Camp Tawonga facts for kids
Camp Tawonga is a special Jewish summer camp located on the Tuolumne River in California. It's just a few miles from Yosemite National Park. The camp is about 160 acres, which is a very large area! It operates as a non-profit organization, meaning it focuses on its mission rather than making money. Camp Tawonga is connected with the Jewish Community Center Association. While the camp is near Groveland, California, its main office is in San Francisco. Many campers come from the San Francisco Bay Area, but kids from other states and even Israel also attend.
Camp Tawonga's History
Camp Tawonga was started in 1925 by Louis and Emma Blumenthal. At first, there were two separate camps: Camp Kelowa for boys and Singing Trail for girls. These camps were in the High Sierras, high up in the mountains. The camps closed for a few years during the Second World War. In 1963, Camp Tawonga moved to its current beautiful location on the Tuolumne River.
From 2003 to 2007, Camp Tawonga hosted a special program called the Palestinian-Jewish Family Peacemakers Camp. This program worked with the Jewish-Palestinian Living Room Dialogue Group. It helped families from different backgrounds come together and build understanding.
In July 2013, a tree fell at the camp, causing injuries to several people. Campers were safely moved to another area. Later that year, in August 2013, a large wildfire called the Rim Fire threatened the camp. Everyone had to evacuate for safety. A brave staff member went back to rescue a very old Torah scroll. This scroll had even survived the Holocaust! The fire damaged three buildings at the camp, but everything was repaired and rebuilt.
In July 2018, Camp Tawonga had to evacuate again. This time, it was because of smoke from the Ferguson Fire. The air quality became unsafe for campers and staff. In the summer of 2019, Camp Tawonga became one of the first summer camps in the United States to offer cabins for all genders. This means campers can choose to stay in cabins that are not just for boys or girls. In 2020, the camp received another special Torah scroll. This one came from a former synagogue in Olean, New York.
Camp Facilities and Programs
Camp Tawonga's facilities can host about 500 campers and staff at one time. Each year, around 2,000 people participate in its programs. For summer campers, there are about 30 rustic cabins. These cabins are simple and do not have electricity, running water, or heating. There are also about 20 other cabins that have heating or power for other guests.
The camp has a large dining hall that looks like a lodge. It has a Kosher kitchen, which means the food follows Jewish dietary laws. There's also a back porch where you can look out over a lake. Camp Tawonga has many other buildings and areas. These include an Arts-and-Crafts shed, a big Olympic-sized swimming pool, and a ropes course for team building. There is also an outdoor amphitheater for performances and gatherings.
Among its many programs, Camp Tawonga offers an LGBTQ family weekend called Camp Keshet. This is a unique program that welcomes and supports families of all kinds.
See also
- List of summer camps
