Daegu Garrison and local mayor restart Apsan English Camp

CAMP WALKER, Daegu, South Korea - As children and Soldiers filed into the Camp Walker Community Activities Center, or CAC, March 20, the air buzzed with excitement and anticipation with the resumption of the Global Apsan English Camp, a weekly exchange over a month which brings together young students from local schools in Nam-gu or South District of Daegu, South Korea, and Soldiers from the U.S. Army Garrison Daegu Headquarters and Headquarters Company.

The initiative for the Global Apsan Camp, which started with the Mayor of Nam-gu in 2007, found very willing partners in the Garrison's Soldiers. The program ran through 2019 and paused due to the COVID epidemic. During that time more than 2,900 Korean children from elementary to middle schools had taken part in the camps.

The first day began with USAG Daegu Commander, Col. Dave Henning, greeting the Daeduk Elementary School students and HHC Soldiers.

"What an exciting day for us, restarting the Global Apsan English Camp," Henning said. "I hope that you all enjoy your time together, and most importantly have fun and get to know each other while learning."

Over the four-session, five-week period (interrupted by Korean elections), the students and Soldiers embarked on a journey not just of language learning, but of cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

"Although it's a short camp period, you have a special time to experience American culture in a location which most (Korean) people don't get to view," said Daegu Nam-gu Mayor Cho, Jae Gu. "I hope then that this experience helps you feel more closely with Americans, especially U.S. Soldiers."

The campers delved into various aspects of American culture through themed activities. There was a day dedicated to bowling, a chance to tour and interact with the USAG Daegu headquarters staff, a meal at the Camp Henry's "Sustainer Grill" Dining Facility, some time in the gym, some fast food outlets, and much more.

As the camp drew to a close April 17, there were emotional farewells, with promises to keep in touch and continue practicing English. The Global Apsan English Camp had not only improved the linguistic abilities of these young students but had sown the seeds of cultural understanding and set the stage for the next group of students as the program resumes in earnest.

"I hope all the students learned something about life and the people on base and had some fun while doing that," Henning said. "Congratulations again on a successful camp on this first return to the program. I can't wait to be back here for the start of the next session!"

USAG Daegu encompasses three separate base clusters: Camp Carroll in Waegwan, Chilgok County; Camps Walker, Henry and George within the Nam-gu district of Daegu Metropolitan City; and Pier 8 and Busan Storage Center are in Busan. USAG Daegu has the largest footprint in South Korea, encompassing almost half of the country, stretching from Daejeon to Busan. As an enduring hub on the peninsula, we also provide support to the U.S. Navy at Fleet Activities Jinhae and the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Mujuk in Pohang.

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