01 / SNOW
Ski Experience
Group lessons led by ski-area instructors. First-time skiers can begin with equipment basics and gentle on-snow skills.
GIFTED EDUCATION × SKI CAMP 8 SEATS
FIELD NOTE / NIIGATA · AGA
2026.12.26 — 12.28
Three days when
their strengths come alive in the snow.
A three-day, two-night camp for up to eight participants, where each child’s strengths, interests, and ways of thinking guide skiing, inquiry, and shared discovery.
08SEATS
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
01
PROGRAMS
Curiosity continues
beyond the snow.
These are not simply activities placed side by side. Each experience begins with what sparks curiosity—on the slopes, around a game table, through making, and in conversation—so every participant can learn in ways that suit them.
02 / MYSTERY
Murder Mystery
A collaborative mystery experience where participants step into a story, examine clues, and work through one unfolding case with conversation and imagination.
03 / TABLETOP
Board Games
From easy-to-join games to thoughtful strategy games, participants share one table, one plan, and plenty of laughter.
04 / CARD GAME
Poker Tournament
A recreational card-and-chip tournament where participants enjoy friendly decision-making, reading the room, and play together.
05 / CREATE
Art Studio
A time to transform the colors and shapes of a snow country landscape into personal expression—drawing, making, and combining materials.
06 / EXPLORE
Renzulli Learning
SEM Experience
An inquiry session that begins with an interest, develops a question, explores and tests ideas, then shares what was discovered. Nature and peers become starting points for learning.
02
SKI LESSON
A first day in the snow
can begin with “I did it.”
Lessons are held in small groups and led by ski-area instructors. Whatever their experience, participants first get comfortable with snow, then build the fundamentals one manageable step at a time.
Meet, Prepare, Get Comfortable
We check equipment and begin with boots and skis. Walking and stopping on level snow help participants become familiar with the feel of the mountain.
Instructor-Led Group Lesson
Ski-area instructors guide core movements while watching the group closely. Experienced skiers build from their current level; beginners start in a gentle area where they can feel at ease.
Reflect and Choose What’s Next
“What felt fun?” “What would you like to try next?” Participants put their experience into words, turning time on the slopes into another opportunity to notice strengths and interests.
02
ABOUT SEM
GIFTED EDUCATION EXPERIENCE · STRENGTHS · INTERESTS · ACTION
Find the shape
of your strengths in the snow.
This camp introduces SEM (the Schoolwide Enrichment Model), an approach that supports gifted education. Starting from each participant’s strengths, interests, and ways of expressing ideas, we turn “Why?” and “I want to know more” into observation, dialogue, experimentation, and sharing.
Developed by the Renzulli Center at the University of Connecticut, SEM is an approach that supports talent development and inquiry-led learning.
Encounter
Participants encounter snow, seeds, maps, stories, and perspectives beyond the everyday. A new theme can become the seed of an interest.
Ask
They give language to “What catches my attention?” and “Why might this happen?” Instead of rushing to an answer, they find questions that feel like their own.
Explore
Observe, compare, draw, make, research. Conversation with peers becomes a clue for revisiting and refining an idea.
Share
Share discoveries and creations, and meet perspectives different from your own. Translating learning into words or expression opens the next inquiry.
EXPECTED LEARNING EFFECTS
What this experience
can help nurture.
A short program cannot promise a specific outcome. Still, inquiry and shared time built around individual interests can help cultivate foundations for learning such as the following.
Agency and Motivation
Working with a self-chosen theme creates distance from “learning because I was told to.” It can help participants identify what they want to research or try next.
Questioning and Sustained Thinking
Participants move beyond first observations by comparing, looking for reasons, and trying another approach. They gain experience thinking deeply when no single answer is fixed.
Creativity and Expression
Using forms of expression that suit them—drawing, building, explaining—participants give shape to an idea. They can experience the satisfaction of communicating it through a creation or words.
Dialogue, Collaboration, and Self-Knowledge
Meeting the ideas of peers with different ages and interests invites participants to reconsider their own. It can also help them notice what they enjoy and the conditions in which they do their best.
03
STAY & TABLE
Staying together and
sharing a table are
part of the journey.
Spend two nights in a private traditional home surrounded by snow. Warm rooms and a shared table make time in Aga Town feel unhurried and connected.
We touch seasonal ingredients, chop, simmer, and plate—sharing roles as we create the first meal together.
Gather around warm dishes while enjoying the ingredients and pace of a snow country evening.
04
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
GIFTED EDUCATION · SEM · LEARNING DESIGN
Yasuko HaraEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · JGTEA
Executive Director, JGTEA (Japan Gifted & Talented Education Association)
After earning the internationally recognized TESOL qualification, Yasuko Hara has spent 18 years teaching English, primarily to children. As a Certified Renzulli Learning Instructor, she also designs inquiry experiences that begin with learners’ strengths and interests. Her work in gifted education grew from meeting children whose ways of learning and experiencing the world did not fit conventional approaches. At Winter School, she designs and supports experiences that turn time in the snow into “I want to know more” and “I want to try.”
EDUCATION18 years
teaching English
teaching English
QUALIFICATIONInternationally recognized
TESOL qualification
TESOL qualification
CERTIFICATIONCertified
Renzulli Learning Instructor
Renzulli Learning Instructor
MEMBERSHIPFull member
of APFG
of APFG
JGTEA develops and provides gifted education programs, supports SEM implementation, and offers learning and career guidance. Learn more about JGTEA ↗
04
ITINERARY
Your three-day
winter field guide.
DAY 1DEC 26
SAT
SAT
Arrive in Aga Town. Step into winter.
After arriving, we settle into the rhythm of snow country and prepare for our stay. Dinner is cooked together with seasonal ingredients and shared roles. The evening continues with a murder mystery and board games.
DAY 2DEC 27
SUN
SUN
Slopes, making, and inquiry.
Move freely at Mikawa Onsen Ski Area, then return to the lodge for art and a Renzulli Learning SEM session. Enjoy a chef-prepared dinner before a lively evening poker tournament.
DAY 3DEC 28
MON
MON
Take the memories home.
Pack up and head home carrying time spent on the slopes, making, and around the game table. Final departure details will be shared after registration.
05
FIELD DETAILS
EVENT DETAILS
- DATE
- December 26 (Sat)–
28 (Mon), 20263 days / 2 nights - PLACE
- Aga Town, Niigata
Mikawa Onsen Ski Area / Okuaga Shichimeian Rakura - ELIGIBILITY
- Open to the public and JGTEA members
Ages 4+; adults are welcome - CAPACITY
- 8FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
06
PARTICIPATION FEE
FEES
Choose a participation type to see key registration information.
STUDENT
¥65,000Student participation fee. Meeting details, packing guidance, and payment instructions will be shared after registration.
The Parent + Child fee is ¥130,000. JGTEA members receive 10% off this fee.
07
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the key details to review before participating. Meeting arrangements, packing guidance, and the final schedule will be shared after registration.
BOOK A WEB INFORMATION SESSION↗Q1What should participants bring?＋
Please bring warm outerwear, waterproof gloves, a warm hat, thick socks, comfortable indoor clothing, a change of clothes, toiletries, and any regular medication. For snow activities, participants should also prepare ski or snowboard wear, snow boots, and goggles if available. Equipment, weather-dependent items, and a final packing checklist will be shared after registration.
After your application is confirmed, you will be invited to our Open Chat. This is where you will receive the detailed packing list, meeting place and time, transportation guidance, final schedule, and updates from the team.
Q2Is there a refund if I cancel?＋
Participation fees are non-refundable after payment. Please confirm that the dates, participation type, and travel arrangements work for you before completing payment. A registration is not confirmed until JGTEA has reviewed the application and provided payment instructions.
If participation becomes impossible after you have registered or paid, please contact the organizer as soon as possible. We will share any practical next steps, but we cannot promise a refund after payment.
Q3Can a first-time skier participate?＋
Yes. Activities are adapted so participants can enjoy time in the snow according to their age and experience. First-time skiers are welcome to participate at a comfortable pace.
Q4Can children or adults participate on their own?＋
The camp is open to the public and JGTEA members, from children age 4 through adults. Please use the registration form to ask about participation types or any concerns.
Q5Where will I get the meeting place and final trip information?＋
Confirmed participants will be invited to the Winter School Open Chat after registration. The Open Chat is the main place for packing guidance, the meeting place and time, travel and pickup information, the final itinerary, and event updates. Please make sure the contact details on your registration form are correct.
Q6Can I speak with the team before applying?＋
Yes. You can book a short web information session to ask questions about the program, participation, or practical arrangements.
A LOOK AT JGTEA
See the spirit
of the journey.
Watch moments from a JGTEA educational trip—shared exploration, snow activities, games, and the connections that grow through learning together.
WATCH ON YOUTUBE↗READY FOR THE SNOW?
This winter,
come to Aga Town.
Capacity is limited to eight participants on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to join, please complete the registration form below.
OPEN REGISTRATION FORM↗
Registration closes once capacity is reached. We will email you after reviewing your form.