#Japan #Pyrus Academy #Kudo Kimizu #SHAPE Sports #Hokuto

Experience Nature: A Unique Baseball and Farming Camp

In a world where smartphones and tablets dominate children's lives, the opportunity to connect with the unseen aspects of nature is diminishing. Recognizing this issue, Pyrus Academy has devised an exciting experiential camp that runs over two days, focusing on enhancing children's five senses and life skills through the combination of baseball and farming. Collaborating with former professional baseball player Kimiyasu Kudo, the camp aims to immerse children in nature while promoting personal growth and awareness.

The Background of the Camp

As technology continues to make life more convenient, children find themselves spending less time experiencing the natural world—feeling the wind, sensing the texture of the ground, and inhaling the earthy scent of soil has taken a backseat. At Pyrus Academy, the focus is on nurturing children's genuine desire to improve in baseball, supporting them in developing their own ideas and engaging in discussions with peers. This philosophy forms the foundation of the camp's educational approach.

The goals of the program extend beyond baseball. It also integrates agricultural experiences, providing children with a chance to understand healthy eating through hands-on learning about how food is produced. By transitioning from merely viewing vegetables on supermarket shelves to digging in the soil and harvesting their own crops, participants will cultivate gratitude for food and an appreciation for the interconnection between life and nourishment.

Key Features of the Program

The camp is designed with specific objectives in mind:

1. Autonomy: Empowering children to think independently, make choices, and take action.
2. Sensory Awareness: Developing the ability to sense and appreciate the world through their five senses.
3. Empathy and Gratitude: Fostering a sense of gratitude and empathy through interactions with nature and people.

With tent accommodations in nature and meals prepared with harvested vegetables, campers will engage in activities that enrich their experiences beyond textbook learning, leading to newfound insights and awareness.

Comments from the Leaders

Kotaro Kobayashi, Representative of Pyrus Academy

Pyrus Academy serves as a supportive environment for children aspiring to improve in baseball, promoting self-reflection, teamwork, and proactive engagement. With this program, we're nurturing essential life skills that go beyond sports, including:

• - The ability to control oneself (Autonomy)
• - The capacity to experience the world through the senses (Sensory Awareness)
• - An appreciation for nature and human interaction (Empathy and Gratitude)

My personal journey in baseball, which began in childhood and included daily bicycle commutes to practice, has taught me valuable lessons in sensory perception. This experience is pivotal not only in appreciating the environment but also in understanding opportunities in business. I hope to facilitate a space where children can cultivate their ability to sense their surroundings, which I believe is crucial for navigating life successfully.

Kenta Komamiya, CEO of SHAPE Sports

Partnering with Pyrus Academy has been a fortuitous encounter in our vision to enhance the quality of individual lives through experiences filled with joy and excitement. Our aim is to expand baseball's reach and cultivate a love for the sport among children. The camp emphasizes the importance of both agricultural and athletic experiences, showing that they are interconnected and offer essential life lessons. I hope the children enjoy the fun of discovering new experiences, which can lead them to meaningful connections in their futures.

Kimiyasu Kudo, Former Professional Baseball Player

Children possess boundless potential, and the insights gained from simple experiences can have lasting impacts on their lives. I believe that all interactions—seeing, hearing, touching, and acting—play a crucial role in shaping their life skills. This camp seeks to kindle their curiosity and broaden their perspectives, ensuring their growth benefits both present opportunities and future endeavors.

Camp Overview

• - Name: Baseball × Farming Experience Camp: Nurturing the Five Senses and Life Skills in Two Days
• - Date: May 24-25, 2025
• - Target Age: Elementary school students (grades 3-6), limited to 20 participants
• - Meeting/Dispersal Location: Tokyo (tentative)
• - Cost: Free
• - Organizer: Pyrus Academy
• - Co-Organizer: SHAPE Sports
• - Venue: Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture
• - Accommodation: Local lodging in Hokuto City
• - Application Method: Upon Google Form registration only
• - Selection Process: Based on lottery
• - Application Deadline: May 9, 2025
• - Lottery Results Notification: May 13, 2025

If interested, please apply through the registration link: Google Form Registration. For inquiries, contact Pyrus Academy at info@pyrus-academy.com or visit our website.