As more and more schools introduce overnight stays for school excursions, "where and with whom" greatly influences the quality of the trip. The content of the experience and the location alone are not enough to truly move students.
The host families on Izena Island have an attitude of "welcoming" rather than "taking care of" the students. This attitude allows the students to quietly open their hearts and gives the teachers peace of mind. The reason why Izena Island is chosen among the many school excursion accommodations is because of the power of its people.
The attitude of the host who welcomes you as a "member of the family," not as a "stranger.
Host families on Izena Island welcome students not as "guests" but as if they were their own children or grandchildren. They call them by name, cook meals with them, and say "Otsukare-sama" to them at the end of the day. Such casual interactions are a great comfort to the students. A few hours later, they are smiling, and the next day they already feel that "this is where I belong. There are many hosts on Izena Island who can create that atmosphere.
Safety, cleanliness, responsiveness
Safe environment from a parent's perspective
Teachers and parents are concerned about safety, hygiene, and emergency response. In this respect, host families on Izena Island have earned a high level of trust. Allergy and daily living considerations are shared in advance, and regular training sessions are held to enhance each family's ability to respond. In the event of any problems, a system is in place for immediate cooperation with local coordinators and medical institutions, and this is one of the factors that make the families feel that they can send their children here with peace of mind.
It's not a "teachable moment," it's a place where students can find out for themselves.
The host is not a teacher. But that is a good thing. Because they "need" the students' presence, not by telling them what to do, but by saying, "Let's try it together," "Thank you," and "You're very helpful," the children naturally develop a sense of "my role" and "the other person's feelings" within themselves. At the Izena Island homestay, the students themselves gradually grow as people through a series of small realizations. That is the true educational effect.
On the way home, what will remain in your heart is not "special experiences" but "memories with people.
Cultural and nature experiences are certainly fun. But what the students who completed their school trip to Izena Island talk about at the end of the trip are the conversations they had with their hosts and the time they spent together.
I was nervous, but you were kind to me.
The memories will slowly work their way into the students' hearts later on. The homestay on Izena Island leaves a small "bond with people" in the trip.
