Camp Director Reflections on Taste of Camp

One of my favorite moments each summer occurs on the very first day of Taste of Camp when the children step off the bus to begin their Tawonga journey, greeted by cheering and singing staff. This excitement was especially palpable this year, during our 90^th season, as 82% of our Taste of Camp campers are new to Tawonga. Our largest Taste of Camp session yet with 278 children, this was such a fun, growing, and inspiring six days together with this new generation of Tawongans!

As I observed camp each day this week, I had the privilege of seeing the mission of Camp Tawonga come to life. On Tuesday, I stopped by the B-7 table during breakfast to ask about their day, when one boy shared, “We are swimming this afternoon, and tonight, we are having s’mores in the garden. I can’t wait! Everything here is fun, and I love it so much.”

I walked away with a huge smile on my face, because this camper reminded me that our mission is working; at Tawonga, children make good friends, have fun in nature, and feel great about themselves, all while feeling connected to our broader camp community. This week has been full of fun and enriching activities, and as families reconnect with their children tonight, I hope that campers share their stories about this first step in a hopefully long and fruitful Tawonga journey together.

For families new to camp, as well as for those returning, we hope that you will stay engaged with us throughout the year for some fun Down the Mountain community programs in the Bay Area. If you haven’t already done so, stay connected by bookmarking our blog, liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter.

With great appreciation,

Jamie Simon-Harris

Camp Director

P.S. Save the Date to celebrate a big Tawonga milestone with us: our 90^th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, November 7^th in San Francisco!

Below enjoy a few photos of our last morning of Taste of Camp! We will be uploading more photos of their departure in another post so stay tuned.