WISHING YOU A SWEET NEW YEAR 

Dear Fellow Tawongans,

As the Jewish year comes to close, so too does Tawonga's season of programs. We takes this opportunity to reflect on all the amazing experiences Tawongan's have enjoyed this year:

1,235 children were immersed in Judaism, nature and friendship in Yosemite, Canada, Israel and throughout the Western States.

392 children received essential financial assistance, without which, they would have lost an irreplaceable childhood growing experience.

216 families celebrated Shabbat at Tawonga's unique family camp weekends, including Keshet, the only Jewish family camp designed specifically for children of LGBT parents.

170 college-aged staff received Tawonga's nationally renowned training in professionalism and leadership.

These highlights are each punctuated with the stories of the program participants themselves.

Because of the relaxing, supportive atmosphere my child came home more confident and self-assured, and she seemed "refreshed." 

- Camp Parent since 2007 

The only other thing I have to say about Tawonga is that I'm so happy to have had an amazing 8 years there! I can't wait to be on staff!

- Session 3 camper 

We are so grateful for the loving Tawonga community and are so happy that you are a part of it. It has been a truly great year, and we look forward to what the new year will bring.

Wishing your family a sweet new year. "Shalom" means peace, "chaverim" means friends - peace friends, until we see you again. 

Shalom chaverim,

The Camp Tawonga staff 

2011 Program Spotlight: TSL Food and Farm 

Tawonga's long-running Teen Service Learning (TSL) program debuted an all-new trip this year, TSL Food and Farm.  The trip took a group of motivated teens to different farms around California from small family farms in Sebastopol to the magnificent coastal cliffs of Big Sur to the emerging urban farming movement of the Bay Area where they rolled up their sleeves and joined forces with farmers participating in the many stages that bring us the food that ends up at our tables.  In addition to the hard-work the group poured into their volunteering at the farms, the group also did some serious learning.  A service-learning trip combines the actions of service with the tools of learning and reflection and on this trip, the opportunities were plentiful.  Everything from a trip to the supermarket to a drive down the central coast to a group-prepared meal was a chance to learn. 

The program ended at Camp Tawonga where the group spent their last days doing a presentation to the whole camp about their trip and volunteering their time in the Tawonga garden while thinking about how to take the lessons of the trip home into their daily lives.

Camp Tawonga runs TSL trips in Israel and in California (Food and Farm) for 9th - 12th graders. Applications for our 2012 TSL trips will be available on the "Tawonga Teens" section of our website starting in December. We'll have a reunion and information session about all of our teen programs at JCHS on October 23rd, 1pm - 3pm. RSVP to Teen Program Coordinator Aaron Mandel at aaron@tawonga.org. 

Alumni Spotlight 

Tawonga alum Kel Troughton, the "Sandwich Master"

We love hearing from Camp Tawonga alumni and learning their Tawonga history. Have a Tawonga story to share? Tell us by clicking here or email us. 

TAWONGA ALUM MAKES AWARD-WINNING FILM "CONNECTED"

NOW IN THEATERS:  

See Award-winning Film CONNECTED in theaters now in The Bay Area, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Monterey, & opening in Los Angeles on 9/30 for a week run then expanding around the country!

TIX Now On Sale for CONNECTED: An Autoblogography about Love, Death & Technology, directed by Tiffany Shlain

Buy Tix & Watch Trailer & Read Great reviews at: http://www.facebook.com/connectedthefilm

SYNOPSIS: 

Connected: An Autoblogography About Love, Death & Technology, director Tiffany Shlain takes audiences on an exhilarating rollercoaster ride to discover what it means to be connected in the 21st century. A founder of The Webby Awards and a proponent for The National Day of Unplugging, Shlain's love/hate relationship with technology serves as the springboard for a thrilling exploration of modern life...and our interconnected future. Equal parts documentary and memoir, the film unfolds during a year in which technology and science literally become a matter of life and death for the director. As Shlain's father battles brain cancer and she confronts a high-risk pregnancy, her very understanding of connection is challenged at every turn. Using a brilliant mix of animation, archival footage, and home movies, Shlain reveals the surprising ties that link us not only to the people we love but also to the world at large. A personal film with universal relevance, Connected explores how, after centuries of declaring our independence, it may be time for us to declare our interdependence instead. 

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Jewish Teen Foundations recruiting

teens who want to change the world!

The Jewish Teen Foundations of the East Bay, North and South Peninsula, and Marin/San Francisco are seeking exceptional high school students to participate in a life-changing experience of tikkun olam on a big scale.  Last year's 94 Teen Foundation leaders raised and gave away $194,000 to non-profits around the world.  The Teen Foundations are totally youth-led programs, run by and for teens, and not a huge commitment--one awesome weekend retreat followed by seven Sunday board meetings.

For more information or to apply, click here.  Applications are due 10/3/11.  You can also contact Sue Schwartzman, Director of Youth Philanthropy, sues@sfjcf.org, 650.852.9020 x8007.