is in use throughout the week and at weekends. BST sports teams train here, and the school hosts competitive home fixtures, tournaments and significant events that can be streamed through video technology. With BST and its partner sports teams performing at a high level in football, rugby, cricket and many other field sports, the Nagasawa Sports Ground is a home ground to be proud of.
6. Tomei Gakurin, Oi, Kanagawa
Like Boshu Kaihin Gakuryo, Tomei Gakuin is a residential satellite facility owned and managed by our partner organisation Showa Women’s University. As such, this facility is available for use by BST school groups throughout the year. BST Primary and Secondary School students have been able to use this site in recent years; Year 5 and Year 7 are the most recent in 2022.
The facility offers the students the opportunity to work on a range of outdoor skills and to experience Japanese culture firsthand. Students can access campus camping, orienteering, local conservation, outdoor cooking, and craft skills activities. Additionally, surfing, snorkelling and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) are available from nearby beaches.
Regarding Japanese cultural learning, students can access the local farms, Mount Fuji and Odawara Castle. Odawara Castle dates back to the Kamakura Period in the 12th century, famous for the Samurai's rise.
6. Tomei Gakurin, Oi, Kanagawa
Like Boshu Kaihin Gakuryo, Tomei Gakuin is a residential satellite facility owned and managed by our partner organisation Showa Women’s University. As such, this facility is available for use by BST school groups throughout the year. BST Primary and Secondary School students have been able to use this site in recent years; Year 5 and Year 7 are the most recent in 2022.
The facility offers the students the opportunity to work on a range of outdoor skills and to experience Japanese culture firsthand. Students can access campus camping, orienteering, local conservation, outdoor cooking, and craft skills activities. Additionally, surfing, snorkelling and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) are available from nearby beaches.
Regarding Japanese cultural learning, students can access the local farms, Mount Fuji and Odawara Castle. Odawara Castle dates back to the Kamakura Period in the 12th century, famous for the Samurai's rise.
7. Boshu Kaihin Gakuryo, Tateyama, Chiba
Like Tomeigakurin, Boshu Kaihin Gakuryo is a residential satellite facility owned and managed by our partner organisation Showa Women’s University. As such, this facility is available for use by BST school groups throughout the year. BST Primary and Secondary School students have had the opportunity to use this site in recent years, Year 4 being the most recent in 2022. Students participate in various outdoor and creative activities led by BST staff and local specialists.
The facility is a purpose-built accommodation centre with a dining room, gym, tennis courts and outdoor grounds with private access to the beach. Students sleep in bunk bed rooms in groups of 8, and the centre is equipped with hot baths and shower facilities.
7. Boshu Kaihin Gakuryo, Tateyama, Chiba
Like Tomeigakurin, Boshu Kaihin Gakuryo is a residential satellite facility owned and managed by our partner organisation Showa Women’s University. As such, this facility is available for use by BST school groups throughout the year. BST Primary and Secondary School students have had the opportunity to use this site in recent years, Year 4 being the most recent in 2022. Students participate in various outdoor and creative activities led by BST staff and local specialists.
The facility is a purpose-built accommodation centre with a dining room, gym, tennis courts and outdoor grounds with private access to the beach. Students sleep in bunk bed rooms in groups of 8, and the centre is equipped with hot baths and shower facilities.
8. Okutama, Tokyo
The BST Outdoor programme offers students the opportunity to experience hands-on learning that facilitates personal growth, promotes wellbeing and embeds a love for the outdoors and leadership through adventurous experiences and challenges. The facilities and activities available in Okutama provide the perfect setting for this. Students travel to Canyons Outdoor centre in Okutama, Tokyo prefecture, where they take part in outdoor activities led by the Canyons instructors, under the supervision of BST staff.
Canyoning is the sport of negotiating your way down canyons by employing various techniques including abseiling, jumping waterfalls and cliffs, cascading down natural chutes and water slides, swimming through crystal clear pools and using special rope systems, such as flying foxes. There is usually a small amount of hiking required to access most courses, but once in the canyon, nearly 80% of the time is spent in the water.
Rafting is the sport of negotiating your way down a river, which may have different levels of rough or even white water, in an inflatable raft and working together as part of a team to achieve a common goal. Not only great fun but excellent for teamwork and communication.
8. Okutama, Tokyo
The BST Outdoor programme offers students the opportunity to experience hands-on learning that facilitates personal growth, promotes wellbeing and embeds a love for the outdoors and leadership through adventurous experiences and challenges. The facilities and activities available in Okutama provide the perfect setting for this. Students travel to Canyons Outdoor centre in Okutama, Tokyo prefecture, where they take part in outdoor activities led by the Canyons instructors, under the supervision of BST staff.
Canyoning is the sport of negotiating your way down canyons by employing various techniques including abseiling, jumping waterfalls and cliffs, cascading down natural chutes and water slides, swimming through crystal clear pools and using special rope systems, such as flying foxes. There is usually a small amount of hiking required to access most courses, but once in the canyon, nearly 80% of the time is spent in the water.
Rafting is the sport of negotiating your way down a river, which may have different levels of rough or even white water, in an inflatable raft and working together as part of a team to achieve a common goal. Not only great fun but excellent for teamwork and communication.
9. Lake Kawaguchi, Yamanashi
Based at Mizuumi No Rakuen WorkShop Camp Resort, near Lake Kawaguchi, in Yamanashi prefecture students take part in a range of outdoor activities under the guidance of BST staff and experienced instructors from Mizuumi No Rakuen WorkShop Camp Resort.
Students learn campfire basics such as safety, finding resources and fire lighting along with shelter building and communication activities. Along with this students learn outdoor cooking techniques such as Dutch Oven cooking to make traditional Japanese curry, catching fish by hand and BBQ and pizza making.
The highlights of this residential trip are the activities on and around the lake itself. Students are able to experience Canadian canoeing and hiking in Aokigahara, The Sea of Trees, and a cave exploration tour. All of which have the majestic and iconic backdrop of Mount Fuji overlooking the area.
9. Lake Kawaguchi, Yamanashi
Based at Mizuumi No Rakuen WorkShop Camp Resort, near Lake Kawaguchi, in Yamanashi prefecture students take part in a range of outdoor activities under the guidance of BST staff and experienced instructors from Mizuumi No Rakuen WorkShop Camp Resort.
Students learn campfire basics such as safety, finding resources and fire lighting along with shelter building and communication activities. Along with this students learn outdoor cooking techniques such as Dutch Oven cooking to make traditional Japanese curry, catching fish by hand and BBQ and pizza making.
The highlights of this residential trip are the activities on and around the lake itself. Students are able to experience Canadian canoeing and hiking in Aokigahara, The Sea of Trees, and a cave exploration tour. All of which have the majestic and iconic backdrop of Mount Fuji overlooking the area.
