Campers enjoyed an Israel themed carnival, complete with face painting, pita making, obstacle courses and much more. Dressed in blue and white, the entire camp gathered for a morning of learning and fun prepared by our incredible Schlihim (Israeli staff). Following the carnival, campers ate a Medeteranean lunch, complete with hummus, pita, and tomato salad. What a
day!

On Sunday night the bunk of B-8 challenged Camp Tawonga’s Maintenance Crew to a game of hockey, and both teams were in it to win it when they squared of this afternoon. Soon after the puck (or more accurately the tennis ball) dropped, campers and staff alike were flying around the dining hall going for the goal. It was no Stanley Cup Finals, but it definitely was a game for the ages!

Even though it is only Tuesday, cabins are already preparing for our first camper Shabbat of 2009. Each cabin was given their own prayer to lead as part of their unit Kabbalat service. Then the whole unit came together to learn new songs that will be a part of our Shabbat service on Saturday morning. Carmel particularly enjoyed learning Hashalom Alechem, a song new to Camp Tawonga. Each line of the song is a message of peace in first Hebrew, then Arabic and lastly Sanskrit. Only four more days until Shabbat… the countdown begins!

The campers of First Session were magically whisked away to sunny Israel for a morning block of learning about the sights, sounds and culture of the Holy Land. Whether it was learning about Israeli history and geography at the Wheel of Israeli Fortune station or sunning themselves next to Camp Tawonga’s very own version of the Mediterranean Sea, it was clear everyone had a blast.

It wouldn’t be a day in Israel without a game of gaga…

… or snacking on some homemade pita.

Campers learned to milk a cow just like a real kibbutznik.

Campers trained with IDF drill sergeants at the obstacle course.

G-9 and B-9 enjoyed some peace and quiet lakeside Calistoga style. With cucumbers and oatmeal the bunks relaxed, worked on their complexions and made new friends.

Summer 2009 is under way! After a long winter Camp Tawonga is full of happy, smiling campers and we couldn’t be more pleased! Please enjoy some of the sights from around camp on this, our first full day of Session 1.

After a block full of freeze dance, the girls of G-4 wind down with a good old fashioned massage train.

G-6 learns to write Jewish words with cookie dough… and gets a little messy too!

B-2 gets into its robotic bunk theme by creating their own robots at Arts and Crafts.

G-7 enjoys mirror dancing on the Camp Tawonga stage!

B-1 plays a great game of Gaga!