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Campers and counselors from Camp Tavor enjoy a field trip.
Camp Tavor's youth-led programming
stresses strong Jewish connections.
Esther Allweiss Ingber
Contributing Writer
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715-556-5585
www.Agawak.com
1812900
ABONIM DROR
CAMP
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At Habonim Dror Camp Tavor,
children ages 9-16 experience a one-
of-a-kind Jewish Youth community.
Camp Tavor programming allows
campers to build strong relationships
while learning about leadership,
social justice and stewarding the
environment. We offer 2-, 3-, and 4-
week traditional camp sessions.
Campers can also experience Tavor for
one-week or less. 3rd-5th grade
campers can attend Taste of Tavor, 6th-
8th graders can be part of our Jewish
Farming Session, and we offer a Teen
Leadership Program for 10th & 11th
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ade campe
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Scholarships and $1000 first -time camper incentives available.
For more information on any of our amazing summer programs visit
www.camptavor.org , email registrar@camptavor.org , or call 224-619-5969.
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ampers ages 8-17 from a
variety of Jewish backgrounds
make their home each summer
at Habonim-Dror Camp Tavor in Three
Rivers. The coed camp on 69 acres of
rolling hills in southwest Michigan
offers a pool, a lake, an air-conditioned
clubhouse and a kosher kitchen.
Enduring friendships, life skills and a
strong connection to Israel are fostered
in Tavor's dynamic and fun-filled envi-
ronment. Activities include arts and
crafts, Hebrew songs, Israeli dancing, a
sports program and nature study.
The camp's larger purpose is to
develop independent Jewish thinkers
committed to tikkun olam, the Jewish
value of repairing the world. Campers
are given the tools to become leaders
who will effect positive change through
social action and community building.
Tavor is one of seven camps affiliated
with Habonim-Dror North America.
Habonim ("The Builders") was
founded in 1935 as a Labor Zionist
youth movement. It's a wing of today's
Ameinu ("Our People"), an Israel-
focused, progressive organization. Each
machaneh (camp), organized along the
model of a kibbutz, creates a close-knit
community based on the ideals of col-
lective responsibility, respect, equality
and friendship.
Camp Tavor prides itself on being
a youth-led community, where teen
campers plan programs for younger
ones. Everyone fully participates in
shaping camp life, values and culture.
On Shabbat, campers of all ages may
share their thoughts and feelings dur-
ing "Hyde Park:' Standing on a crate in
the midst of fellow campers and coun-
selors, campers express their views in
an atmosphere of respect.
Each summer's designated educa-
tional theme provides a lens through
which the campers look at topics
relating to Judaism, Zionism, identity,
group dynamics and social justice.
West Bloomfield native Sara Lerman
Sinkoff, this year's merkezet chinuch
(educational director), is working with
her staff to create meaningful, age-
appropriate discussions and activities.
The kitchen at Tavor, run by former
campers, provides another example
of youth empowerment. The crew is
tasked with ordering food, creating
menus, working with a number of spe-
cial diets, food allergies and nutritional
needs, and preparing three healthy
kosher meals daily for 150-200 diners.
Tavor is a peanut-free facility.
Campers decided that they didn't like
being separated from their friends with
allergies at mealtime. Under the guid-
ance of staff, youth chose the allergen-
free sunflower-seed butter as the tasti-
est of several options, and that became
the camp's tradition.
Fresh produce served at mealtime is
largely harvested from Tavor's organic
farm. The 1-acre-plus farm, also run by
youth leaders and campers, produces
more than 70 varieties of fruits and
vegetables.
In addition, the farm serves as a
learning environment where camp-
ers connect with the land, learning
about links between Jewish culture
and the environment. This summer,
Camp Tavor is offering a new week-
long Jewish Farming Session, where
students in grades 6-8 will learn about
farming, sustainability and environ-
ment from professionals and partici-
pate in field trips.
❑
Summer sessions at Habonim-Dror Camp
Tavor range from one to four weeks, with
a seven-week option. Registration is now
under way. For information, call (224) 619-
5969, email registrar@camptavocorg or visit
www.camptavor.org.
February 7 • 2013
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