Natsu Camp 2027 is a two-week interdisciplinary programme for about 25 students aged 16-19 from around the world, running 25 July to 8 August 2027: online preparation first, then an intensive residential week in Okinawa, Japan. The Priority Round and the need-based scholarship close on 15 December 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we read the organiser's application page and listed the fees, dates and scholarship rules below. This is a paid camp run by The Natsuyasumi Project: it is not part of Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps (ESC).
Natsu Camp 2027 at a Glance
🏝️ Place: Okinawa, Japan (online pre-residential part before the stay)
🗓️ Dates: 25 July - 8 August 2027
👥 Cohort: approximately 25 students
🎂 Age: 16-19 as of 2 August 2027
💴 Programme fee: JPY 498,000 plus a JPY 1,500 registration fee
🎓 Financial support: need-based NATSU Global Scholarship (partial to full fee waivers)
Not an Erasmus+ or ESC Project: Please Read First
⚠️ Different programme: Natsu Camp is a private, paid summer programme and is not funded or run under Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps
💳 Fees apply: the programme fee, registration fee and deposit are listed in the fees section below
✈️ Travel not included: participants plan to cover their own travel expenses
What Natsu Camp Is
Natsu Camp brings together a deliberately small international cohort for two weeks of interdisciplinary learning, beginning with online pre-residential preparation and followed by an intensive residential week in Okinawa. The organiser stresses that it is an intensive learning and residential experience, not primarily a tourism or sightseeing programme.
📚 Classroom learning: students take an active part in classroom sessions
🧪 Impact Lab: a hands-on part of the programme
🗺️ Fieldwork: learning outside the classroom
🤲 Community engagement: working with the local community
🏡 Shared residential life: living together alongside creative, cultural and social activities
Who Can Apply
Natsu Camp 2027 is open to students worldwide who:
🎂 Age: are 16-19 years old as of 2 August 2027
🏫 Education: are currently enrolled in high school or an equivalent secondary programme, or have recently graduated and are taking a gap year
✅ Availability: can take part in the full programme, including the required online pre-residential portion
No particular academic specialisation or prior experience with design thinking, social innovation or any of the subjects covered is required.
Before You Apply
Students and families are asked to prepare before submitting:
📋 Review the details: programme dates, format, fee and travel requirements
💻 Both parts: make sure the student can join the online and residential portions
🤔 Fit: consider whether Natsu Camp matches the student's interests and expectations
🧾 Funding: discuss how the programme will be paid for
⏱️ Deposit: if admitted, a non-refundable deposit is required within 48 hours to secure the place
How to Apply
A complete application includes:
🧑💻 Basic applicant information
✍️ "Why Natsu Camp?" written response: up to 300 words on why you want to attend, how it connects to your interests, experiences or questions, and what you hope to contribute and gain. The ideas and expression should be your own; AI tools may be used for minor editing or proofreading, but not to generate the substance of the response
🎬 One-minute video response: imagine you have one hour at Natsu Camp to teach your classmates something you are passionate about; tell the organisers what your class would be about and how you would get classmates excited to learn with you (about 1 minute)
💬 20-minute live conversation (if requested): an informal chat with one or two mentors or organising team members; authenticity is valued over polished or rehearsed answers
🧮 Financial verification and a short scholarship essay: only if applying for the need-based NATSU Global Scholarship
Rolling Admissions
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Priority Round applicants can typically expect a decision within 1 to 2 weeks of submitting a complete application; applications requesting financial assistance usually need more review time. In the Regular Round, when fewer places may remain, review can take up to 4 weeks.
The cohort is deliberately small, around two dozen students each year, so admissions may close before the final deadline once places are filled, and qualified applicants may be placed on a waitlist. Any early closure is announced on the application page.
🌍 Apply early: students who feel Natsu Camp is a strong fit are encouraged to apply as soon as their application is complete
Important Dates
📣 15 October 2026: applications open
⏳ 15 December 2026, 23:59 JST: Priority Round deadline
🎓 15 December 2026, 23:59 JST: NATSU Global Scholarship deadline
🗓️ 15 February 2027, 23:59 JST: Regular Application deadline
💳 31 March 2027: remaining programme fee balance due for enrolled students
All deadlines use Japan Standard Time (JST). Late applications are not considered, and extensions are not granted for technical difficulties, scheduling conflicts, time-zone misunderstandings, missing documents or similar circumstances.
Programme Fees and Enrollment Payments
💴 Programme fee: JPY 498,000 plus a JPY 1,500 registration fee
⚡ Enrollment deposit: applicants who receive an offer have 48 hours to secure a place with a non-refundable JPY 90,000 deposit plus the JPY 1,500 registration fee, paid by credit or debit card; the deposit counts toward the programme fee
🏦 Remaining balance: JPY 408,000, which must be received by bank transfer by 31 March 2027; applicants admitted after this date receive an individual payment deadline
🧾 Bank fees: applicants cover any bank transfer fees and must make sure the full amount arrives
Enrollment documents, health and accommodation information, travel guidance and payment instructions are provided after enrollment.
NATSU Global Scholarship
The NATSU Global Scholarship is a need-based scholarship for applicants worldwide and provides partial to full programme fee waivers. A full waiver covers the entire JPY 498,000 programme fee.
📅 Deadline: apply by the 15 December 2026 Financial Support Deadline; no exceptions are made, and scholarship requests after the Priority Round cannot be considered, and applicants who apply as self-funded cannot request the scholarship after submitting their application
📝 Scholarship essay: up to 100 words on one issue, challenge or question that matters to you, why it matters, and how Natsu Camp might shape the way you engage with it
🎙️ Interview: a 20-minute live interview is required
💶 Deposit: scholarship recipients secure their place with a JPY 50,000 deposit plus the JPY 1,500 registration fee, unless the offer says otherwise; recipients of a full scholarship get the deposit refunded after successful completion of the camp, subject to the offer terms
⚖️ Limited funding: scholarship funding is limited and competitive, financial aid is not guaranteed, and admission for applicants seeking aid depends on funding availability; some may be waitlisted
✈️ Travel: travel support is not part of the scholarship and cannot be requested; limited travel support may be offered later to selected students based on need and available funds
Financial Documents for the Scholarship
📄 Standard document: the household's most recent complete income tax return, tax assessment or equivalent government-issued income record
🔁 If unavailable: a self-declared statement explaining why, plus alternative official evidence such as an employer-issued annual income statement, the three most recent consecutive payslips, or official pension, government assistance, unemployment or self-employment records
📑 Completeness: documents must be complete, unaltered and include all pages; the organisers may request additional documentation or verification
📞 Other proof: if none of the listed documents are available, contact the organisers before the deadline to discuss other verification
Scholarship applicants also state the maximum amount their family can reasonably contribute without significant hardship. Financial aid is reviewed together with the admission application, so the admission decision and any scholarship offer arrive at the same time.
NATSU Japan Access Grant
For students based in Japan, a limited number of JPY 120,000 NATSU Japan Access Grants are available to applicants whose primary residence is in Japan, regardless of citizenship.
💴 Value: a JPY 120,000 reduction in the programme fee
📮 No separate application: the grant is chosen as part of the main application
🏝️ Priority: applicants residing in Okinawa come first; awards are not guaranteed
🔀 Either or: residents of Japan choose either this grant or the need-based NATSU Global Scholarship; they cannot be combined
⏰ No separate deadline: consideration continues through the general admissions process while grants remain available
Grant recipients follow the standard enrollment deposit and registration fee requirements, and the deposit counts toward the reduced fee.
If you are weighing the cost of camps and programmes abroad, our guide on convincing your parents may help you start the conversation at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Natsu Camp 2027?
The camp runs from 25 July to 8 August 2027, with online pre-residential preparation followed by an intensive residential week in Okinawa, Japan.
Who can apply to Natsu Camp?
Students worldwide aged 16-19 as of 2 August 2027 who are enrolled in high school or an equivalent programme, or have recently graduated and are taking a gap year, and who can take part in the full programme.
How much does Natsu Camp cost?
The programme fee is JPY 498,000 plus a JPY 1,500 registration fee. A non-refundable JPY 90,000 deposit secures the place within 48 hours of an offer, and the remaining JPY 408,000 is due by 31 March 2027. Travel is not included.
Is there a scholarship?
Yes. The need-based NATSU Global Scholarship gives partial to full fee waivers and must be applied for by 15 December 2026. Residents of Japan can alternatively ask for a JPY 120,000 Japan Access Grant.
What is the application deadline?
The Priority Round and scholarship deadline is 15 December 2026 at 23:59 JST, and the Regular deadline is 15 February 2027 at 23:59 JST. Admissions may close earlier if places fill up.
Is Natsu Camp part of Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps?
No. It is a private paid summer programme run by The Natsuyasumi Project and is not run under Erasmus+ or ESC.
What does the application include?
Basic information, a written response of up to 300 words, a one-minute video, and a 20-minute live conversation if requested. Scholarship applicants add financial documents and a short essay.
Can I get travel support?
Travel support cannot be requested through the scholarship. Participants plan to cover their own travel, though limited support may be offered later to selected students based on need.
Find more opportunities like this in the Others section on Youth Works Hub →.
Deadline
⏳ 15 December 2026
Links
🔗 Application page: https://www.natsuproject.org/apply
🔗 Natsu Project website: https://www.natsuproject.org/
📧 Questions: info@natsuproject.org
