YTT, the premier provider of summer tours for Modern Orthodox teenagers, completed its third successful summer of YTT West for post ninth graders and the experience was bigger and better than ever! The 2024 tour will go down in the record books with 238 participants (not a typo, that is 238 campers from all different yeshiva day schools, summer camps and communities) traveling together through the Western United States. Yoram Roschwalb, director of YTT, met the challenge with his typical flair, providing a highlight filled, super fun experience in a wholesome Torah environment. The success of this past summer continues to cement YTT’s status as the best summer tour provider out there for yeshiva day school boys and girls from Modern Orthodox families.
The tour began in Denver and ended in Los Angeles, while visiting sites in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California. Participants came from many different places including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Texas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Canada and Israel. The beauty of YTT West is that everyone came together with the goal of meeting new people and making new friends that will hopefully last a lifetime.
Participants explored sublime national parks, enjoyed incredible theme parks, visited historic landmarks, and experienced major tourist destinations throughout the five-week program. National Parks included Arches, Bryce Canyon, Zion, the Grand Canyon, Sequoia and Yosemite. Theme parks included Universal Studios and Disneyland. Landmarks and tourist destinations included the Red Rock Amphitheatre, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Stratosphere Las Vegas, the Santa Monica Pier, etc. The activities list included whitewater rafting, jeeping, kayaking, rock scrambling, speed boating, surfing, party-bus rides in Vegas, and the list goes on and on.
Special moments on the tour included davening Mincha before sunset at the Grand Canyon, hiking to the top of Nevada falls in Yosemite National Park, and a new destination for 2024, playing football on the field of Sofi Stadium (home of the LA Rams and LA Chargers). YTT regularly adds new, exciting sites and activities whenever the opportunity arises.
While the itinerary is top-notch and the opportunities for socialization are endless, the allure of YTT is perhaps the boundless ruach of the staff, starting with Yoram and funneling down to the senior staff and counselors. Three rabbis provided inspiring divrei Torah and shiurim while every Shabbat included highly energetic singing and immeasurable camaraderie. Counselors, who came from the United States and Israel, were terrific role models and were able to establish immediate connections with participants.
Maddie, from Westchester, said, “YTT was genuinely the best summer I have ever had. Not a single day went by where I wasn’t having the time of my life. I made memories and friendships I’ll cherish forever. So infinitely grateful I got to spend my summer on this program.“
Just as exuberant about his YTT experience was Nathan from Bergen County: “It was definitely the best summer so far with all the amazing experiences around the West Coast, including going to a lot of cool national parks and so many other fun activities.”
Among the final moments of the summer was the Disneyland fireworks show, providing the perfect exclamation point to a summer saturated with stunning exclamation points, one bigger than the next! Participants stood arm-in-arm celebrating their incredible summer with all of their new friends, many of whom they first met on YTT.
There is already a tremendous amount of interest for YTT West 2025. The application will become available on Sunday, September 1 including a special early-bird discount. Space is limited so consider registering early to grab your discount and reserve your spot on what will surely be another great YTT summer.
To learn more about YTT, please visit www.yttsummer.com or give them a call at 917-423-6629 ext. 1.
