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If you've been following the weather across the Midwest this week, you've probably noticed that smoke from the Canadian wildfires has made its way into Michigan, bringing periods of unhealthy air quality with it.

At Camp Tavor, we've been watching those conditions closely and keeping parents informed every step of the way.

Our leadership team has been monitoring the Air Quality Index, and when the numbers tell us it's time to make a change, we do. Sometimes that means shortening outdoor activities. Sometimes it means adding more water breaks, taking it a little easier, or moving programs indoors altogether.

Following the wildfire season of 2023, the State of Michigan launched a program to help schools and camps prepare for future air quality events. Camp Tavor participated in that program and received commercial air filtration units, which we strategically placed in our indoor buildings. Those systems have allowed us to create comfortable indoor spaces whenever the air outside isn't cooperating.

The good news? Campers have hardly missed a beat and parents this session may benefit with a few more pieces of mail that kids might not have otherwise sat still long enough to write… silver lining?

While no one hopes for smoky skies during the summer, moments like these remind us what camp does best: adapt, take care of one another, and make the most of every situation.

The weather may have changed our plans, but it hasn't changed the spirit of Camp Tavor.

Laughter still fills the air. New friendships are forming every hour. Songs are still being sung. Memories are still being made.

Sometimes camp looks a little different than expected.

It is still, unmistakably, camp.

Dear Camp Tavor community, 

Hello! We are Georgia and Tali, your technis this summer. 

We’ve been very busy this summer with exciting projects and fixes around machaneh. We have had so much fun facilitating chanichimot building and bringing their visions to life. One of our projects has been filling in holes in our dirt roads around camp. We call this “Project Gravel Crew”.

The roads at camp are old and they get holes in them. This causes our roads to flood when it rains. At most other camps, they would pay a crew to come out and work on them. But not at Tavor! 

Neither of us know anything about construction material, let alone gravel. Tali drove our pickup trunk to a company near camp called Robert Bros Excavating Inc. and filled it up with gravel. At this point, we might know more about road materials than our grounds keeper, Matthew! 

Both of us knew we couldn’t complete this project on our own, so we called on our chanichimot for help. 

During zman sport we ran an activity called “junior techni” where we invited chanichimot to help us shovel the gravel from the back of the truck onto the road. We blasted music, chatted, and helped each other move around the dirt and fill in the road holes.

Most of the kids that came were in Bogrimot, and were in Tali’s tzrif her first year on tzevet when she worked with Amelimot. Seeing these kids so excited to help us with a difficult job was so inspiring and exciting. 

One of the most special parts about being techni is seeing our chanichimot grow every summer into people who care about the space we inhabit and live in each summer. This job was instumental in making sure our roads were safe and ready for visitor’s day. This first zman sport has turned into many more days of kids helping us shovel. From Amelimot to Madatz, everyone loves to shovel! 

The next time you come down the road that goes through camp, you have all the chanichimot on gravel crew to thank. Who knows what projects we’ll get up to next! 

Shabbat shalom, 



Tali and Georgia 

My first summer at Camp Tavor was also the last summer we held a traditional Visitor's Day during the camp session.

In 2019, we tried a pre camp Community Day that was wonderful in its own way, but it wasn't quite the same. Then COVID arrived, and everything changed. Camp continued. The magic never disappeared.

But I think we all felt the absence of those moments when our wider community could step onto the kikar and experience camp alongside our campers.

There is something truly special about seeing Camp Tavor through the eyes of our families. Last Sunday, we brought that tradition back. Parents, siblings, grandparents, alumni, and friends gathered on the kikar for an afternoon that celebrated not just our campers, but the community that makes Camp Tavor so meaningful.

Families spread out picnic blankets, reunited with their campers, explored favorite spots around camp, and met the friends who have become family over the past few weeks.

The afternoon was filled with singing, laughter, conversations, camp tours, Israeli folk dancing, and countless moments of connection with our incredible tzevet and leadership team.

For many, Visitor's Day offered a glimpse into the rhythm of camp life. It's one thing to hear stories after your camper comes home. It's another to walk the paths, hear the songs, and watch your child proudly introduce you to the place that has become their home away from home.

The day also marked the triumphant finish of our Tour L'Tavor riders, who pedaled into camp after three incredible days raising scholarship funds to help more children experience the magic of Camp Tavor. Their arrival was met with cheers, hugs, and a celebration worthy of their accomplishment.

(click here to view and share your own photos of this year's Tour L'Tavor)

Visitor's Day is more than an afternoon at camp. It is a reminder that Camp Tavor stretches far beyond our campers and staff. It is generations of families, alumni, volunteers, donors, and friends, all investing in the next generation and in one another.

On a personal note, there was something especially meaningful about sharing this day with all of you. It feels fitting that one of my first summers at Tavor included Visitor's Day, and now, in my last summer, I had the privilege of helping welcome it back.

Over the past eight years, one of the greatest joys of my work has been building connections with our families and watching children grow into leaders, counselors, and lifelong members of this community. Seeing so many of those families gathered together on the kikar reminded me exactly why this place is so special.



To everyone who joined us, thank you for spending your day with us and for being part of what makes Camp Tavor extraordinary. Your presence, encouragement, and partnership ensure that this community will continue to thrive for generations to come.

At Camp Tavor, empowering young people to lead has always been at the heart of who we are. We have long encouraged campers to share their ideas, engage in thoughtful discussion, challenge one another respectfully, and wrestle with how we can best live out our shared values. These conversations help campers develop confidence, critical thinking, and the courage to speak up.

This summer, we are expanding that tradition through our increased use of circles.

Circles do not replace debate or discussion; they complement them. They invite campers to move beyond asking, “Do I agree with you?” and toward asking, “How did you come to see the world that way?” They share the experiences, relationships, and moments that have shaped their perspectives, while others practice listening with curiosity rather than preparing a response. When we understand someone’s story, disagreement begins to feel different. Campers discover that they can hold different opinions while remaining connected, respecting one another, and creating a community where everyone can bring their whole selves.

This is a key part of Camp Tavor’s restorative justice philosophy. Restorative practices are not only tools we use after conflict occurs; they are ways of building community every day. By creating intentional spaces for connection, reflection, and honest conversation, circles help strengthen relationships and build a culture of belonging before challenges arise.

Throughout the summer, our tzevet are weaving circles into the rhythm of camp life. Some are lighthearted and playful, while others invite reflection, gratitude, or deeper conversation. Over time, these moments help campers develop skills that extend far beyond camp: expressing themselves authentically, listening with curiosity, appreciating different perspectives, and taking responsibility for the communities they help create.

That is the kind of community we hope to build at Camp Tavor: one where belonging is not earned by thinking exactly alike, but strengthened by listening deeply, speaking honestly, and remaining connected even when we see the world differently. We believe our campers can hold strong convictions while also holding deep respect for one another. In many ways, that is one of the most important forms of leadership we can teach.

Tikkun Olam Begins at The Huss Project

This summer campers have been living our values and the second session kicked off with one of Camp Tavor's most meaningful traditions: Tikkun Olam in action.

Bonimot and Garinimot began the session with a visit to The Huss Project in nearby Three Rivers. Because of the unhealthy air quality caused by smoke from the Canadian wildfires, the group spent more time indoors than originally planned.

That extra time gave campers a chance to learn about the incredible work The Huss Project does to strengthen the local community through food access, education, neighborhood revitalization, and meaningful connection.

Even with the challenges posed by the air quality, it was a meaningful way to begin Second Session, reminding our campers that tikkun olam is about showing up for your community in every circumstance.

Stay Connected with the Camp Tavor Community!

Got news, events, or requests to share?

Post them on the Camp Tavor Community Billboard! Whether it's upcoming gatherings, exciting announcements, or community requests, this is your space to keep everyone in the loop. Let’s build and stay connected—submit your updates today to Info@camptavor.org for the next newsletter!