2018 CAMPS IN REVIEW

Zoe Lockard
Sep 6, 2018 · 3 min read

Here at Gakko HQ, the camps team is still reeling from the unforgettable summer we got to share with kohai and sempai! Between a Shaker village in the Berkshires to an Edo period built school in Okayama, 160 kohai from 67 nationalities, 30 sempai, and 7 directors collaborated in creating four unique and astounding camps. An enormous thank you to everyone that brought their absolute all to create such incredible and unique camps.

Here are some gems of each intricate world these camps created this summer, captured by the kohai themselves.


The Berkshires | June 24 — July 13

Monalissa interviewing at a Pittsfield’s Suns baseball game on 4th of July

During Gakko’s first ever three week camp, sempai Justine Yan — MFA in poetry/ radio connoisseur — worked alongside 5 budding storytellers/kohai: Remy, Monalissa, Clara, Renan, and Luka in creating a short radio story. They captured camp ( and our hearts) and made it into a podcast: the World Box.


Okayama | July 1–14

Time & Space announcement

“Out of all the moments that made me grateful to be a part of the camp, I would have to choose Time & Space. I have never in my life seen and been in that much of an honest and open space that allowed raw and genuine emotions to seep through.” — kohai Idil

“For me camp was the Time and Space where I was able to learn so much about myself, through individual investigations and discoveries, and even other people’s. I ended up learning things, not just about me, but also about who and what I want to in the future.” — kohai Sophia


The Berkshires | July 22— August 4

One of many possessed kohai lurking in the basement

With a Shaker village, seeping with history and creaky hinges, at our disposal, sempai/professional videographer Nicholas Clark and the kohai made a terrifying movie: BERKSHIVERS. It is a silent (killer) movie with subtitles encouraging the audience to make their own soundtrack — a deadly foley.

Watch for your petrified enjoyment the summer blockbuster: BERKSHIVERS.

Watcher discretion is advised.

Okayama | July 29 — August 11

A sliver of camp was captured by the beautiful and collaborative Tryptic workshop led by sempai Leon Eckert — an ITP MPS graduate. All the kohai were put into threes and were asked to respond to each others pictures. The result is a powerful series of stories. Click here to see the three books of triptychs: 0,7 liters — dialogue — eyes wide open.


Stay subscribed on our Facebook and Instagram for the release of the disposable photos project — over 2,000 images of camp from more than 150 kohai!

A BITTERSWEET GOODBYE TO A FANTASTIC GAKKO SUMMER — THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED

Gakko

Creativity and heart to learning. We empower students with our acclaimed summer camps — curated in Japan and the U.S.; immersive NYC-based afterschool courses in music and technology; and a digital learning studio — launching MojiMoji for the preschool set.

Zoe Lockard

Written by

Gakko

Gakko

Creativity and heart to learning. We empower students with our acclaimed summer camps — curated in Japan and the U.S.; immersive NYC-based afterschool courses in music and technology; and a digital learning studio — launching MojiMoji for the preschool set.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade