Teva Department Spotlight: A Partnership with Nature

By: Mulch, Zeph & Kobi

Summer 2024 has been deeply meaningful, fun and eventful for campers participating in Tawonga’s Teva programming! Teva, meaning “nature” in Hebrew, runs the outdoor education component of Camp Tawonga’s many specialist and wilderness programs. 

As the sole outdoor ed department within the larger Camp Tawonga community, Teva has been able to facilitate brand new programming for campers — including trekking across the Tuolumne River and on to the less developed part of Tawonga’s 160 acre property. 

In 2024, Camp Tawonga completed construction on a new wooden backpacking platform along a trail on the 40 acres across the river. With the inaugural building of the Redemption Trail in 2023 (read more here), campers in 2024 have set out on the path to trail completion. As Rabbi Tarfon once said, “It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.” Pirkei Avot 2:16. 

Session 3 campers have had more adventure time on the “Other Side” than any other session has had before, but the work will continue on into future sessions, future summers and the future of Tawonga’s relationship with this land. These Session 3 adventures have consisted of forest tikkuns (repairing the forest), bunk sleepovers on the Platform and a Galil Chug, “Junior Rangers of the Stanislaus National Forest.” 

Forest Tikkuns

Forest tikkuns are one of the three tikkun opportunities campers participate in during their three weeks at camp. With the addition of the backpacking platform, Teva shifted the forest tikkun focus from building burn piles near the Challenge Course and Pipeline river area to trail maintenance across the bridge. Learn about our Forestry Tikkuns in this blog post from last year. 

The six bunks who tikkuned the Redemption Trail engaged in a variety of different stewardship skills including manual trail clearing, pulling out overgrown plants, clearing burrs from existing grasses surrounding the trail, and making the trail more visible by defining the trail edges with sticks, logs and rocks. All the while, campers and staff discussed the longstanding stewardship efforts of the Me-Wuk people, who have lived on this land for thousands of years, well before Camp Tawonga existed. Through these tikkuns, we hope that campers find a new sense of appreciation for stewardship and for the natural landscape they exist in everyday.

Sleep Under the Stars

Sleep Under the Stars, offered by the Teva staff, is an opportunity for bunks of all ages to experience the thrill of remote backcountry camping, all while staying close to Camp. Just a  15-20 minute walk across the bridge from Pipeline, our brand new platform is nestled deep in the forest, offering a secluded haven. This is the perfect opportunity for campers to create unforgettable memories and bond with their bunkmates while getting a taste of backcountry camping! 

On the journey to the new platform, we discussed and learned about three things: 

(1) Tawonga’s commitment to preserving Me-Wuk artifacts, such as pounding stones, as we stopped by Ken’s rock – Named after former Camp Director Ken Kramarz, in honor of his time and dedication spent learning about and listening to the land. 

(2) Before the Rim Fire of 2013, the forest across the river was dense with trees. Since the Rim Fire, the now open space shows new diverse trees that have sprouted for over 10 years now. Tawonga has even spotted a sequoia tree naturally growing in the new forest! This provided the opportunity to discuss the environmental benefits of forest fires and connected them to cultural Me-Wuk burnings. 

(3) After setting up camp and hanging out, we drink hot cocoa, eat oreos and sleep under the stars. We conclude with bedtime stories and reciting the Shema prayer before falling asleep, gazing into the night sky! This session, three bunks had the opportunity to sleep under the stars at the new platform: B-4, G-6 and B-12. 

Chugim

Session 3, 2024 Galil campers engaged in especially meaningful chugim (skill-based electives); “Junior Rangers of the Stanislaus National Forest.” This three-block elective included campers from multiple Galil bunks and focused on further defining the Redemption Trail for continued access to the backpacking platform. 

This program has allowed for broad and expanded discussions on wilderness permitting, effective methods in group trail maintenance, as well as the importance of connecting to land through dignified work on it. Inclusion of a permit-making block set the tone of immersion into Jr. Ranger Expeditions, as well as simulating elements of real forest management. Later blocks included team-based, camper-led lining of the trail with rocks, making cairns and placing new trail signs. Expanding past the reach of our Tikkuns, this combined group of B-3 and B-4 campers gained a sense of connection to the trail and shared in excitement for returning to see their work for years to come.

Each of these adventures represent the values of Camp Tawonga. While we can see connections with every rung of the mission — fostering positive self-image and self-esteem, creating a cooperative community, Tikkun Olam: a partnership with nature, and spirituality and positive Jewish identity — the backpacking platform offers campers a unique opportunity to connect to these rungs all at once!

The mission rung of positive self image and self esteem has been one of the most rewarding outcomes from the backpacking platform adventures of Session 3. Campers have returned from their various activities, whether it’s a Forest Tikkun, a sleepover or Chugim feeling not only satisfied and proud of themselves, but also with their bunkmates! The backpacking platform has also given way to different types of accessible programs, which allow campers with all levels of ability to participate. 

The mission rung of Tikkun Olam runs deep within Teva programming, by nature of the program literally and figuratively. The backpacking platform has allowed campers to expand their nature knowledge and exposure into a space beyond the home base of Camp, in a different context than their bunk backpacking trip. Deepening connection to nature through new wilderness experiences is exactly how Camp Tawonga ensures campers return home feeling a love for the earth they may not have had before. 

Below, enjoy photos from our Teva programming.