Paddling Our Hometown Lake

At a small elementary school on Lake Biwa, kayaking is part of the curriculum. The culmination of the students' training comes in late May, when every 5th- and 6th-grader takes part in a two-day kayak trip. Covering 40 kilometers round trip, the "nature study excursion" immerses the children in the lake's rich natural environment, and teaches them important life skills such as perseverance and cooperation. We follow 25 students as they gear up for a journey that will test them, and help them grow.