Camp Activities

Torah at Tizmoret

At Tizmoret Shoshana, we integrate our Judaism and our arts, teaching campers to celebrate the many ways they can use their kochos in their avodas Hashem.

Our shiur instructors use their Torah knowledge to prepare relevant, engaging lessons. Campers report that they can ask any question; if the instructor is stumped, she’ll research and do her best to return with answers. Love learning? You can even pick two daily shiur electives per week!
Since campers come from a range of backgrounds, on weekdays, our davening is in a communal space, but done individually. On Friday night, we sing Kabbalas Shabbos together, and there is always time for zemiros on Shabbos day.
We have two locations for davening:
1. The Barn - This is our regular davening space.
2. The Rec Room - This is a space for campers to come for a short discussion and/or journaling prompt, followed by time for tefillah.
Campers have the option to daven in either space for Shacharis. Mincha takes place in the Barn.
Shabbos at Tizmoret Shoshana is magical. From the multi-part harmonies of zemiros, bunk Parsha Circles, Pirkei Avos groups, and camper-made decor, there’s something for everyone.
And for a little levity, every Shabbos afternoon features the traditional Tizmoret Parsha Play. The play is loosely - very loosely - based on the weekly parsha.

Arts at Tizmoret

At Tizmoret Shoshana, campers choose to major in one of our eight main arts options. But what if you want to try everything? Not to worry - we have afternoon Electives and also Evening Minors where campers can choose other arts areas to try.

*Please note that Piano is only offered as an elective, not as a major. Serious pianists may opt to take two elective periods in Piano.

MAJORS

Majors are the arts areas our campers choose to focus on while at camp. Each camper chooses ONE major for the duration of camp. Majors take place for 2 hours every morning Monday through Friday, and 1.5 hours on Sunday mornings (What? We have late wake-up on Sundays! Zzzzzz….)
Discover and hone your personal talent and inner voice! Have fun with writing prompts that will make you laugh and think creatively. Learn techniques for world-building, character development, poetic devices, and more! Previous writing projects included contract-writing (If only we could use one camper’s very creative contract for Tizmoret Shoshana employees!), stories, slam poetry, and of course the Writing Majors always attempt to take over the annual Camp Novel.
Dance majors learn different types of dance depending on their interest and experience. Learn new choreography with friends in a variety of styles. In 2025, the focus was on contemporary dance - a style “that branches off of ballet and breaks the lines and flow that is so strict in classical ballet” as per our instructor. Elective options have included beginner and intermediate ballet, ballet solos, and a more general dance class.
Create and play realistic characters using new theatrical techniques! Integrate theory into performance through exciting group games and exercises. Whatever your experience, our drama program will stretch your creative acting ability in fun and innovative ways.
Build your musicianship and repertoire through ensemble playing, masterclasses, and one-on-one coaching. Music majors typically have several years’ experience on their instrument (violin, viola, cello, or guitar), while electives don’t require as much experience and can in fact be absolute beginners. Don’t see your instrument listed here? Please contact the office to find out if we can accommodate you. Previous elective instrument options have included strings, piano, guitar, harp and flute.
FINE ART: Explore art forms you may be familiar with, such as charcoal drawing, watercolor painting, and oil painting, and try new things, such as sculpting with clay, quilling, and other exciting projects. Exact projects will vary year to year. In 2025, campers mainly explored drawing, painting, and colour theory.
Fine Art is meant for campers who want a more serious, technical approach to art, ie. they are focused and ready to improve their skills. Experience is less important than desire to learn.
ARTS & CRAFTS: This is a great option for campers to love to do hands-on projects, but may not be looking for intense art techniques. In 2025, resin casting was once again one of the most popular options in arts & crafts, along with wood burning, embroidery, paint pour, seashell art, and many other fun projects.
NEW FOR 2026! Due to popular demand, we are adding Textile Arts as a new major. While all details are not yet worked out, chances are good that it will include hand and machine sewing, along with a variety of creative media and projects.
Learn to sing with more presence and ease. Gain valuable techniques through group warm-ups, and experience ensemble singing in multi-part harmony. Vocal majors may have some 1:1 sessions along with technique and ensemble work, while vocal electives will spend the majority of their time on ensemble music.

ELECTIVES

Electives are shorter sessions of 45-50 minutes per day. Each elective has four periods weekly, and campers choose four electives per week. Some electives run for all of camp, and others are offered weekly. It really depends on the individual instructor and elective. Clear as mud? Don’t worry, our Scheduling Queen will help you figure out your schedule in the spring!
Campers must choose at least one shiur elective weekly. As seen below, there are many different shiur options - some are text-based, some more hashkafa/discussion-based, and others are more focused on integrating Torah & arts.
Other than that, campers are free to choose whichever electives appeal to them.
It depends on the year and what our staff want to teach. Each year is different. Please see below for previous electives that have been offered. These are NOT the 2026 electives - we will add more info on that in spring 2026!
Previous Fine Art electives have included:
Drawing
Polymer Clay Canes
Alef-Bet Inspired Art
Portraits
Painting
Cartooning
Pen & Ink
Colored Pencil
Floating Chalk Prints
Floral Watercolor
Chalk Pastel
Watercolor Masking
Previous Arts & Crafts electives have included:

Modern Calligraphy
Clay Modeling
Decoration Committee
Jewelry Making
Mosaics
Resin Casting
Everything Paper
Hand Sewing Pillows
Hair Accessory Making
Resin Artwork
Paint Pour
Tie-Dye Time
Hole Punch Mosaics
Manga-Style Art
Acrylic Painting
Slime
Bead Bonanza
Seashell Art
Putty Making
Watercolor Pencils
Candle Art
Nature Crafts
Previous Creative Writing Electives have included:
Song Writing
Free Verse Poetry
Structured Poetry
Writing Jewish Stories
Poetry
Short Story Writing
Playwriting
Food Writing
Ecopoetry
Poetry Collection
Collaborative Writing
Writing Ghazals
Zemiros, Piyyut, and Medieval Hebrew Poetry
Translation
Previous Dance electives have included:
Ballet - Beginner, Intermediate
Ballet Solos
Intro to Dance
Previous Drama electives have included:
Musical Theatre
Collab
Lights, Camera, Parsha!
Improv Acting/Comedy
Miming
Voice Acting
Costume and Set Design
Monologues
Stage Combat
Previous Music electives have included:
Violin - Beginner, Experienced
Flute - Beginner, Experienced
Piano - Beginner, Experienced
Guitar - Beginner, Experienced
Chamber Music
Crash Course in Piano Accompaniment
Intro to Reading Music
Kumzitz Shiur
Previous Shiur electives have included:
Mesillas Yesharim
Nashim B’Tanach
Themes of Shabbos
Lights, Camera, Parsha!
Iyov
Navi LARP
Teachings of Rav Hirsch
Bdamayich Chayi
Exploring Koheles
Torah of the Renaissance
Zemiros, Piyyut, and Medieval Hebrew Poetry
Chashmona’i Dynasty
Medieval Jewry
Jewry in the New World
Birkos HaShachar
Tehillim for Beginners
Pirkei Avos
Foundations
Torah & Psychology
The 25th Sefer of Tanach
Megillas Rus
Kumzitz Shiur
Overview of Sefer Devarim
Meis Mitzvah
Ovadia
Building a Better You
Parsha
Insights into the Haggadah
Stories & Lessons from our Sages
Bein Adam L’Chaveiro
Translation
Previous other electives have included:
Baking
Basketball
Boating
Swimming
Camp Newsletter
Yoga
Beginner Crochet
Experienced Crochet
19th Century Fashion History
Canadian Storytime
STEM Activities
Japanese
Making Chain Mail

EVENING MINORS

Evening minors started in 2023 as a way to add more arts options into our camp day. Since then, our talented staff have offered all kinds of evening minors workshops. Campers choose one evening minor for the duration of camp. Evening minors typically take place 1-2 evenings per week.
2025:
ASL
Bridging Art Forms
Beginner Embroidery
Crochet
Comedy Acting
Character Building
Photography 101
Resin Artwork
Taekwondo
Gels with Nels (nail art)
2024:
Teachings of Rav Hirsch
Crochet
Dance
Fantasy Worldbuilding
Mad Science
Origami
Garment Construction
2023:
Making Breakfast Foods
Games & Sports
Writing Jewish Fantasy and Sci-Fi
Bead Weaving
Crochet
STEM
Dance
Music Theory

Writers - working hard? Or hardly working?

What? Doesn't every camp need a stuffed elephant to drive the golf cart?

Camp Activities

Torah at Tizmoret

Shiurim

Tefillah

Shabbos

Arts at Tizmoret

MAJORS

ELECTIVES

EVENING MINORS