Over at the Camp Tawonga City office we like to have fun too... So we checked out The SG Show (http://sgshow.blogspot.com./) this afternoon (as recommended on the Alumni Network http://www.tawonga.org/#) starring our very own Sam and Steve Gershik! Sam went to our Session 1 camp, and was looking forward to "...archery, softball, swimming, all that jazzy stuff… " as stated in The SG Show #3. I am told that The SG Show #4 will be on the air tomorrow with Sam's thoughts on camp. We are tuning in, are you?

The girls of G1 had a face painting party today in the Freedom Forest! Jessica from Arts & Crafts was the artiste responsible for these lovely ladies' whimsical makeovers.

The New Jewish Filmmaking Project invites Tawonga teens to see Yelena’s Story, a film about and co-directed by teenagers from the former Soviet Union, premiering at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival this month.

Youth under 21 get a 50% discount advance sale ticket price of $5. There will also be a special Q and A after each screening.)

“Yelena’s Story” screens:
- Sunday, July 24, at San Francisco's Castro Theatre at 11:30
- Tuesday, Aug. 2, at Mountain View's Century Cinema 16 at 4:15pm
- Saturday, Aug. 6 at the Roda Theatre (at Berkeley Repertory Theatre at 12:00pm

If you'd like to take advantage of this offer, contact Benjamin Friend at benji@citizenfilm.org or 415.206-1880.

Orna, the coordinator of our Noar L'Noar (Teen to Teen) program in Israel writes:

"I just came back from the first day of our get-together and wanted to share with you how exiting it was to see this meeting of the Tawonga campers (Noar L’Noar teens) from the last 2 years. We invited them to join together for an evening and watch the movie that was taken at Camp Tawonga two years ago regarding the Noar project. Every one of them was so exited to come and share their memories and experience from camp -- it was so great!!! They all talked about the unique, one-time experience they had at camp from every aspect you can think of.

All of them still keep in touch with their friends from camp and talk with so much love about everything that relates to Tawonga.

I wish we could have your people hear all this young excitement and enthusiasm.

I just hope that this project continues and allow teens from both our communities to share such a meaningful experience together; I am positive that this memory will stay with them forever."

Thanks, Orna...now everyone does hear the enthusiasm! If any of you reading this out in blog-land want to share your memories, use the comments button...we'd love to see some of your great memories posted here!

Have you ever wondered what activities Tawonga has to offer at night? During inservice training some of the staff and I took out Camp's telescope to see what was in the sky.

Did you even know we had a telescope at camp? Yeah! A wonderful friend of camp donated it last year. (Thank you Seth Skootsky)

It is a giant six foot tube that sits inside all day waiting for the sun to go down revealing the moon and stars. As we waited for the moon to come out from behind a tree we pointed it at the brightest thing in the sky. As we peered into the eyepiece we could see Jupiter and two of its moons we quickly called for anyone who was in earshot to come and see. We heard them one after another gasp in awe of what they were seeing. Then the moon decided to show and we quickly pointed the scope to it. We could see incredible detail, craters, and shadows.

I happened to have my cell phone in my pocket (no, it does not work at camp) which has a camera built in. I placed it to the eye piece and snapped this photo.

I know that many campers will have a chance to use the telescope this summer, and who knows what they might find.

Grant Gordon

www.tawonga.org/canteen. Nuff said.

Galil boys (B-3 and B-4) spent today on the Ropes Course, learning new skills and making their friendships stronger. The unit of Haifa (B/G-7, B/G-8) arrived back from their backpacking trips - the first of this session. Rumor has it that they're tired, dirty and incredibly happy.

By now you should have received your first postcard from camp. You may be wondering where and how your campers write these postcards...imagine this:

In the Dining Hall, after lunch. Two hundred and forty young future Pulitzer prize winners are hunched over colorful Camp Tawonga postcards. Cheerful dance music is blaring through the PA, and counselors are dancing up a storm. Assistant Unit Head Ashley Ordin says, "It's amazing that after only 2 days, so many kids already write home that they want to come next year for a longer session!"

Did you get one of those?

Session 2 has been a delicious time so far. Miriam, our red-headed kitchen manager, reports that lunch today was homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. Yesterday was an old camp favorite, sloppy Joes. Don't feel too sad about missing out, parents, your kids will be bringing some of it home on their tee shirts. :)

Breakfast this morning was "Dutch babies," which are breakfast souffles. The kids loved them so much - the entire Yosemite Valley resounded with their shouts of WE WANT THE KITCHEN STAFF! WE WANT THE KITCHEN STAFF!

Tonight will be really exciting because the kitchen, which has been overrun with pirates (ARRRRRR) all day, will be taking an unnamed unit head hostage and inducting him/her into their dastardly clan of sailing chefs.

I took this picture and had every intention of posting it and writing this blog on Friday. I have a note on the cork board by my desk that reads, "Have you blogged yet today?" But, admittedly, Friday afternoon I was tying up any loose ends that I had so that I could start my day off, and I forgot to blog. I apologize. Sincerely. This picture is cute, and in nine years of working here I have seen a lot of cute, so much so that one might even call me an expert. These two girls and their handwritten sign are a classic example, further proof that even during the shortest sessions, the bond made between the campers and their counselors is strong. And so, as we said a fond farewell to the children of session one on Friday, today we eagerly await the arrival of session two and look forward to two amazing weeks.

Hey there folks. I was at one of our picnic tables when a call came on the radio for me. Something exceptionally cute was happening and I have the digital camera in my desk. Luckily, with a quick response on my part, the day was not lost.
Here are some of Tawonga 's Princesses in their royal garb, captured on film by our own Deborah Newbrun (a Tawonga Princess in her own right, who relieved me of the camera as soon as I was down the stairs and served double duty as Director and photo journalist). Today was the last day of activities for this session, and as I write this blog the bell is ringing, calling the setters in to set the dinner tables. It is such a short session, and it feels like the kids just arrived yesterday, or two days before that. We give the campers our customary blow-out banquet dinner, complete with roast turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and most importantly, Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider, while the Big Chill soundtrack plays in the background. The unit heads, dressed in silly costumes, serve as the hoppers for the meal so that the children and counselors can sit and enjoy the last dinner of the session together without interruption. This session was a lot of fun, and hopefully the taste of camp that first session provides the campers is enough to get them back for longer next summer. Session One Parents: thank you for letting us hang out with your kids for this week. They were awesome, they had a great time, and they set the bar really high for the rest of the summer. Get ready for some great stories.

Much like the Beatles in the sixties and seventies, with throngs of young, screaming fans in every city, the group of Israeli staff hired to work at Camp Tawonga this summer, comprised of counselors, arts and crafts staff, an assistant Jewish programmer, and two program assistants, has developed a following among both the staff and the children. Today we had "Israel Floats", a time where the children could visit stations of their choosing, all with Israeli themes. The event culminated in an Israeli dance exhibition at the stage and a Mediterranean lunch.


What? An image? Yes, friends. I have been given a digital camera (and by given I mean allowed to use for the summer so long as I am taking pictures for this here blog). Internet here is at a speed below dial up, a speed that cave people would have grunted at in disdain as they beat the cave walls with the femurs of large animals, a speed that makes J.T. Snow say, "That is slow!" (for all you Giants fans out there). As a result, it takes the better part of a week to add a picture to the text. Will I add some RAM to speed things up? Will I get a new computer? Will I just add one picture per post and not get more technical than I have to? All will be revealed.

I am the Toran today. I lead the meals from the front of the dining hall, trying simultaneously to measure the tone, volume and speed of the meal. I tell the setters what to set. I make sure that the kitchen is ready to serve before I call the children in for the meal.
Even at the front of the dining hall, with my right hand raised high in the air to signify that I need the people who are talking to stop so that we can say Hamotzie, with the food trayed and ready to be served behind me, the noise of a full camp is exciting and energizing. As soon as the final syllable of Amen is out, the low hum of whispering children surges back into animated conversations, and unit by unit the "hoppers" from each table are invited to come to the kitchen windows and pick up their trays of food.
Meals are family style, large plates of each course passed down the length of the table for campers to serve themselves (with help from the staff if needed). The staff waits until every camper has been served to serve themselves. There are spills: juice and water and soup and anything else that can possibly be on a plate one moment and then on the floor the next. There are dropped pieces of silverware and plastic plates and cups, noisily clattering.
From the front of the room, staring out on table after table of children who are eating and laughing and talking and screaming and dancing and drinking and spilling, I happily eat while standing, communicating messages from the kitchen to the campers over the microphone. From the moment the kids enter, until they stream out of the doors towards their next activities, the dining hall is filled from the floor to the high, vaulted ceilings, with busy, happy energy.

The kids are coming! The kids are coming! Less than a half hour out, sitting in big, red Sierra Pacific buses, our first session campers are on their way and the staff couldn't be more excited. Counselors are putting the finishing touches on their bunk signs, name tags and work wheels at arts and crafts, and the kitchen is hard at work on dinner for the full dining hall. The sun is back in the sky and camp is finally ready to start!

When the kids get off of the busses they will be divided by gender and then separated into their bunks. Once they are with their bunkmates they will be given a tour of camp which includes a stop at the infirmary, to hear about drinking enough water, proper sunscreen application, and wearing closed toed shoes for active blocks. The children will also be shown the bathrooms, the dining hall, and they will be introduced to their unit heads and the maintenance crew. Tonight at the opening campfire, amidst funny Tawonga schtick provided by the staff, each bunk will get on stage to perform a brief cheer with all of their names in it, and then after singing "Friends, Friends, Friends" the counselors will put the kids to sleep.
I am going to go into the dining hall to wait for the bell signaling their arrival. More later,
--Jordan

Poor, poor counselors, unit heads and wilderness leaders. I was awakened in the middle of the night by the sounds of raindrops thudding against the roof of my cabin (have no fear kids, all of the cabins here are insulated and covered so the weather remains outside). I was momentarily troubled by the knowledge that somewhere, in the immediate vicinity, my friends and peers were out in the elements, with only their cunning and big, blue tarps to protect them. But, because I knew that they wouldn't want me to worry, I went back to sleep. Needless to say, when they all arrived at breakfast the next day they had amazing stories and slightly wet sleeping bags. Luckily, the bad weather is all passing through in the beginning, today is much warmer than yesterday, and by the time the children come up here the skies should be blue and clear. --Jordan

The counselors, unit heads, and wilderness staff are about to leave on their backpacking trip training hikes. These are short hikes that leave from camp and do their best to mimic the actual overnight trip that every cabin group will take during sessions 2, 3 and 4. They carry packs, cook their food on Coleman stoves, and sleep under the stars (or under tarps if it rains). With camp mostly empty, the rest of us will have a quiet dinner in the dining hall, do some preparation for Shabbat, and play some bonding games. It is nice to have some quiet time at camp, but I like the dining hall filled to capacity and the energy that the children bring. Only three days 'til Sunday.
--Jordan

Did you know that the White House, Congress and the courts are going to be packed with Tawongans in the year 2028? Read all about it! Camper Noah Zaves is featured in today's Contra Costa Times, in a story about the Walnut Creek tee shirts he designed and is selling - a portion of proceeds benefit local charities.

Read all about it here

Hello out there in Tawonga West (AKA the San Francisco Bay Area), and to all of our Tawongans nationwide. It has come to my attention that I am the on-site Tawonga Blogger this summer, here to fill you in on the daily happenings at camp, and, by way of digital photography, give you all a glimpse of what is happening here at the Circle T Ranch (nickname for camp).
It is hot today (and promises to be all summer long, so when you are packing, don't forget the sunscreen!) but there is a nice breeze blowing through. Today we had an all staff BBQ at the pool with music and swimming. But, it is not all fun and games up here. It's in-service week, and the staff is honing their skills and fine tuning their departments in anticipation of the arrival of our first campers, June 19th.
The full-time directors have assembled a truly amazing staff this year, including a ton of former staff, former campers, and their friends from home. The spirits are high and everyone is happy to be here.
The new basketballs are inflated and our new archery targets are in place and waiting for a steady-handed camper to hit the first bulls-eye. New bows? Check. New arrows? Check. New ping-pong paddles? You betcha! But, most exciting of all, the construction on the new Arts & Crafts deck is almost done.
When the backpacking shed was moved up to the wilderness building two summers ago, and A&C was extended to include the entire building, the small, dirt access road that was used to drive the wilderness equipment back to the shed became obselete. This off-season, our Buildings and Grounds team has put in a tremendous amount of work, and a beautiful new deck now extends over the road, greatly expanding the amount of space the children have to do A&C outdoors.
Well, that does it for today's installment, the first of what promises to be an amazing summer here at Camp Tawonga. I am truly excited to be here because, as the bumpersticker on my car reads, "I'd rather be at Camp Tawonga." Check back for daily (or as close as possible to daily) updates and posts.
-Jordan

You heard it right, we gave out 1600 free Camp Tawonga tee shirts at Israel in the Gardens yesterday! (Thanks to the help of awesome camp staff and volunteers, like Board Member Barb Niss and Associate Director, Ann Gonski, pictured above.)

Did you miss getting your tee shirt? Not signed up for camp this summer? We'll hang on to one for you at Fall Family Camp...just sign up and let us know you're coming! :)

Hello my dear Tawonga sisters and brothers. It's June, which means that for
some of you it is time to leave the cities behind and head for the company
of Incense Cedar, Manzanita and the boisterous crouds of the Dining Hall.
Time to allow the Tuolumne River to wash away the grit and grime of "real lives", to emerge into a world less motivated by greed and prestige amd more by community, simplicity and service. (Can you tell how much I miss it?)

Though I once again find myself in the foothills of the Himalayas in Northern India, a twinge of jealousy can't help but arise towards those of you calling your name at the gate of the Circle T Ranch. As the number of days I spend away from "home" grow and grows and the areas of the world I see expands, more and more I appreciate the days and weeks and months I was fortunate enough to to share in her beauty and her family of friends and call Tawonga "Home." And so my simple request to you all is to take a moment to smell the trees, feel the cool waters and rejoice in the people around you. And if I play my cards right I'll be back to join you for the Summer of 2006.

With peace and love, Noah Gunnell (former & future staff member, Arts & Crafts)

Ariella and Hallie are only 4 3/4 years old, but they know good wildflowers when they see them!

The Tuolumne was very full and white with spring rain! So much water, we couldn't even get to Lower Falls...but Middle Falls made up for it with a spectacular show of big water. Thanks, Dennis Briskin, for the photo!

Thank goodness there's time for snoozing at Family Camp in between all those activities!

Well, another family camp has come and gone and the Gershik family is
getting back in the swing of life down at sea level.

With the wet winter weather, camp is awash in flowers -- bright blue
lupines, pink-and-yellow harlequin lupines, pretty little orange
flowers that I didn't have the time to look up the name of on
Google ...

Deer abound, both on the road to the ridge and in the Western area of
camp. The lake is filled with finger-length fish and the bullfrogs
are croaking in all their glory after dark. A few turtles were seen
to poke their round snouts above the surface of the water to snap at
the mosquitoes.

Construction is progressing at the new Arts and Crafts deck; for you
old-timers, the wilderness portion of that old building was relocated
several years ago to a magnificent site near the entrance to camp in
a new building with an old western town facade that just has to be
seen to be believed.

There's a brand new 40-foot climbing wall located on the Girls' Side
of camp, tucked away behind FAWPY grove. They're just putting the
finishing touches on it in time for the main camp season just a few
weeks from now.

A walk down the familiar Pipeline Trail reveals a Tuolumne River
quite out of character from what you'd expect. A long winter and
strong runoff due to warm weather this month has sent a strong flow
of water down to our little section of the waterway, resulting in
standing waves, hydraulics and waterfalls that are breathtaking in
their power. Everywhere in camp you can hear the roar of the Middle
Fork echoing between Lookout Mountain and the Ridge.

That's just the physical state of camp. The staff and supervisors
seem as strong as they've ever been. From food service staff to
maintenance to waterfront and supervisors, everyone seems fresh,
engaged and totally in the job. We noticed fantastic moments of
professionalism all over camp:

- Somone calling out to a lifeguard from the basketball court, only
to be told they would have to come around the fence to talk, since
the waterfront staff could not look away from the pool.

- Kitchen workers monitoring the pace at which (the yummy) food was
being consumed so refills could be provided at the appropriate moment.

- Program staff telekinetically cuing each other with subtle eye
movements that resulted in coordinated changes to programs based on
some new development.

The result (this is someone speaking as a "client" now, rather than
someone who was on staff for years) is a coordinated dance, one that
is beautiful in its complexity and seeming effortless execution.

I'm jealous of the experience my son's going to have during regular
session camp this year, but also incredibly excited for him.

I wish every kid could have the same experience.

Hope to see you all this Sunday at Israel Day in San Francisco!

Okay you guys are all hip to the annual Camp Tawonga Israel Day tee shirts by now, right? Just come by the Tawonga booth this Sunday June 5th at Israel in the Gardens and you get one just by signing up for our mailing list. You can still see the screaming orange Machane Tawonga shirts from last year around camp, and you won't want to miss out on this year's edition.

Think you know what it's gonna look like? Wrong! But here's a tiny little hint...it's really different!