Mint Leaves, Mikvahs, and Living in the Moment

Camp life is in full bloom as Session 3 and 3a unfold. Each day is packed with discovery, laughter, and moments of deep connection — whether it’s dipping in the Tuolumne River, braiding challah in the Garden Kitchen, getting silly with paint during Gnarly, or belting out songs at Ruach Hour. All campers in this session will head out on a backpacking adventure, challenge themselves on our ropes course with our “challenge by choice” philosophy, and cool off together at their unit swim and river party. Everywhere you look, campers and our TLI teens are leaning into summer with wide eyes and open hearts.

This past Sunday, we celebrated Earth Day as a whole camp, bringing even more intention to our relationship with the land and each other. The Earth Tones, our staff band, lit up the stage with a performance that had everyone clapping, swaying, and singing along. Coming together for Earth Day is a reminder that we’re not just campers here, but stewards of this beautiful planet. Earth Day energy has flowed through every program since — especially in Teva (nature) and Garden activities.

One of the highlights of this week was the Garden Carmel Party — a dreamy gathering where campers explored the garden in full sensory mode. The garden buzzed with the scent of lemon balm and mint, the chatter of friends, and the sound of bees gently working nearby. Campers moved between stations, making soothing salves with herbs they had picked themselves, tucking lavender and mugwort (aromatic leaves) into handmade sleep satchels, and getting messy with nature art projects.

Lars J., a second-year camper in B-6, found a moment of stillness in the midst of it all: “I felt the most at peace,” he said softly, “just chewing on mint chocolate leaves in the garden.” That small act — pausing, tasting, grounding — is the kind of magic that happens here all the time.

His bunkmate, Jano E., who’s spending his fourth summer at Tawonga, shared another powerful experience from earlier this week. “It was super fun this year when we did the mikvah at Pipeline with Gavin,” Jano said (Gavin is our Jewish Program Director.) . “It was a mix of bunk bonding and Judaism, and he was a great leader. I learned about the three dunks — something you want to leave in the river, something you want to take away, and the third is a wish. I felt cleansed and empowered.”

Across Camp, staff are creating space for these moments of joy, spirituality, and reflection. Wilderness Leader and Teva Specialist Jacob David summed it up beautifully:

“Live in the moment. We are on this Earth, and we have only one. It’s all about teaching the kids to appreciate what’s around them and what’s going on in this present moment.”

This week, that spirit has taken root everywhere — from trails and treetops to bunk beds and garden paths. And as Session 3 and 3a continue, one thing is clear: these campers are growing, laughing, and living fully right here, right now.

P.S. Check out some sweet Shabbat moments from over the weekend here.

P.P.S. It’s also so special that this season, Tawonga is celebrating our 100th anniversary! In case you missed it, take a look at this video, reflecting back on a century of magic.