Life at Tizmoret Shoshana

Instrumental music ensembles are heard around camp,

mingled with the harmonies of vocal ensembles. Overlooking the lake, a group of girls lean over sketchpads, pastels and pencils in hand, as they try to capture hues of the twilight summer sky. Another group of campers improvises a dialogue for a Torah-themed drama involving live actors and puppets. Meanwhile, in another space, dancers practice their twirls and pliés. Writers find the quiet corners they need to concentrate on poetry, short stories, and essays.

These are the sounds and sights of Tizmoret Shoshana.

Amenities

  • Meals

    We serve three meals each day plus daily snack. Fruit is always available. There is a cashless canteen, and campers are also welcome to bring their own nut-free snacks in a sealed bin.

  • Grounds

    Our grounds offer all sorts of fun activities. Hang out on the deck with friends, go boating or swimming in the lake, play ping pong in the lounge, check out our sefarim library, or find some like-minded friends for sports or a walk around camp.

  • Rooms

    Campers will be housed in cabins with bunk beds, storage space, and bathrooms. There will be 6-7 campers in a cabin with 1 counselor. Each cabin has a “co-bunk” so overall there will be 12-13 campers and 2 counselors responsible for them.

Health and Wellness

Tizmoret Shoshana strives to support the overall mental and physical health and well-being of our campers and staff. Thanks to the generosity of the Foundation for Jewish Camp, Tizmoret Shoshana was awarded a Yedid Nefesh grant in 2022. This grant runs for four camp seasons and supports hiring mental health professionals for camp. Funding is also provided for enhanced counselor training, and wellness initiatives for campers and staff. In 2023, we launched the Quiet Room, a place where campers can come when they need some quiet time to recharge. Filled with cozy beanbag chairs and lots of fun fidget toys, the Quiet Room was a hit in 2023 with campers and staff alike. We look forward to running this initiative again in 2024.

In addition to having a camp social worker (what many camps call "camp mom"), we also have a full-time camp nurse on staff. Campers learn quickly that saying they are feeling dehydrated will almost always get them ices from the nurse's freezer stash! And many friendships are forged in the nurse's line - in all seriousness, Tizmoret is not the kind of camp where a camper is embarrassed to go see the nurse. Even the directors can often be found sneaking in for ices!

Location

 

In 2024, Tizmoret Shoshana will be at Watonka Outdoor Facilities in Hawley, Pennsylvania. In previous years, Tizmoret Shoshana has been at Camp Gan Israel in the Poconos, Berkshire Lake Camp in Massachusetts, and the Capital Camps Retreat Center in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.