Today as part our Israel Day celebration, campers took a tour of Israel. Throughout the morning each unit visited a different station that represented a different city or area in Whether it was visiting a Bedouin tent in the Negev, or sipping on tea in a cafe on the streets of Tel Aviv, campers got a taste of life in Israel and an opportunity to discuss the different cultures, ways of life and opinions of Israel’s varied population.

The campers of Hafia learn about different settlers of the Negev: the Bedouin, and the Kibbutzniks.

Carmel campers visit a café in Tel Aviv where they hear a radio broadcast from a Macabia Tel Aviv championship game and watch a video clip of a protest in the city.

Shabbat is a very special time at camp in which campers celebrate Judaism through songs, dinner, conversation, dancing, and a beautiful Saturday Torah service. Shabbat begins on Friday at about 5pm when song-leaders and staff stroll to all of the cabins and pick up excited campers who join in their singing and strolling.

Campers clean up and get dressed in their favorite finery. My, everyone looks so nice!

After a delicious Shabbat Dinner with fresh camper-prepared challah, campers participate in freylach (dancing), campfire discussions and then head back to their cabins to rest. On Saturday morning campers eat breakfast and go to Makom Shalom, our beautiful natural amphitheater for Torah Service, Tawonga-style.

A Camp T experience would be incomplete without a trip to the challenge course. During the morning, campers learn to work as a team in order to complete the many group challenges. In the afternoon harnesses and helmets go on and campers go up… the trees that is! Campers are invited to challenge themselves and their fears on our high elements. Check out G-5 and G-6’s challenge course experiences.

Nothing but support for the campers on the challenges

G-6 campers: Hanging Tough

Campers and counselors hold on to the rope as part of the team belay!

Shabbat is a special day at Camp Tawonga. The whole community showers and dresses in their Friday night finest to welcome in the Sabbath. This Shabbat makeover is not just limited to the campers. In preparation for Shabbat, campers participated in an all camp clean-up. Check out the amazing job the campers of B-5 and B-6 did at cleaning the Ga-Ga Pit and Moadone area.

An important part of every campers experience is our Tikkun Tawonga program. Campers participate in a number of different work projects that teach how all types of work are important in creating a community and that we all can play an active role in making our community and world a better place.

Today B-10A had a chance to participate in our Forestry Tikkun. The bunk began by learning about the impact humans have had on the forest in this area, and then discussed the responsibility we have in maintaining balance in the ecosystem. Campers then broke into 4 work groups and with the guidance of our Forest Stewards began to cut trees, thinning the forest as a natural fire would.

Through their hard work the campers helped to create a safer forest.

It was all about rainbows here today, as G-1 celebrated Rainbow Day. Freshly body painted to the tune of ROY G. BIV, the girls wrote their own “Rainbow Anthem,” and serenaded all those around. They then headed down to the river for some more COLORFUL fun.

Session 3 is already in full swing!

The campers were greeted and serenaded by the 2008 Tawonga Staff as they got off the busses. Once all of the campers had divided by gender, they were split into bunks.

Counselors played a name game, put away their things, and immediately started work on a bunk cheer for the opening campfire.

Old friends were excited to be at camp with each other again.

At the opening campfire, each child has a chance to introduce themselves during a bunk cheer.

The staff is already up to the task of entertaining the campers. A rubber chicken is always funny. Always.

Each bunk’s schedule was created for the first week. Campers can look forward to all of their old favorites: Arts and Crafts, Ga-ga, Pool Activities,

Getting Gnarly, Archery, Drama, Basketball, River Trips, Tawonga Ball,

Stage Combat, Israeli Dancing and and more.

Song Sessions filled with singing and dancing.

At Camp Tawonga we are very thankful for the food that we eat. The unit of Haifa was so thankful in fact, that they threw a massive parade for the Sysco truck as it rolled into camp.

After two hours of preparing signs, costumes, cheers, and even a red carpet, Tawongans march along side the Sysco truck as it enters camp.



Here's our new friend Gennaro being given the "Royal Treatment." We dubbed him King Sysco and gave him a crown and scepter.



It turned out that this was Gennaro's first day on the job. What a welcome he got to camp! When Haifa's Unit Head, Noah, thanked him for being such a good sport he said, "No, thank you. I was having a rough day and this really cheered me up."

Yesterday the campers of Camp Tawonga took a moment out of their busy schedule to write thank you postcards to the fire fighters who have been helping fight the North Fire. Campers wrote heartfelt postcards to the men and women who have taken time away from their family to help save the surrounding forest and keep our community safe. Later during Green Floats, campers made and signed a giant thank you card from the entire camp.





Here a few of the post cards they wrote:

Dear firefighter,
Thank you for protecting Camp Tawonga from the fires in beautiful Yosemite. Thank you for fighting the fire to keep Yosemite beautiful and protected. I think you’re very brave to fight the fires. I am amazed that you would come away from your families and protect Tawonga and Yosemite.

Your biggest fan,
Roz



Dear Firefighters,
We at Camp Tawonga really, really appreciate your work to help save the forest and fight the fire. I really appreciate you taking time out of you daily lives to help protect us from the fire and fight it. I am so happy you are doing all that work to protect us and the forest.
Love,
Julia

At camp Tawonga we like to get dressed up for Shabbat wearing the nicest clothes that we have. On other days, we take a different approach to getting dressed up.

Here's the bunk of G-10 dressed up for a Pool Fashion Show.
There's no running at the pool! That's why this G-10er is engaged in a walk off!

G-3 celebrate after defeating the dragon of Gnarliness!

G-10 has a Gnarly day as well!

But it's hot out here, and no matter how we dress up, we all know how to cool down!

Today the unit of Carmel gathered by the banks of the Tuolumne River to welcome our brothers and sister from across the pond. Beginning with a brief lesson on English accent basics, followed by high tea and scones, and ending with a Beatles song session, the campers shed their Yankee ways and romped with their mates.

“Cheerio, it’s tea time!” cry these Carmel ladies. Pinkies up!

Nothing like a sporting game of Croquet to liven up a morning.

Campers design and create British flags and crafts next to the river.

When you think of arts and crafts projects at camp, friendship bracelets and lanyards might come to mind. However, our second session campers are definitely kicking it up a notch with the help of our great A & C staff. Check out these shots of B-4 and G-5, as they put the pedal to the metal, and make our wheels spin!!!

Today Camp Tawonga was taken over by a sea of spandex and neon colors as G-7, G-9, and the ITs Jazzercised their way through the day. First they learned some basic moves from their fearless Jazzercise leaders, learned a group Jazzercise routine, and then had the opportunity to break into groups and choreograph their own. The results were priceless.

Here is G-7 doing a Soul Train, looking on as two of their bunkmates dance down the line.


Even the counselors got in on the action!


G-9 and the ITs don't mess around when it comes to appropriate Jazzercise
attire- they really brought it this time!


All in all, a great aerobic time was had by all!

Session 2 has begun, and we couldn’t be more excited. Here are a few highlights from the first 24 hours!!!

Counselors line the road outside the dining hall and welcome the campers off the bus with songs and cheers.

Campers head off the buses and into main camp where they meet their counselors and cabin mates.

G-8 plays a name game during their opening tour of camp!!!

“Almost heaven, Camp Tawonga…” The first song session of every session starts with these four simple words, as campers link arms and sing along to Camp T’s own version of “County Roads.”

During the opening camp fire each bunk gets on stage to perform a short cheer. Here B-2 introduces themselves and shows off their agility.