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campfires. Meyer estimated that last 
year, approximately 20 of the 600 
campers chose the third option.
“Tawonga has a long history of 
only offering girls’
 and boys’
 cabins, 
but it’
s become clear in recent years 
that that doesn’
t work for all kids,” 
Meyer said. “So, we wanted to cre-
ate another option so that all kids 
can live in a cabin that reflects their 
gender identity.”
The two cabins — one for chil-
dren going into fifth and sixth 
grades and one for those going into 
seventh and eighth grades — will 
each accommodate 12 campers and 
be offered only during the fourth 
session of camp as a pilot program. 
After that, a decision will be made 
about making the arrangement per-
manent.
Unlike the boys’
 and girls’
 cabins, 
the all-gender cabins will have a 
no-nudity rule. Campers can choose 
to change in the bathroom, in their 
sleeping bags or behind a privacy 
curtain.
As for who will staff the cabins, 
Meyer said that a lot of counselors 
have expressed interest.
“We haven’
t decided yet, but they 
will be excellent counselors who get 

additional training in working with 
diverse campers,” she said.
The response in the Tawonga 
community has been overwhelm-
ingly positive, Meyer said. “It’
s 
so heartening to see so many of 
our campers, alumni and parents 
expressing their enthusiasm for the 
pilot and showing their support for 
the initiative,” she said.
That includes Jonathan, who is 
now even more excited to return to 
Tawonga, and Jonathan’
s mom.
“Since my cabin will be all-gender, 
no one has to feel left out. Everyone 
will be included,” said Jonathan, 
who uses all pronouns interchange-
ably.
Nancy Brunn said that while there 
are plenty of summer camps just for 
kids like Jonathan, she wants her 
child to have the Jewish summer 
camp experience.
“Sometimes I’
ll talk to parents of 
other trans and nonbinary kids who 
think camps [specifically designed] 
for those kids are their only option. 
To hear that the Jewish community 
has a place that is so welcoming 
makes the world feel a little more 
expansive,” Brunn said. ■

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