Summer Smiles

Young Members and their parents find fun, friendship and growth in the Club’s Camp Discovery program.

When Erin Lovelace’s son Maverick was 2, she made the decision not to send him to preschool.

“I thought he and I would be on our own,” explains the Club Member. “But he craved something I couldn’t always provide at home, and I truly desired for him to have time to play with peers on his own.”

She found what she was looking for in the Club’s Preschool Prep program. Maverick started slowly, attending once a week, but enjoyed it so much that he was soon going three times.

“The small ratio, the incredible care, the high quality of songs, crafts, meals and activities were second to none,” exudes Lovelace. “I don’t believe anyone’s child has had such an incredible balance of preschool experience mixed with love at home and flexibility.”

With Maverick’s first day in Japanese kindergarten on the horizon—he started this April—Lovelace took advantage of another Club offering, Camp Discovery, to help him prepare.

Camp Discovery, held in winter, spring and summer, offers weeklong sessions of crafts, games, dance and sports designed to boost young campers’ confidence and independence.

Maverick, now 3, attended this year’s spring session.

“I liked the balls, playing basketball, eating my yummy lunch, sleeping and bowling,” he says. “I made a big lollipop, made friends and we sang the bye-bye song every day. Playing with toys is fun and we sang for Mommy. I love my teachers and hugging Ms Joyce [Mensah, the Club’s recreation programs leader for kids and youth].”

Lovelace says she is so grateful.

“My little baby was a big kid by the end of the week. He was performing for his mom, high-fiving his friends, carrying his own backpack, navigating the Club like he owns the place. The camp program is a perfect blend of fun, socialization, creativity and education. And Joyce and her team perfectly utilize the Club resources in a way that I never could alone with my son.”

Image: Maverick Lovelace

Member Maiko Yoshida, whose son Joe, 9, and daughter Lyon, 7, have attended the summer camps each year since 2022, says she appreciates the strong emphasis on safety, the welcoming atmosphere and the genuine connection between young Members and counselors.

“Because our children return year after year, there is a rare and cherished sense of continuity—the counselors come to know them as campers and individuals,” Yoshida explains. “They recognize and reflect on the subtle ways each child grows, creating a truly nurturing and affirming space. It is this depth of care and connection that makes the camp experience not only enjoyable but genuinely formative.”

Joe enjoys meeting new friends, playing sports and going on field trips. “Visiting Hakkeijima Sea Paradise with everyone was special,” he shares.

Lyon says she likes making crafts and spending time in the gym with the counselors. “In addition to that, I look forward to the teriyaki chicken lunch—it tastes excellent.” She also cites a rare cultural opportunity offered in 2023, when the legendary Izumi clan of kyogen performers visited the Club for a Camp Discovery workshop.

Yoshida adds that she appreciates the absence of digital devices, which allows kids to be fully present and physically active. “In an era where children’s interactions are increasingly shaped by digital technology, summer camps offer a rare and meaningful chance for authentic, face-to-face connection. By bringing together young people from diverse backgrounds, these camps create a setting where empathy, cooperation and cultural understanding can naturally flourish—experiences that are essential in nurturing well-rounded, globally minded individuals.”

It’s a sentiment shared by Kaoru Smoler. “The camp is a wonderful way for kids to have fun without screens, helping them develop and enhance their social skills beyond the classroom,” says the Club Member.

Smoler’s daughter Hana, 10, and son Kenshin, 7, have participated in Camp Discovery for five years. “The counselors are young, making them like fun older siblings for the kids—something they don’t experience during regular school terms. Our kids get to try new things in a supportive environment, such as tasting unfamiliar vegetables or improving their swimming.”

Hana and Kenshin both say they love meeting new friends, bowling, swimming, snacks and lunch, and that Camp Discovery taught them how to adapt to other social environments. Hana even aspires to be a camp counselor in a few years.

“The summer camp is a reliable and enjoyable environment for kids—especially when school is not in session,” Smoler says. “We appreciate the enthusiastic counselors who consistently provide a great experience.”

She also notes that the new friends Hana and Kenshin have made from different schools and cultural backgrounds have brought new friendships to their family.
When looking for enriching experiences, the Members agree that there’s no need to look far.

“Literally the best preschool and best camps are right here in the same building as your gym and your library, and where you already have a bike parking spot and where everyone greets you like family,” says Lovelace. “The camp connects Members to Members and makes the Club a true home.”