The 16th Annual Teva Seminar, Sponsored by the Jewish National Fund, will take place from June 7-10, 2010 in Cold Spring, NY. Join us for four days of learning with others passionate about Jewish education, environmental sustainability, camping, gardening, or just plain having fun. Through studying Torah, hiking, singing, and gardening, you and your peers will engage in a three thousand year old dialogue about the connection between God, earth, and humanity. Gain the skills to bring excitement and vibrancy to all educational settings.

Who attends the Teva Seminar?
Where is the Teva Seminar?
How have past participants described their experiences?
What is the weather like?
What should I bring with me?
How much does it cost?
Are there scholarships available?
What is the food like?
Can I come for just 1 or 2 days?
Will I be able to directly apply what I have learned?
How many people are you expecting?
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Who attends the Teva Seminar?
The Seminar has something to offer anyone interested in Jewish Environmental Education. Past participants have included nature camp staff, rabbis, rabbinical students, congregational school teachers and principals, day school teachers, environmental activists and interested lay people. Click here to see a list of sponsoring organizations. Participants come from all over the world, from all the major denominations, and are multi-generational. The majority of our participants are between ages 18-40 years.

Where is the Teva Seminar?
The Teva Learning Center is a program of our gracious hosts, Surprise Lake Camp, in Cold Spring, NY, located 60 miles north of Manhattan in the scenic Hudson Valley. Check them out at: http://surpriselake.org.

How have past participants described their experiences?

• "Awesome educators with depth of knowledge and personal joy theycommunicate with creativity."
• "The Teva Seminar is an opportunity to engage Jewish ruach (spirit) and chochma (wisdom) and text in the real world, physical environment as we live in it in garden, farm, community, and earth we share."
• "4 days to use for the rest of your life!"
• "An amazing opportunity to be in community with educators to learn, share and pray."
• "A focused but diverse, amazing thought-out, enriching, enjoyable Jewish environmental experience."
• "Very strong religious values with a dash of hippy over it but eye-opening with the interactions of people from different cultures."
• "A gathering of living and passionate individuals/groups whose cares and concerns include educating, environment and divinity in life."
• "An outstanding Jewish environmental education seminar that I wish all religious school instructors could attend."

What is the weather like?
Surprise Lake Camp in early June can be very hot and very cold! (45-90 F, 7-32 C). Please make sure to bring lots of layers and adequate rain gear. Our experience has shown that people are often surprised by how cold it gets in the evenings.

What should I bring with me?
A packing list can be found here.

How much does it cost?
Rates vary by accomodations:

• $450 Camp Bunk Accomodations
• $540 Rustic Cabin
• $700 Hotel room, Fishkill, NY (rate guaranteed until May 1st)

What is the food like?
All food is strictly kosher and vegetarian. We hire a specialty vegetarian chef to prepare our food. Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. Coffee and tea are available at all times.

Are there scholarships available?
Yes! Please go to the “Affording the Seminar” section of the website. Bring a friend: there is a $50.00 discount for each participant from the same organization.

Can I come for just 1 or 2 days?
Arrangements to attend the seminar for a day or two can be made by contacting the Teva Seminar .

Will I be able to directly apply what I have learned?
Many of the Seminar workshops give participants concrete programming that they can bring back to their institutions. Other workshops focus specifically on how to integrate Jewish environmental programming into different types of organizations. Additionally, Teva educators and staff are available throughout the Seminar for consultation about how to integrate environmental programming into your organization.

How many people are you expecting?
We’ve been growing and expanding every year. For the past three years we've hosted well over over 100, and we’re hoping to top 200 in 2010!

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
You will have to come to the Teva Seminar in order to find out!!