NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, Japan — Members of the prestigious cooking and restaurateur school The Culinary Institute of America will return to Atsugi to infuse new spirit into base eateries and offer residents some haute cuisine training.

The school has sent instructors to work with food-service and Morale, Welfare and Recreation employees for about 10 years to help them develop their skills. A few years ago they added a public cooking demonstration.

The visit also leads to several days of all-hands meals offered at the Officers Club.

This year, visiting chefs will prepare special luncheons July 19 and 20. The public cooking demonstration is on July 21 from 1 to 4 p.m.

The luncheons cost $11.95. The demonstration costs $25. Tickets can be purchased at the cashier’s cage.

The luncheons will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. On July 19 will be “Fiesta en Japon,” a Mexican buffet, and on July 20 “East Meets West,” an International buffet

Call DSN 264-3621 for more information.

Atsugi’s Bon Odori festival is SaturdayNAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, Japan — Welcome home the spirits of the dead Japanese-style with Atsugi’s Bon Odori festival Saturday.

Obon is a festival featuring dancing and drumming to welcome home deceased ancestors for their summer visit.

The base celebrates the traditional festival with an American flair, including drumming and dancing by base and Japanese groups, plenty of food and other attractions.

The festival will be held from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday at Reid Field. Gates open at noon. The rain date is Sunday.

Call DSN 264-3782 for more information.

Free Sasebo shuttle heads to the beachSASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan — Base residents can hit the beach this summer with a free Sunday shuttle bus to Shirahama Beach.

The shuttle leaves the Showboat Theater parking lot at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. The shuttle returns from the beach at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. Children younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

The shuttle runs on Sundays through Aug. 27 but will not operate during inclement weather.

Call DSN 252-3433 for more information.

Six Camp Butler recreation workers honoredCAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Six Marine Corps Community Service employees here have been recognized in the Armed Forces Recreation Society awards program, according to a Marine Corps news release Monday.

The society, a branch of the National Recreation and Park Association, recognized 52 people worldwide who contributed to the recreation of members of the military community. The six from MCCS Camp Butler were:

Christine Brown, a youth sports recreation assistant; Gerald Sharber, a sports specialist; Jonathan Jones, an assistant athletic program coordinator; Cynthia Shipley, a librarian; Richard Farnell, an entertainment program manager; and Richard Poulin, a deployment coordinator.

The awards are to be given out in October at the National Recreation and Park Association’s annual meeting in Seattle.

Camp offers alternative to summer slothCAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Marine Corps Community Services in August is offering a “Survivor”-style alternative to spending summer vacation playing video games for kids ages 10-12.

MCCS Semper Fit Health Promotions is presenting “Survivor: Oura Wan Beach 2006 Kids Wellness Camp” Aug. 8-10 on Camp Schwab. It will be a three-day focus on healthy habits and fun, according to an MCCS press release.

Registration for camp begins July 18 at the MCCS Health Promotions office in Room 209, Building 5677 on Camp Foster. Registration must be done in person between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and costs $75 per child. Space is limited.

Call MCCS Health Promotions at DSN 645-3484 or MCCS Consumer Relations at DSN 645-2628 or visit www.mccsokinawa.com for more information.