Habonim Dror Camp Tavor is a Jewish overnight camp located in Three Rivers, Michigan. The camp is affiliated with Habonim Dror, a Labor-Zionist youth movement which promotes the ideals of communal living and sharing, in a Kibbutz-like environment. The camp promotes the ideals of the youth movement to roughly 200 participating campers, ages 9 through 15 each summer.
Affiliation with Habonim Dror
is a Labor Zionist movement which provides programing and ideology to campers. Campers perform work in the morning, which simulates living in a Kibbutz, where communal work benefits the whole society. There is an element of kupah, which literally means 'cash register' in Hebrew, but is interpreted to mean 'sharing'. The basic principle of sharing at Camp Tavor is give what you can, take what you need. All campers contribute to kupah and therefore feel an equal part of and responsibility for our community. Campers are educated during Peulot, or age group activities, on the ideals of Habonim Dror, as well as on topics relevant to society today such as environmentalism and social justice. Other activities throughout the day range from sports such as canoeing, swimming, basketball and Ga-ga to games with the entire camp of Capture the Flag or other Camp Tavor favorites.
Schedule
Camp Tavor is a Jewish summer camp that has sessions available to campers varying in length from one to seven weeks. Explore Tavor is a two-week session First Session is three weeks long, with a visitors day two weeks into the session Second Session is four weeks long, with a visitors day about 3 weeks into the session The Full Season is from the beginning of First Session through the end of Second Session Tavor reopens mid-Fall for Fall Seminar, which takes place over a weekend and is a fun reunion for campers and counselors alike. The program imitates normal Shabbat programing at camp.
Age groups
Camp Tavor welcomes a wide variety of age groups. The age groups are: Amelimot - Post 3rd and 4th grade, Chotrimot - Post 5th and 6th Grades, Bonimot - Post 7th Grade, Garinimot - Post 8th Grade, Bogrimot - Post 9th Grade, Madatz - Post 11th Grade. Hebrew suffixes have been changed to "imot" in place of either "im" or "ot" within Camp Tavor and Habonim Dror North America in order to promote more gender inclusive language Camp Tavor also hosts Kadima, a three week program exploring Judaism in the Midwest, that any Post-tenth grade member of Habonim Dror North America may be a part of.
Shabbat
at Tavor is a very relaxed and reflective experience. Friday afternoons allow time to dress nicely and prepare for Kabbalat Shabbat. Kabbalat Shabbat includes a unique flag lowering service followed by a trip to Shabbat Hill to sing and watch the sunset. Following dinner, zemirot are sung and the rest of the night is spent Israeli Folk Dancing on the basketball courts. Saturday at Camp Tavor is a very laid back day, with a sleep in and the tradition of pancakes for breakfast. There is also time for Jewish storytelling, as well as chugei ritzonim about topics relating to anything from ancient Judaism to current events. Before dinner on Saturday, the campers will have the opportunity to showcase their musical talents in a weekly Musicale talent show.
