Camp Tawonga facts for kids

Camp Tawonga is a fun summer camp for kids and teens. It's a special Jewish camp located in the beautiful Stanislaus National Forest. You can find it near the Tuolumne River, not far from Yosemite National Park.

This camp is a non-profit group. It works with the Jewish Community Center Association. The main office for Camp Tawonga is in San Francisco. Many campers come from the San Francisco Bay Area. But kids from Israel, Los Angeles, and other states also join the fun!

Camp Tawonga's Story

Camp Tawonga has a long and interesting history. It was started by Louis and Emma Blumenthal in 1925. The camp first opened in 1928 as two separate camps. These were Camp Kelowa for boys and Singing Trail for girls. They were located at Huntington Lake.

The camp moved to its current spot on the Tuolumne River in 1963. Over the years, Camp Tawonga has faced some challenges. In 2013, a tree fell, and the camp had to evacuate. Later that year, the Rim Fire came very close. A brave staff member went back to save a special Torah scroll. This scroll had even survived the Holocaust! The camp lost three buildings in the fire, but they were rebuilt.

In 2018, the camp had to evacuate again. This was because of smoke from the Ferguson Fire. Despite these events, Camp Tawonga has continued to welcome campers. In 2019, it became one of the first summer camps in the U.S. to offer cabins for all genders. This means boys, girls, and non-binary campers can choose to stay together.

What's at Camp Tawonga?

Camp Tawonga can host about 250 campers at one time. Each year, around 2,000 campers and staff visit. The camp has about 30 rustic cabins for campers. These cabins are simple, without electricity or running water. This helps campers connect with nature!

There are also about 20 heated cabins for other guests. The camp has a large dining hall. It has a Kosher kitchen and a porch with lake views. Other cool places include an Arts-and-Crafts shed. There's also an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Campers can enjoy a team building ropes course. An outdoor amphitheater is perfect for shows and gatherings.

Camp Tawonga also hosts special weekends for different groups. One example is Camp Keshet. This program is for diverse families. It's one of the only programs like it in the country.