Almost Heaven
A Visual History of Tawonga at 100
In honor of Camp Tawonga’s centennial, we invite you to explore “Almost Heaven: A Visual History of Tawonga at 100.” This immersive and dynamic digital book traces the story of Camp from its early origins in the 1920s to its modern history on the banks of the Tuolumne River.
New Chapters Coming Soon!
We will be releasing more chapters over the next several months, highlighting 100 years of Camp life, from the music to the food, to the backpacking trips, and more. Ever wonder how “Leaving on a Jet Bus” came to Tawonga? Or why late-night staff snack became a thing? It’s all in here, and we can’t wait to share it with you.
Share Your Tawonga History
This book is intended to serve as a living history as opposed to a definitive record, so we invite you to reach out to [email protected] if you’re privy to key historical facts that are missing or inaccurate. This includes if you have a historical photo that might fill in a blank in our shared story.
You can also share a memory or how Tawonga has impacted your life by responding to a prompt on this page. Get nostalgic with us!
More About the Project
Our hope is that Tawongans of all generations can see their camp experience reflected back to them through this visual narrative while also taking in the breadth of the organization’s rich history. This project draws from Tawonga’s existing photographic and documentary archives as well as oral histories conducted in recent months with longtime Tawonga community.
We hope that future generations of campers and leaders will visit this living history as a reminder of what roots us all together as Tawongans.
Centennial Video
Marking our centennial, this tribute video celebrates our rich history and looks ahead to our vibrant future. Directors and Board Members serving in the 1960s and 1970s graciously took part in this project. Each of them widens the lens, bringing new insight to Tawonga’s extraordinary story and impact. Enjoy seeing – and feeling – the magic of Tawonga across the decades.
The Early Years
For more about the history of the land, take a look at our land essay.
Visual History Committee
We are deeply grateful to the dedicated team of volunteers and professional staff who have brought this project to life so that Tawongans of all ages can enjoy our beautiful shared history in perpetuity:
Paul Herman, Tawonga Board Member
Lisa Wertheim, Former Tawonga Chief Development Officer
Casey Cohen, Senior Director, Communications
Natalie Jenkins, Communications Specialist
Barrie Zipkin, Editorial Support
Questions
Have thoughts or questions about the project? Feel free to reach out to [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.