4.29.2010
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This blog has moved
This blog is now located at http://blog.tawonga.org/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.
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3.04.2010
Future Happy Campers
Chloe
Naomi (and Dad, David)Tawonga Teens bring Tawonga cheer
The Tawonga Teen Experience had another awesome event Sunday, February 7 as a group of 15 Tawonga teens spent part of the morning and afternoon at Glide Memorial Church, bringing the Tawonga spirit of tikkun olam, helping serve lunch to those who were in need. Everyone worked hard and had a great time while making a positive impact.
12.22.2009
A is for...
The Camp Tawonga full time staff took some time away from preparing for summer of 2010 by volunteering at the San Francisco Food Bank. We arrived at the food bank on a chilly San Francisco afternoon and were given a tour of the facility and a brief information session about hunger. We learned that 150,000 San Franciscans face the day not knowing where their next meal will come from: That's 1 in 5 adults. 1 in 4 children. And 1 in 4 seniors.
The numbers were unbelievably striking and we couldn't wait to get to work. Our assignment was packing apples....hundreds of apples! We literally brought to life the age old pun of "separating the good apples from the bad apples."
After 3 hours of sorting, we packed 12,000 pounds of apples and helped contribute to feeding 78,000 people that day. What an incredible feeling for all of us!
The San Francisco Food Bank has many volunteer opportunities for individuals, groups, and families. Check out their website for more information: http://www.sffoodbank.org/
For more ideas about group and family friendly activities, create a Camp Tawonga Havurah! Gather your friends, family, neighbors, classmates and more into a circle of friends. You create the group, we'll set you up with plenty of resources and ideas for great activities.
For more information about the Camp Tawonga Havurah program, contact Ryley Katz at ryley@tawonga.org or 415.543.2267 ext. 114.
11.03.2009
Tawonga Teen Experience Kicks Off!
Sunday, November 1, 2009 started just like any other Sunday. It was great weather and the 49ers and Raiders were losing. But, this was no ordinary Sunday. In fact, it heralded the dawn of a new era in Camp Tawonga programming.
The Tawonga Teen Experience, year-round programming designed specifically for high-school aged Tawonga teens, kicked off with a great afternoon in Golden Gate Park. Over 30 teens from all different years in high school and having attended Tawonga programs from quest, to IT to TSL to 2nd-4th sessions showed up to picnic, play games and stay connected to Tawonga.
We’ll be meeting monthly to get together and have fun!
8.14.2009
Congrats to the Graduates
G-3, whose bunk theme is “Schools Out,” celebrated the end of camp with their very own G-3 Graduation. Each camper made a diploma and grad hat, complete with tassel and personal design, and wore them proudly during the processional. After a stirring speech by commencement speaker Assistant Director Andy Grossman, campers received their diplomas, as well as a personal letter written by their counselors. Finally each were able to make their own personal speech and say their appreciations. To the stirring tunes of “Pomp and Circumstance,” the campers left the ceremony and headed back to the bunk to enjoy their last day of Session 4.
Campers listen attentively to the commencement speech.
Campers receive diplomas and give their acceptance speeches.
The speeches were both hilarious and captivating!
8.10.2009
TSL Returns to Teach
Fresh from their trip to
8.06.2009
And the Wall Came a-Tumblin’ Down
Have you ever gotten the chance to cross the Berlin Wall into West Berlin? Well, today a lucky group of Eilat campers got that chance. As part of the Decades chug (elective), they created their own paper version of the Berlin Wall, but that was only the beginning.
The campers walked all over camp with their wall, inviting staff members and other campers to think about their own personal “Berlin Walls,” which was anything within them that holds them back. Then, the participant would write their thoughts on the wall, and cross through to freedom in West Germany. Here, our amazing kitchen manager Kel writes down his own “Berlin Wall,”
and crosses through to personal freedom, amid much clapping and cheering. Liberation at last!!
YELLOW JACKETS DEVOUR TOAD, CHILDREN CHANT
marching across the Girl's Side Field were seen 12 campers
from G-Dalet, a bunk of 10-11 year-old girls, holding pitch
forks and wheeling wheel-barrows, chanting "There's no
such thing as garbage" so loud the metal dumpsters trembled
in fright. These girls, whose bunk theme was coincidentally
"Go Green," successfully marched toward the waste area
behind the Camp Tawonga kitchen and ransacked said area,
taking all the discarded cardboard they could carry on the
wheelbarrows they wheeled. Campers wondered what the
pitch forks were for---obviously for social impact.
After successfully loading up their wheelbarrows, they
proudly marched back to the garden (now chanting "Waste
is a resource") and placed the cardboard flat in their final resting place, as
bottom liners for future raised garden beds. The gardener,
the silent instigator of said "Garbogenous
Revolt" explained to the campers that this cardboard
would stop weeds from growing and would eventually
turn into soil and vegetables by next summer.
These radical actions were inspired by---this is where
the headline title finally makes sense---the unsightly
sight of a toad previously run over by a vehicle, now
being devoured by yellow jackets, these aerial aces
entering the toad both through its mouth and lower
orifice to access juicy carnal fluids and tissues. The
campers were led here to prove that humans have
invented garbage, as garbage does not exist in nature
and everything is turned into something else. If a toad
can essentially turn into hundreds of yellow-jackets,
only minutes after its fatal failure to fully cross the road,
why do humans invent things that take 500 years to turn
into something else?
After their delivery of the cardboard to the garden, the
campers took some time to think about and commit to
one way they will reduce the waste they produce, at
camp, and at home. Tomorrow, the girls will write letters
home on the inside of the skittles wrappers they get
at canteen.
8.05.2009
Singing during Galil Swim!
A new feature of unit swim this summer is a special singing session at the Moadon. Since most unit swims are gender-separated, the song-leaders have a unique opportunity to teach new songs in a small group setting, where they can discuss the songs’ meaning with campers, and engage them in the music.
This morning, the Galil girls learned In An Aeroplane Over the Sea, plus a special song called My Sweet Love, which is a rewrite of George Harrison's My Sweet Lord. After each unit has learned the songs, the whole camp will sing them together at the Friday-night freilach!
Carmel Crafts and Gardening!
Campers love to make ceramics on the pottery wheel! This morning, the B-gimmel boys got to explore their creative side, learning how to craft their own bowls, cups, and vases. It took them a few tries, but they all ended up satisfied with their pottery.
Meanwhile, their sister bunk G-gimel was hard at work in the garden. Every bunk gets the opportunity to “tikkun” camp, either improving the garden, or helping with the bathrooms. This morning, some G-dalet campers pulled weeds out of a vegetable bed, and others planted baby herbs in pots to help them grow.
This session, the vegetables we’ve been growing all summer are becoming ripe, so we can eat them at meals!
8.03.2009
Things are looking up at the Challenge Course
It isn’t everyday that you and your bunk mates get to hang out 25 feet up in the air, challenge yourself both physically and mentally, and support each other in the mean time... its just once a session! But oh, what a day it is! Challenge course starts on the low elements, where you and your bunk demonstrate teamwork and learn about bunk cohesion. In the afternoon, the course is moved to the high elements, where you strap on your harness and challenge yourself or work to support your bunkmates by cheering or helping in the group belay. Challenge course day is truly something special!
Noar Kids Present
One special feature of 4th session at
7.31.2009
Table for 2
In fitting with their theme, “
