Camp Tawonga has been a leader in LGBTQ+ inclusion for over 25 years. In 1998, we founded Keshet LGBTQ+ Family Camp, the first program of its kind in Jewish camping, creating a space where LGBTQ+ families are fully celebrated. In 2019, we launched all-gender cabin options for nonbinary, trans, and gender-expansive campers, and we appointed the first full-time DEI director at a Jewish summer camp in North America. We prioritize hiring LGBTQ+ staff who serve as visible role models, provide specialized training for all counselors, and create affinity spaces where LGBTQ+ youth can explore their identities without judgment. Many of our current LGBTQ+ staff came out as campers at Tawonga and now give back to the community that supported them. At Tawonga, LGBTQ+ youth discover a place where they're seen, celebrated, and embraced for who they truly are. As one parent shared: "Our son told us it was the first time he felt like a 'kid' and not just a 'gay' kid and it was freeing and cathartic for him."

Tawonga's JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) initiative ensures we're continually evolving our practices to center LGBTQ+ belonging. Financial assistance is available for families who need support—we're committed to ensuring that cost is not a barrier to the transformative Tawonga experience. This sentiment from an LGBTQ+ staff member captures what Tawonga means to our community: "Tawonga is the place that I feel the happiest and safest in the world."