Outdoor Learning
Our Outdoor Ethos
From daily interactions in the local forests to extended expeditions in the mountains and rivers, nature is our first teacher at HIS. The exploration of the mountains, forests and rivers will be integral to the students' experience and learning at HIS.
Outdoor Education & Learning Program
During their time at HIS, all students participate in mandatory camps and excursions. Each year, we begin with a camping trip, a time for students to discover or reconnect with their advisory groups and to form or renew bonds within a sense of shared adventure.
Throughout the year, additional trips at each season deepen our connections to each other and the natural world and offer countless opportunities to connect our academic learning to real-world experiences. This is also a chance for students to spend time in outdoor activities they wish to try or activities they wish to master. Beyond week-long trips, we will also regularly spend time in the wilderness through optional weekend excursions and Wednesday afternoon outings.
Through these experiences, we aim to develop students’ wilderness skills, eventually offering them opportunities to begin leading elements of the trip and training younger students. Peer mentoring is an essential part of growth as a learner, and Outdoor Education is an excellent opportunity for the students to share their learning with their peers.
Advisory Camp
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At HIS, every student belongs to a small advisory group led by a dedicated Guide who meets with them daily and supports their academic and social-emotional growth throughout the year. Every year, all groups came together at Advisory Camp for a memorable few days at Lake Aokiko. From paddle boarding and swimming to late-night chats and laughter around the card table, Advisory Camp helps build the friendships and trust that will carry us through the year.
Discover Our Camps
Autumn Camp
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Each autumn, students head out across Nagano and Gifu for a week of challenge and adventure in the outdoors. Every grade travels with a purpose—whether it’s learning how to hike and camp, pushing to new high routes, or beginning to take more ownership of trip decisions.
From long days on the Shio no Michi trail to big climbs in Hakuba’s backcountry and even multi-day river travel, students support each other through tough moments and celebrate small wins along the way. It’s a week that builds confidence, resilience, and friendships—memories that always feel a little bigger and sweeter once everyone is back home.
Winter Camp
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Winter Camp is our chance to step out of routine and into the snow: skiing, snowshoeing, and learning together in the mountains. Students take on new challenges each year, from carving fresh turns and exploring backcountry terrain to digging and sleeping in their own snow caves.
What stands out most isn’t just the skiing, but the small moments: pausing on a ridge, noticing the landscape in a new way, or realizing how far they’ve come. With a wide range of activities and a skilled team guiding them, students push their limits, support each other, and find their own “wow” moments—big and small—along the way.
