CAMDEN — It was an early morning Saturday for some Camden-Rockport Middle school kids and their parents, but what a way to start a school vacation. At 5 a.m., 10 students and two chaperones boarded a bus at the school: Destination Japan. Not by bus, but rather the first leg of a long journey that will eventually land them in Japan. It culminated months of fundraising efforts — a total of $35,000 — to get the students across the Pacific. And this trip has been happening for 16 years.  

In early January, nine students and their chaperones arrived from Japanto spend a week in Camden, living with host families. Now it’s the Camden-Rockport students turn to visit Japan.

The students will return on April 25 after spending a week in the district of Hirakawa, in Aomori Prefecture. The group will spend two days in Tokyo and then board a bullet train for their trip to Aomori.

Major supporters included the West Bay Rotary, Samoset Resort, Point Lookout, Suzuki’s Sushi Bar and Just Teachers, as well as other businesses and individuals.

Fundraising efforts from the exchange students included an indoor yard sale, a benefit dance, a magic show, fine art prints, a magic show, movie nights, a benfit dinner and the sale of Hannaford gift cards.

Acting as the fundraising committee, adults for the exchange program included John Paul Caponigro. Rebecca Graham, Joe Cox, Beth Chamberlin, Parker Chamberlin, Lee Marsh, Dane Winslow, Hillary Rackcliff, David Heath and Lisa Holt.

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