Camp Tawonga

Updates: Hiring for Summer 2025!

Hiring:

Salary & Dates: $3805

Position Dates: June 1 – August 9

The primary goal of the waterfront staff is to promote good water safety and accident prevention at all aquatic areas in camp and during trips out of camp. Waterfront staff are responsible for planning and leading safe, fun activities at our pool, lake, and river to help campers enjoy and feel comfortable in water. Be prepared to respond to any emergencies that may occur at the Waterfront.

Job Responsibilities

❖ Safety

• As a lifeguard it is imperative to always be aware.

• Safety has to come first at ALL times.

❖ Teamwork

• You will be working in a small group with the same people all summer.

• Having a good attitude, it spreads to others and sharing the desirable and less desirable work.

• Friendly and constant communication with your team.

❖ Initiative and Responsibility

• Making sure you are on time and prepared.

• Going above and beyond, when one task is done, asking for the next.

❖ Working with campers

• Frequent bunk coverage instead of or in support of counselors.

• You will be teaching and leading activities for kids of all ages and genders.

• Planning ahead the appropriate activities and adapting on the fly if it’s not working.

❖ Department Area Skill

• At the start of the summer, each guard will demonstrate to the head guard that in addition to current certifications, they have the skills and endurance necessary to carry out the job.

• Skills verification will include: basic swim skills, rescue techniques, spinal management techniques and physical endurance.

Qualifications

• Current Lifeguard Certification (LGT) approved by American Camp Association

• Be able to lift 50 lbs.

• Walk between program areas including camp pool, Tuolumne River, and Lake

Salary $5100, more DOE.

Dates for this position are May 22 – August 9

Every program in the Wilderness Department is designed both to create stronger, well-bonded groups and to foster a respect, appreciation and stewardship of nature. Wilderness leaders rotate during the summer through a combination of the four roles, outlined below.

Job Responsibilities

❖ Backpacking Trip Leader

• Solo lead groups of 12 campers and 2 counselors on 1-2 night backpacking trips in the Yosemite area and surrounding wilderness areas. You are the primary leader on these trips.

• Before each trip, acquire camper medical info, meds, and diet/allergy info. Stock and carry a first aid kit.

• Transportation: Understand departure and pick-up times,routes, and possess safe driving tactics. o Maintain safety throughout trips.

• Provide fun, experiential and educational outdoor programming.

❖ Challenge Course Leader

• Lead each bunk through a full day of team building, low and high elements on the Camp Tawonga Challenge Course.

• Set up and take down the course daily and maintain equipment to ensure safety.

• Meet with counselors to review the goals of the day, their role, and belay skills.

• Facilitate sharing, listening, safe risk-taking, reflection and fun.

• Check in with your co-facilitator(s) each day.

❖ Quest Leaders

• Co-lead a group of teenagers on one, two or three week van trips through California or the Pacific Northwest.

• Drive passenger vans, keep financial accounting records, write in daily journal, manage group dynamics and individual needs, communicate with camp, offer creative programming, provide medical care, and represent Tawonga’s interests, image, and character with campers, families, outfitters, and the general public.

• As a quest leader, you are a counselor, program specialist, cook, health technician and more!

❖ Teva/Naturalist or Farmhand o Create new nature based programming and lead programming around the property.

• Weave new and traditional Jewish ways of enjoying, respecting, and caring for the natural world into your activities.

• Care for Tawonga’s farm and garden spaces.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 or older

• Must have current certifications: o Lifeguard Certification (LGT) o Wilderness First Responder Certification (WFR) o ServSafe Certification o A safe driving record

• Experience with children and prior experience backpacking are essential.

• Experience with rock climbing and belaying, natural history, environmental education, and Judaic knowledge are helpful.

• Be able to lift 50 lbs * If you do not possess these certifications Tawonga may help cover the costs of obtaining them.

Salary: $3865, more DOE.

Dates for this position are May 31 – August 9

Every program in the Wilderness Department is designed both to create stronger, well-bonded groups and to foster a respect, appreciation and stewardship of nature.

Job Responsibilities

❖ Teamwork o Proactive, kind and constant communication.

• Working in a small group with the same people all summer.

• Sharing the desirable and less desirable work, while having a good attitude.

❖ Initiative and Responsibility

• Being on time and prepared.

• Going above and beyond. When one task is done, seeking out the next.

❖ Working with youth

• Kids ages 8-16, all genders.

• Planning fun and age-appropriate garden/nature based activities and adapting on the fly.

• Occasional bunk coverage instead of or in support of counselors.

❖ Department Area Skill

• Create new nature based programming and lead programming across camp property.

• Weave new and traditional Jewish ways of enjoying, respecting, and caring for the natural world into your activities.

• Help grow the educational, organic garden and care for farm animals including goats and chickens.

❖ Safety

• Always being aware of the potential hazards. Safety comes first at ALL times.

Qualifications

• Must have current certifications*:

  • Lifeguard Certification (LGT)

  • o ServSafe Certification

  • o A safe driving record, 21+ and

  • a Wilderness First Responder preferred.

❖ Experience with children and natural history are essential

❖ Experience with environmental education and Judaic knowledge are helpful.

❖ Be able to lift 50 lbs. * If you do not possess these certifications, Tawonga may help cover the costs of obtaining them.

Salary: $3,865.

Dates for this position are May 31 – August 9

Job Responsibilities

❖ Safety

• Safety must come first ALL of the time.

• Drivers follow required systems carefully, for example doing a pre-trip vehicle inspection before every drive and making sure everyone is wearing seatbelts on every trip.

• It is imperative to be well rested, alert, and focused.

❖ Team Work

• Working cooperatively in a small group with the same people all summer.

• Having a good attitude, it spreads to others.

• Sharing the desirable and less desirable work. '

❖ Initiative and Responsibility

• Being on time and prepared.

• Going above and beyond. When one task is done, asking for the next.

❖ Department Area Skill

• Be able to drive large SUVs and passenger vans with up to 10 people in the car at a time on windy mountain roads for up to 2 hours without a break.

• Drive a vehicle towing a trailer, with training provided.

• Drive staff and campers to drop-off and pick-up locations up to 5 hours away from camp for out-of-camp trips, run errands, drop off recycling, escort the camper buses to and from the Bay Area, and drive campers and staff to medical care when needed.

• Attend overnight camper car camping trips - drive campers, help as requested by wilderness leader on the trip, sleep overnight at campground site.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years old or older

• A safe driving record

• Be able to lift up to 50 lbs

Salary: $3655, more DOE.

Dates: Dates for this position are June 1 – August 9, 2025

Job Description: Tawonga counselors live in camper cabins and work with bunks of 12 campers. Counselors strive to raise self-esteem and foster the bunk group dynamic by actively participating in all camp activities offered by specialists, including: ropes course, backpacking, arts & crafts, Jewish programs, and more, as well as creating programs of their own. Counselors work most sessions as a Bunk Counselor (with a co-counselor in a 12 camper cabin), but may also spend one or more sessions as a Unit Counselor supporting multiple bunks.

Job Responsibilities

❖ Parent

• As a parent you must be aware of the physical and emotional well-being of all 12 campers’ at all times.

• Physical needs: Ensure campers have everything they need to stay healthy at camp

• Emotional needs: Make sure that the campers are feeling good about themselves, understanding that campers’ identities are multifaceted, and their relationships in the cabin.

• Being a “parent” to 12 kids, 19 hours a day means giving kids plenty of TLC (tender loving care) and forming relationships with every camper in the cabin.

❖ Cheerleader

• Be excited and positive about the day’s schedule regardless of what your personal feelings are. Be positive about both the bunk as a whole and individual campers.

• Bring positivity, energy, enthusiasm, and excitement! Make it fun!

❖ Limit Setter

• Make sure that the campers are on time and prepared for each activity.

• Use different tones and energy for different activities such as a sports block versus a meditation block.

• Manage camper behavior, enforce rules and hand out appropriate consequences as needed.

Salary: $3655, more DOE.

Dates for this position are June 1 – August 9, 2025.

Job Responsibilities

❖ Team Work

• Working on a shift with 3-5 people.

• Having a good attitude, it spreads to others.

• Sharing the desirable and less desirable work.

• Friendly and constant communication with your team.

❖ Initiative and Responsibility

• Being on time and prepared: being on time means ready to go at the time the scheduled shift begins – hands washed, apron on, ready for a task!

• When one task is done asking for the next, take initiative!

• Always doing your best, taking pride in a job well done, asking for clarification if you don’t understand what is expected or how to do it safely/correctly.

❖ Physical Work

• You will be on your feet for 8 hours in a hot kitchen.

• You must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. at a time.

• You are removed from the campers. Find ways of making your work fit into the mission in a supporting role.

Salary: $3865, more DOE.

Dates for this position are June 1- August 9)

The Culinary Program Assistant will support the development and implementation of Tawonga’s brand new Culinary Program! This role is responsible for creative culinary programming for groups of 12-24 campers at a time in Tawonga’s new Garden Kitchen. This role will also assist the Culinary Program Supervisor with activity prep, facilitation, and clean up, in addition to supporting with program development, inventory management, and upkeep of the space. Culinary expertise and/or teaching experience preferred

Job Responsibilities

❖ Safety

• Safety must come first AT ALL TIMES.

• You must always be aware of the potential dangers in any program or activity you are running. This includes overseeing safe use of kitchen equipment, cleanliness and sanitation of kitchen space, use of hot ovens, and use of knives.

❖ Team Work

• Working closely with the Culinary Program Supervisor all summer.

• Having a good attitude, it spreads to others.

• Sharing the desirable and less desirable work.

❖ Initiative and Responsibility

• Being on time and prepared.

• Going above and beyond. When one task is done asking for the next.

• Creating innovative programming for the new Culinary Progra.

❖ Working with campers

• Kids of all ages and genders.

• Occasional bunk coverage instead of or in support of counselors.

• Planning ahead the appropriate activities and adapting on the fly if it’s not working.

❖ Department Area

• Skill Teaching and leading cooking classes and related activities.

• Keeping the Garden Kitchen space and supplies clean and organized.

• Culinary expertise and teaching experience.

Camp Tawonga Health Techs get hands-on experience working with patients ages 7 - adult. The Camp Tawonga Health Center runs like a rural Health Clinic where the Health Center Team (two nurses, four Health Techs, one volunteer MD/NP and directors) treat as much as possible onsite and for more critical medical situations, triage to the nearest hospital 75 minutes away. Health Techs provide excellent patient care within the scope of their license, give campers ages 7-17 extra love, attention and comfort, distribute daily medications, organize and help clean the Health Center among other tasks. The right candidate loves working with kids, is interested in medicine or some kind of medical care, is detail oriented and a team player. See details below.

Job Responsibilities

❖ Medical Skills

• Distribute daily medications to campers during breakfast and dinner

• Pack out medications for out-of-camp trips

• Provide routine medical care and be prepared to respond in an emergency

• Escort patients to definitive care outside of camp when needed

• Ensure thorough documentation including charting patient interactions, completing medication administration records, and other paperwork.

❖ Working with campers

• Maintain confidentiality about both staff and campers

• Provide loving attention and medical care to campers and staff, listen to and support kids, providing reassurance, caring, and patience

❖ Team Work

• Working in a small group with the same people

• Knowing when to use your skills and when to defer to the doctor or nurse

• Completing daily chores to keep the Health Center running smoothly including laundry, sanitizing equipment and surfaces, checking equipment, and other tasks

❖ Initiative and Responsibility

• Be on time and prepared

• Go above and beyond, when you complete one task ask for another

Qualifications: You must have one of the following qualifications: Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Wilderness First Responder (WFR), RN, or fourth year Bachelors of Science in Nursing student. Being 21 or older is preferred, but we are open to candidates under 21 with exceptional medical experience, and we prefer applicants with a valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

Additional Information About Camp Tawonga

For over 90 years, Camp Tawonga has served as a leader in Jewish camping, fostering in children a deep connection to nature, community and Judaism within a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment.  The Camp Tawonga Staff is a family of over 200 dedicated staff, working together to create a vibrant Jewish community where children have a safe, meaningful summer in the beautiful Sierra Mountains. Camp Tawonga's beautiful property encompasses 160 acres along the Tuolumne River, inside the Stanislaus National Forest, just seven miles from Yosemite National Park. 

The campers’ experience is the focus of all staff, whether counselor or prep cook, lifeguard or backpacking leader, office staff, or driver. The work is demanding, with long hours, high intensity, and little privacy. The rewards are great — the delight of helping children grow, the beauty of the mountains and river, and the joy of working as part of a team of enthusiastic and caring staff. This outstanding team includes people with both Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds, all of whom enjoy the Jewish customs and culture, which come alive at Camp Tawonga.

How to Apply

To apply, fill out and submit your online application HERE. After reviewing your application, someone from our team will reach out to schedule an interview. To be considered in our first round of hiring decisions, you must submit your online application, references, and have an interview by mid-January. After that, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis for any remaining open positions.

Please contact Staffing Coordinator, Quan Phung, at quan@tawonga.org or 415.543.2267 with any questions..