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Current Job Openings

Kitchen
Alternative Foods and Packout Lead
$7,700.00 / season
Groveland
Job Responsibilities
Team Work and Leadership
• Trains and supervises Prep Cooks

• Role modeling, tone setting, time management, and working alongside other cooks to execute daily tasks and clean-up.

• Creates positive relationships with wilderness team and staff picking up pack-outs.

• Having a good attitude, it spreads to others.

• Friendly and constant communication with your team, as well as other Kitchen Supervisors and Cooks on shift.
Initiative and Responsibility
• Responsible for all campers’ allergens: educating staff and assuring the safety of alternative eaters at every meal and with every pack-out.

• Plan weekly Alternative Foods menu and review with the Kitchen Management Team.

• Prepare, cook, and serve vegan, vegetarian and all allergen-free food options.

• Supply all the food (“packouts”) that will be served or made outside of the Dining Hall and/or main camp meals. This includes packed food to be taken out of camp (e.g. for backpacking trips), packed food to be eaten outside of the Dining Hall (e.g. unit dance), and supplies for cooking activities.

• Communicate with the Kitchen Management Team on any specialty items to order and keep in stock, as needed.

• Being on time and prepared: being on time means ready to go with a prep list written and organized before the scheduled shift begins.

• 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 or more 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.
Member of Kitchen Supervisor Team
• Have regular check-ins with the Kitchen Management Team to ensure the smooth running of the kitchen; give input for the weekly menu.

• Attend weekly all-staff meetings at 10:15p every Wednesday. Attend weekly kitchen supervisor meetings at 8:00p every Sunday. Attend and participate in running weekly kitchen staff meetings at 1:45p every Tuesday.

• Train and support Prep Cooks scheduled to work in the Alternative Foods kitchen and write evaluations of supervisees two times over the summer.


Day in the Life
• Each Alternative Foods & Packout Lead is scheduled daily on one of two shifts

  • AM Shift: begins between 5:00a and 6:00a (depending on menu). Responsible for preparing, serving, and clearing Breakfast and Lunch. Prepare and deliver lunch for the Challenge Course. Prepare and distribute packouts.

  • PM Shift: begins at 1:45p. Responsible for preparing, serving, and clearing Dinner. Prepare and distribute packouts.

• Experiment with new recipes for main Dining Hall meals throughout the summer.

  • Take notes on all recipes

  • Type notes and mastered recipes to be saved for future use/Kitchen Cookbook

The Alternative Foods & Packout Lead is listed 6 days/week on the kitchen schedule. You must be ready to work at the listed start time of each shift. It is your responsibility to know your schedule and show up for work on time, well rested, fed, and ready to work.
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Kitchen
Assistant Kitchen Manager
$9,000.00 / season
Groveland
Job Title: Assistant Kitchen Manager
Dates & Salary: $9000, more DOE. Dates for this position are May 19 – August 8, 2026.
Job Responsibilities
Teamwork & Leadership
• Covers all duties on Director of Kitchen & At-Camp Operations time and days off. Uses own judgment to decide which decisions should be made immediately and which should wait until the Director of Kitchen & At-Camp Operations returns.

• Supports and works with other Kitchen Supervisors and Prep Cooks, collaborating, communicating, and helping with the smooth running kitchen and food service.

• Is part of the Camp Management Team and a general liaison between the kitchen, the rest of camp, and the directors.

• Is scheduled to lead shifts in either Main Kitchen, Alternative Foods Kitchen or Bakery & Pantry (Bantry) two to three times per week. Leading a shift with 3-5 people including tone setting, time management, assigning tasks to prep cooks, providing supervision and coaching to prep cooks, and working alongside them to execute meal preparation, service and clean-up.

• Supports Kitchen Supervisors through regular observation, communication, and formal and informal check-ins.

• Having a good attitude, it spreads to others.
Initiative & Responsibility
• Being on time and prepared: being on time means ready to go with a prep list written, if needed, and organized before the scheduled shift.

• Responsible for inventorying all kitchen items 2-3 times per week, as needed.

• Coordinates, organizes, and ensures smooth service of special meal programs (e.g. International Dinner, Deck-O Beef) with help from the Kitchen Manager.

• Gives input for the weekly menu.

• Collaborate with the Kitchen Management Team to write weekly kitchen schedule.

• Directly supervises other Kitchen Supervisors.

• Paying careful attention to allergens and communicating this information to the dining hall lead before meals begin.

• 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 or more 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.
Member of Kitchen Supervisor Team
• Act as a role model for staff at all times, upholding the values of Camp and the Tawonga Kitchen.

• Have regular check-ins with the Director of Kitchen & At-Camp Operations to ensure the smooth running of the kitchen; give input for weekly menu.

• Attend weekly all-staff meetings at 10:15p every Wednesday. Attend and co-run weekly Kitchen Supervisor meetings at 8:00p every Sunday. Attend and co-run weekly kitchen staff meetings at 1:45p every Tuesday.

• Train and support Prep Cooks and Kitchen Supervisors.

• Write evaluations of Kitchen Supervisors two times over the summer.
 
Day in the Life
• The Assistant Kitchen Manager will be scheduled 2-3 times per week on one of six Lead shifts:

  • AM Shift (in Main Kitchen or Alternative Foods Kitchen): begins between 5:00a and 6:00a (sometimes earlier, depending on menu). Responsible for preparing, serving, and clearing Breakfast and Lunch 

  • PM Shift (in Main Kitchen or Alternative Foods Kitchen): begins at 1:45p (sometimes earlier). Responsible for preparing, serving, and clearing Dinner

  • Late Shift: begins at 3:45p (sometimes earlier). Responsible for preparing, serving, and clearing Late Night Snack and Breakfast prep for the next day

  • Bakery & Pantry Shift (Bantry): begins at 6:00a or 9:00a. Responsible for all baked good for the day, keeping Kitchen “back of house” organized and clean, both Kitchen and Camper laundry, assisting with putting away deliveries and other tasks as assigned.

• Facilitate all meal preparation, cooking, serving, clearing, and cleaning by executing some tasks and delegating others to Prep Cooks throughout the entire shift. Additionally, if there is extra time, prepare items for the following meal.

• For AM Shift: Oversee that all surfaces are cleared and bleached, floors swept, trash emptied, trash cans relined, entire Dish Room cleaned, Dining Hall service counter wiped down, and Coffee Bar cleared, organized, and restocked.

• For PM Shift: Same as AM plus floors mopped and plates, bowls, cups, and dish racks put back in their place in the kitchen.

• For Late Shift: Oversee that all surfaces are cleared and bleached, floors spot swept, entire Dish Room cleaned, Dining Hall service counter wiped down, and Coffee Bar cleared, organized, restocked, and shut down for the night.

• On days when not leading a shift, the Assistant Kitchen Manager will share the responsibilities of managing kitchen operations with the Director of Kitchen & At-Camp Operations.  

  • Taking inventory on days when a food order needs to be placed.

  • Receiving and putting away deliveries, as they come in.

  • Support and collaborate with Kitchen Supervisors leading a shift to ensure their shifts are running smoothly and that meals will be prepared and served on time, following all food quality and food service systems within the kitchen.

  • Act as liaison between the kitchen, the rest of camp, and the directors.

The Assistant Kitchen Manager is listed on the Manager Schedule 6 days/week, including 1 to 2 days/week covering other Kitchen Supervisors on their days off. You must be ready to work at the listed start time of each shift. It is your responsibility to know your schedule and show up for work on time, well rested, fed, and ready to work.
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Counselor

$4,275.00 / season

Groveland

Job Title: Counselor

Salary & Dates: $4275, more DOE. Dates for this position are May 31 – August 8, 2026

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. 

 

A Day in the Life of a Counselor 

7:00AM – Wake up: get entire bunk of kids up and ready for the day 

8:00AM – Breakfast (followed by song session): ensure all campers are eating and engaged 

9:30AM – Activities Begin: your role is to support the facilitator or facilitate and encourage all campers to participate 

12:30PM – Lunch: make sure the campers are eating and drinking, serve food and talk to kids 

1:30PM – Rest Hour: this is time for campers to clean the bunk, read mail, relax or write home 

2:30PM – Activities 

3:45PM – Snack 

4:00PM – Free Swim or Floats (Floats is a time when campers choose individual activities) 

6:00PM – Dinner (followed by song session): serve food, ensure all kids are eating, talk to kids 

7:30PM – Evening Activities: good time to do stories, yoga, campfires, and mellow activities 

9:15PM – Bedtime: set the right tone, do a closing ritual, put kids to bed 

10:00PM – Counselors are off when bedtime rituals are done. Counselors occasionally have bunk coverage from 10pm-12am

12:00AM – Counselors check in to their cabins and go to sleep with the campers


 

Additional Responsibilities:

• Paperwork – writing camper observation forms and postcards home.

• Shmira – bunk supervision between 10pm-12am. Counselors have 5-6 shmira shifts a summer.

• Communication with Co-Counselor – working to have a healthy professional relationship with your co.

• Communication with supervisor – Bring concerns or questions to your supervisor, there for support and advice.

• Unit Counselor – Counselors are assigned to be a bunk counselor or unit counselor. A unit counselor lives in a bunk with campers, but rotates between all four bunks in a unit, keeps track of camper medications, and maintains constant communication w/ bunk counselors.

• Ruach Ride- supervising campers on the bus back to the Bay Area, and on the bus up to Camp Tawonga.

 

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to live in a cabin with others, eat meals in a vibrant, communal dining hall, address challenging situations appropriately in a fast-paced, interactive environment required.

• Counselors should be comfortable navigating 4-8 miles daily across a variety of terrain while employed at camp, ensuring access to different program areas around camp.

• CPR and First Aid certification

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Driver

$4,585.00 / season

Groveland

Job Title: Driver

Salary & Dates: $4,585 for season (Dates for this position are May 30 – August 8

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

 

Day in the Life

5:30AM – 6:00AM – Wake up after a good/restful night of sleep (eight hours)

6:00AM – Pre-trip vehicle inspections

6:30AM – 7:00AM – Depart on morning drives

9:00AM – 10:00AM – Drop off campers, eat breakfast with campers at trailhead 

12:30PM – Pick up another group of campers in Yosemite and drive them back to camp

2:30PM – Return to camp, refuel vehicles

3:30PM – Break

6:45PM – Daily driver meeting. Find out where you are going the next day, review maps.

9:15PM – Bed time so they can get eight hours of sleep!

In general drivers should expect to drive 4-8 hours a day (not in a row). If they only have one drive, they may do vehicle maintenance or help in the office. If not dropping off trips they may run errands for camp or serve as “driver on duty”.

 

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Farm & Garden Specialist

$4,510.00 / season

Groveland

Farm and Garden Specialist

 

Salary & Dates: $4510, Dates for this position are May 31 – August 8

Job Description: Work with Farm and Garden Supervisor to support cultivation of Tawonga’s vegetable and ornamental garden using organic farming practices. Care for goats and chickens, including feeding, watering, mucking, and facilitating humane educational programs with animals and campers. Collaborate with Naturalists (Teva Specialists) to lead engaging farm and garden programming for children ages 8-16, fostering with campers a connection to nature, Jewish values of sustainability and caring for the world, and a connection to food, land and farming. Must be able to navigate over 4-8 miles of uneven terrain to different program areas around camp daily and lift up to 40 lbs. Live in cabin with other staff. Work 8 hours/day outside and provide extra early morning/late night care for animals as needed. Farm and Garden experience preferred.

 

Job Responsibilities and Qualities

• Assist the Farm and Garden Supervisor in all aspects of managing the farm and garden:
  • Select best crop varieties, planting location, and timing prioritizing kid-friendly produce for direct consumption and useful crops for kitchen use, ready for the months of June-September
  • Build soil fertility; adequately care for all perennials, including fruit trees; manage pests using only organic methods 
  • Maintain high animal welfare
  • Keep tool shed, garden and barn organized and well stocked
  • Keep regular records of garden activities, harvest, and animal health
  • Support Tawonga’s sustainability efforts as related to food, farming and animal welfare
  • Support with design, accessibility, and aesthetic of garden area
• Programming
  • Develop and lead programming focusing on food, farming, Judaism and the food system at Tawonga and beyond with the support of the Farm and Garden Supervisor
  • Work with Garden Kitchen staff to cultivate and harvest fruits, vegetables, and herbs needed for their programs.
  • Share the responsibility of leading Mgar and Egar (morning and evening garden work blocks) with the Farm and Garden Supervisor
  • Depending on interest and scheduling, lead programming outside of the farm and garden with support from the Teva Supervisor
• Relationships
  • Build positive relationships with Buildings and Grounds Team, Naturalist/Teva Team, Wilderness Leaders, Garden Kitchen Team, Maintenance Team, and Kitchen Team. Support their work as needed.
  • Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and flexibility, able to meet changing work needs and demands




 

Qualifications

• Experience working in gardening, farming, and/or animal husbandry required
• 21+ preferred
• Ability to work independently and with a team equally effectively.
• Love of the natural world
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • Some lifting and carrying up to 40 lbs.
  • Operating equipment (rototiller)
  • Standing, walking, kneeling, digging
  • Working with and moving farm animals

 

Day in the Life (Morning Shift*)

6:30AM – Wake-up animals, feed chickens, feed and milk goats, deliver milk to garden kitchen

7:30AM - Early breakfast with Maintenance Team

8:00AM – Lead MGar Tikkun (Morning Garden service block) with bunk – planting, watering, weeding, animal care, etc.

9:30AM – Garden and farm work (independent)

12:30PM – Lunch, meet with supervisor and farmhand team.

1:30PM – More garden or farm work (as a team)

2:30PM – Off for the day

 

*An Afternoon shift will likely be 12:30-8:30, including Dinner at 6pm and animal milking and bedtime. At times, shifts will be split to avoid the hottest part of the day.

 

Sometimes, Farm and Garden Specialists will assist with milking and bedtime when off, depending on staffing and animal needs.

 

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Maintenance Supervisor

$5,485.00 / season

Groveland

Job Title: Maintenance Supervisor

Dates & Salary: $5485, more DOE. Dates for this position are May 21 – August 8, 2026.

 

Job Responsibilities

Team Work and Leadership

• Trains and supervises Maintenance Crew.

• Role modeling, tone setting, time management, and working alongside Maintenance Crew to execute daily tasks and clean-up.

• Creates positive relationships with the team.

• Friendly and constant communication with your shift, as well as with other Maintenance Leads when passing off between AM/PM shifts.

• Having a good attitude, it spreads to others.

Initiative and Responsibility

• Being on time and prepared.

• Writing the weekly Maintenance Schedule, assigning crew members shifts and days off.

• Lead weekly meetings with the crew.

• Weekly check-ins with staff and end of summer evaluation

• Take regular inventory of supply closet(s) and communicate to the Director of Kitchen & At-Camp Operations items that need to be ordered.

• 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 or more hours, mostly outside.

• 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.

Recycling: 

• Facilitate camp’s recycling efforts. 

• Teach campers and staff to recycle based on local requirements. 

• Work with the Head of Transportation to make sure recycling is sorted and dropped off to Mather/Big Oak Flat/Sonora.

• Janitorial Work:

  • Bathroom & Dining Hall Janitorial

  • Cleaning guest cabins

  • Trash collection and disposal

  • “MOOP Scoops” - return items to where they belong throughout Camp

  • Deep clean of all camp between sessions

• Buildings & Grounds Work:

  • Pine needle and brush clean-up 

  • Firewood cutting

  • Maintenance and repair projects as needed 

  • Support with new construction projects

  • Help in an emergency (i.e. fire suppression, shut off power)

• Program Support:

  • Luggage loading/unloading

  • Mail pick-up & delivery

  • Food & Water Delivery (to barbecues around Camp, etc.)

  • Beds & Furniture moving

  • Lead Tikkun Tawonga blocks with campers (train crew members to do this as well)


Maintenance Supervisors are listed 6 days/week on the Maintenance schedule. You must be ready to work at the listed start time of each shift. It is your responsibility to know your schedule and show up for work on time, well rested and ready to work.

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Transportation Supervisor

$5,485.00 / season

Groveland

Job Title: Transportation Supervisor

Salary & Dates: $5,485. Dates for this position are May 21 – August 8

Job Responsibilities

Safety and Risk Management are the top priorities in this job. 

• Supervise team of drivers.
• Role model appropriate Driver behavior at all times.
• Ensure that all Tawonga transportation policies are being followed by all drivers.
• Co-lead driver training for all summer staff who may drive Tawonga vehicles.
• Report any concerns about driver performance or safety to your supervisor immediately.
• Schedule all vehicles and drivers for camper transportation and other transportation needs and communicate the schedule to all parties involved.
  • Collaborate with Backpacking Supervisors to create a schedule. Be in constant communication to keep the schedule updated and posted. 
  • Do not schedule anyone who has had an evening drive (after dinner) for an early morning drive (before breakfast departure) the following day without approval.
  • Coordinate regular, emergency and as needed drives including trips to pick up wilderness permits, shopping, recycling, mail, etc. 
  • Consolidate trips when possible, i.e. Sonora Run can drop off recycling in Big Oak Flat on the way, and when picking up a backpacking trip in Yosemite, recycling can be dropped off at Mather on the way. 
• Recycling: Facilitate camp’s recycling efforts. Work with Maintenance Supervisors to teach recycling, and make sure recycling is sorted and dropped off to Mather/Big Oak Flat/Sonora.
• Coordinate Driver on Duty - DOD (make sure whoever is on shift as DOD knows they are the DOD and understands the expectations).
• Attend 5 o’clock meetings as needed to get additional drivers.
• Lead daily Driver pre-trip meetings. Attend backpacking destination pre-trip meetings
• Observe Drivers directly and elicit feedback on Driver performance and safety from staff passengers (i.e. Co-pilots, Counselors on backpacking trips). 
• Have a casual check-in with each Driver daily and an official check-in with each Driver weekly to exchange feedback. Provide written evaluations halfway through the summer and at the end of the summer to evaluate job performance of all Drivers.
• Ensure that anyone who will be driving a Camp Tawonga vehicle:
  • Is safe to drive
  • Knows where they are going (including park entry locations and trailhead locations)
  • Knows what time they are expected to depart/arrive/return
  • Knows what to do with vehicle and keys when they return
  • Knows what to do in case of an emergency
  • Has a co-pilot if possible
  • Completes required paperwork
  • Daily pre-trip and post-trip inspections
• Organize and upload/submit all receipts and oversee Drivers in uploading receipts
• Vehicle damage reports, when needed
• Be aware of changing road conditions, road closures, construction, and detours and communicate this information to drivers. 
• Distribute vehicle keys to Drivers.
• Inspect vehicles upon delivery to camp and complete Vehicle Delivery Reports.
• Take pride in vehicles, maintaining cleanliness and addressing any problems immediately.
• Submit VINs to AM Skier & receive certificates of insurance, place in all vehicles
• Inspect vehicles weekly, noting:
  • Condition of vehicles, any damage
  • Oil levels, tire pressure
  • Appropriate signage
  • Emergency equipment is present (triangles, first aid kit, sanitation supplies)
  • Required paperwork is being completed
  • Document these inspections
• Submit mileage reports to Enterprise as requested
• Ensure vehicles are cleaned and inspected for damage before being returned to Enterprise
• Coordinate maintenance of all vehicles. Gas vehicles as necessary.
• Drive to drop-off and pick-up locations (backpacking trips and day trips), errands, Ruach Ride (bus duty) and emergencies, camper car camping trips (including spending the night, supporting the trip as requested by the Wilderness Leader).
• Respond to any vehicular breakdowns and emergency situations appropriately
• Assist with Gate, Phones and Radio Coverage, mail sorting, and other office functions
• Get adequate rest in order to drive safely. If you are not safe to drive, tell your supervisor who will assist you in finding a substitute.

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Kitchen
Lead Cook
$8,100.00 / season
Groveland
Job Title: Lead Cook
Dates & Salary: $8100, more DOE. Dates for this position are May 19 – August 8, 2026.
Job Responsibilities
Team Work and Leadership
• Leading a shift with 3-5 people including tone setting, time management, assigning tasks to Prep Cooks, providing supervision and coaching to Prep Cooks, and working alongside them to execute meal preparation, service and clean-up.

• Having a good attitude, it spreads to others.

• Sharing the desirable and less desirable work.

• Friendly and constant communication with your team and other Kitchen Supervisors and Prep Cooks on shift.
Initiative and Responsibility
• Being on time and prepared: being on time means ready to go with a prep list written and organized before Prep Cooks arrive for shift.

• 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.

• Paying careful attention to allergens and communicating this information to the dining hall lead before meals begin.
Physical Work
• You will be on your feet for 8 or more 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.
Member of Kitchen Supervisor Team
• Act as a role model for staff at all times, upholding the values of Camp and the Tawonga Kitchen.

• Have regular check-ins with the Kitchen Management Team to ensure the smooth running of the kitchen; give input for weekly menu.

• Attend weekly all-staff meetings at 10:15p every Wednesday. Attend weekly kitchen supervisor meetings at 8:00p every Sunday. Attend and participate in running weekly kitchen staff meetings at 1:45p every Tuesday.

• Train and support prep cooks and write evaluations of prep cooks two times over the summer.
 
Day in the Life
• Each Lead Cook is scheduled daily on one of three shifts

  • AM Shift: begins between 5:00a and 6:00a (sometimes earlier, depending on menu). Responsible for preparing, serving, and clearing Breakfast and Lunch 

  • PM Shift: begins at 1:45p (sometimes earlier).  Responsible for preparing, serving, and clearing Dinner

  • Late Shift: begins at 3:45p (sometimes earlier).  Responsible for preparing, serving, and clearing Late Night Snack and Breakfast prep for the next day

• Facilitate all meal preparation, cooking, serving, clearing, and cleaning by executing some tasks and delegating others to Prep Cooks throughout the entire shift.  Additionally, if there is extra time, prepare items for the following meal.

• For AM Shift: Oversee that all surfaces are cleared and bleached, floors swept, trash emptied, trash cans relined, entire Dish Room cleaned, Dining Hall service counter wiped down, and Coffee Bar cleared, organized, and restocked.

• For PM Shift: Same as AM plus floors mopped and plates, bowls, cups, and dish racks put back in their place in the kitchen.

• For Late Shift: Oversee that all surfaces are cleared and bleached, floors spot swept, mopping the Bakery, entire Dish Room cleaned and shutdown for the night, Dining Hall service counter wiped down, and Coffee Bar cleared, organized, restocked, and shut down for the night.
 
Lead Cooks are listed 6 days/week on the kitchen schedule. You must be ready to work at the listed start time of each shift. It is your responsibility to know your schedule and show up for work on time, well rested, fed, and ready to work.
 
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Bakery and Pantry Lead

$7,100.00 / season

Groveland

Job Title: Bakery & Pantry Lead

Dates & Salary: $7100, more DOE. Dates for this position are May 19 – August 8, 2026.

Job Description: The Bakery & Pantry Lead holds a handful of daily responsibilities that keep our Kitchen humming and organized – preparing the fruit dessert for Lunch, baking a fresh dessert for dinner, Camper and Kitchen laundry, maintaining our coffee and tea bar and keeping all things clean and organized behind the scenes (i.e. receiving and putting away food orders/deliveries).

Job Responsibilities

Team Work and Leadership

• Lead a shift with one to two rotating Prep Cooks in the Bantry (Bakery + Pantry) each day, assigning tasks to Prep Cooks and providing supervision. Shifts can also be scheduled without a Prep Cook assigned.

• Role model tone setting, time management, and working alongside Prep Cooks to execute daily tasks and clean-up.

• Having a good attitude, it spreads to others.

• Friendly and constant communication with your team, as well as other Kitchen Supervisors and Prep Cooks on shift.

Initiative and Responsibility

• Being on time and prepared: being on time means ready to go with a prep list written and organized before the scheduled shift begins.

• 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 or more 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.

Member of Kitchen Supervisor Team

• Have regular check-ins with the Kitchen Management Team to ensure the smooth running of the kitchen; give input for weekly menu.

• Attend weekly all-staff meetings at 10:15p every Wednesday. Attend weekly kitchen supervisor meetings at 8:00p every Sunday. Attend and participate in running weekly kitchen staff meetings at 1:45p every Tuesday.

• Train and support Prep Cooks and give written evaluations of Prep Cooks two times over the summer.

 

Day in the Life

• The Bakery & Pantry Lead has a variety of daily responsibilities throughout the week:

  • Baking desserts for main camp meals, including birthday bowls

  • Preparing, and putting out a 3:45p snack in the Dining Hall for all of Camp

  • Maintaining a stocked fruit bowl in the Dining Hall at the Coffee/Tea Bar

  • Keeping Coffee/Tea Bar clean, organized, and stocked

  • Breaking down boxes and taking outside to trash/recycling dock

  • Rotating kitchen laundry throughout the day

  • Washing camper laundry in an organized, efficient, and timely manner

  • Make challah bread every week, ready for Shabbat dinner on Friday by 5p

    • This can include instructing a bunk of kids to assist in the process

• Responsible for cleanliness, organization, and safety of the all food storage spaces: Bakery, Pantry, Reach-in Refrigeration units, Walk-in Refrigeration units, Reach-in Freezer. In addition, keep clean and clear all hallways, Kitchen Bathroom and Laundry Room. This responsibility can also include:

  • Provide input on the daily dessert menu.

  • Receive and put away all deliveries upon arrival; label and rotate stock appropriately following First In First Out protocol.

  • Manage leftover labeling, rotation, use, and appropriate disposal.


The Bakery & Pantry Lead is listed 6 days/week on the kitchen schedule. Most shifts will start at 6:00AM. You must be ready to work at the listed start time of each shift. It is your responsibility to know your schedule and show up for work on time, well rested, fed, and ready to work.

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Prep Cook

$4,275.00 / season

Groveland

Job Title: Prep Cook

Dates & Salary: $4275, more DOE. Dates for this position are May 31 – August 8, 2026.

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.

 

Day in the Life

• 3 shifts: shifts rotate daily so it is always different

  • AM Shift (in Main Kitchen, Alternative Foods Kitchen or “Bantry”): begins at 6:30a. Responsible for preparing, serving, and clearing Breakfast and Lunch

  • PM Shift (in Main Kitchen or Alternative Foods Kitchen): begins at 2:00p. Responsible for preparing, serving, and clearing Dinner

  • Late Shift: begins at 4:00p. Responsible for preparing, serving, and clearing Late night snack and contributing to Breakfast prep for the next morning

• Jobs that will be assigned while on shift include but aren’t limited to:

  • Preparing the meal

    • Chopping veggies

    • Making salad dressing

    • Running dishes

    • And more!

  • While serving the meal 

    • In the front window giving kids food and refilling emptied items.

    • In back cleaning dishes.

  • Cleaning up meal 

    • Washing dishes

    • Cleaning kitchen

    • Putting leftovers away


Prep Cooks are listed 6 days/week on the kitchen schedule. You must be ready to work at the listed start time of each shift. It is your responsibility to know your schedule and show up for work on time, well rested, fed, and ready to work.

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Wilderness Leader

$5,950.00 / season

Groveland

Wilderness Leader

 

Salary & Dates: $5950, more DOE. Dates for this position are May 21 – August 8.

 

Job Description: 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 through four different job responsibilities, listed below. Every Wilderness Leader will work as a Backpacking Trip Leader at some point during the summer, along with 1-3 of the other rotations.

 

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.

• Understand departure and pick-up times, routes, and safe driving tactics.

• 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. All Quests include a backpacking trip, and some combination of hiking, kayaking, rafting, climbing, surfing, and other outdoor activities!

• Drive passenger vans, keep track of finances, 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

• 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 animals and organic garden.

Example Summer Rotation Schedules:

 

Taste of Camp (1 week)

Session 2 

(3 weeks)

Session 3 

(3 weeks)

Session 4 

(2 weeks)

Example Wild Leader 1

Day Hikes,  Prepare for Quest

Surf N’ Turf Quest Leader,  Backpacking Trip Leader

Backpacking Trip Leader

Farmhand

Example Wild Leader 2

Challenge Course Training

Backpacking Trip Leader

Challenge Course Facilitator

Backpacking Trip Leader

Example Wild Leader 3

Day Hikes

Naturalist/Teva Specialist, Prepare for Quest

H2O Quest Leader

Backpacking Trip Leader

 

Qualifications

• Must be 21 or older.

• Must have current certifications:

  • Lifeguard Certification (LGT)*

  • Wilderness First Responder Certification (WFR)*

  • ServSafe Certification*

  • 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 reimburse the costs of obtaining them. 

 

Day in the Life (Final Morning of a Backpacking Trip)

6:00AM – Wake up early to mountains and rivers in the backcountry; pack personal backpack and get water boiling.

6:45AM – Wake up bunk and help them get packed up.

7:30AM – Yummy backcountry breakfast as the sun hits your breakfast spot.

9:00AM – Stretch and get hiking! Hike through the Yosemite wilderness.

12:00PM – Lunch at the trailhead, meet your driver and load those packs!

2:30PM – Back at camp, unload and take a break.

4:00PM – Greet your next bunk and help them get prepared for backpacking.

6:00PM – Dinner at Camp, prep for your backpack trip and get a good night's rest!

 

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