While millions of Israelis fly abroad for their summer vacation, tens of thousands of children and teenagers in the Diaspora have fun connecting to Israel through KKL-JNF’s educational caravan. The caravan visited summer camps in the northern hemisphere and winter camps in the southern hemisphere, bringing far-away Israel close to campers’ hearts.
This past July was filled with visits by the blue and white KKL-JNF educational caravan to summer and winter camps for children and teenagers throughout the world. Dozens of campers in Jewish youth groups and youth movements throughout the United States and Australia, as well as other countries such as Italy and Georgia, had the opportunity to participate in fun
educational activities imparted by KKL-JNF’s educational caravan. The activities emphasized KKL-JNF’s contribution to the
community and the environment, and provided an introduction to the Land of Israel and the enormous amount of development that is taking place here thanks to KKL-JNF.
Yigal Nisell, KKL-JNF’s educational emissary to
Australia, said, “The educational caravan has already become an integral part of the landscape of the camps for young people.”
Summer camp in the United States. Learning about Israel while having fun.
Photo: Zohar Vloski
Australia: Two Days Away from Israel
Here in Israel, it is summer and really hot outside. But in Australia, which is in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are the opposite of what they are in the northern hemisphere - meaning that the months of July and August are the middle of winter. In Australia, all the members of youth movements, from elementary school to high school age, attend a week-long camp twice a year: a summer camp in December-January and a winter camp in June-July.
Unlike summer camps in Israel, the children and teenagers in Australia enjoy comfortable surroundings where they can stay in winter and summer alike. They sleep in cabins that have showers and indoor toilets. The camps have dining rooms and types of activities that can be held inside or outside. Everything depends upon the weather, since winter in Australia can be terribly cold and wet.
The winter camps of youth movements went to the winter camp equipped with a bank of independent activities of their own. To these were added activities from KKL-JNF in the spirit of its values, such as settlement and knowledge of Israel’s geography, with a map of Israel and its inhabited areas, and a connection to the Declaration of Independence, the people, and the state. Most of the activities were created in Israel, while some were created in collaboration with KKL-JNF emissaries and youth movement counselors.
The KKL-JNF educational caravan traveled a great deal, covering long distances, in order to go from one place to another in the vast continent of Australia which is roughly 370 times the size Israel. . The caravan visited the winter camps of the Bnei Akiva, Betar, Hineni, Hatzofim, Netzer, and Habonim Dror, bringing campers the spirit and the values of KKL-JNF, as well as love of Israel.
Enrichment Activities in a Spirit of Development
The main focus of the activities that were held this year was an introduction to the State of Israel and its development then and now. Most of the activities were created in Israel, while some were created in collaboration with KKL-JNF emissaries and youth movement counselors. Yigal Nisell told campers: “KKL-JNF develops forests and parks, helps with water conservation, establishes water reservoirs of various types, but its work doesn’t stop there! It’s important for people to know that KKL-JNF invests a great deal in new and existing communities, creates places for leisure and gardens in neighborhoods and residential communities, educates, and helps to strengthen Israel’s peripheral region. The youth movements speak all the time about Zionism, meaning, and action - which is precisely the work that KKL-JNF does.”
The campers enjoyed age-appropriate activities. They moved a ball around a parachute printed with a giant map of Israel, with the aim of reaching its main landmarks and cities; answered quizzes to win tickets for prizes; devised a day-long tour of Israel from north to south, solved problems connected to Israel’s limited water supply, and came up with creative solutions in a variety of development and environmental conservation spheres, just like young people in Israel do
American Teenagers Discover Israel
Thousands of campers from various places in the United States were also given the opportunity in July to connect to Israel and its special character via activities that featured a map of Israel, Israel’s unique landscapes, an introduction to its major cities, and an in-depth look at the State of Israel’s vision and the Declaration of Independence. They also enjoyed activities where they learned about sustainability, forestry, and water conservation. Zohar Vloski, KKL-JNF’s educational emissary in the U.S., described the significance of these activities: “People in the communities talk about Israel a great deal. These outdoor activities introduce the teenagers to Israel and the topics connected with it in a hands-on way. Judging by the responses in the field - we took a poll among the children - the activities gave additional meaning to their lives as Jews.”
Summer camps in the U.S. are also different from the ones in Israel. Some camps last for a month while others last for a few days. In some camps, the campers go home at the end of each day. Either way, the campers do not have cellular phones, and their counselors and educational team members are always nearby. This environment resembles that of KKL-JNF’s Field and Forest Centers, which are also located in forests, far away from cities. The camps in the U.S. usually contain wide open spaces and buildings such as guest rooms and dining rooms, a synagogue, lecture rooms, athletic fields, and even a pool.
In addition to the educational caravan, a singing caravan run by the Israeli scouting movement also operated this year in partnership with KKL-JNF. While the educational caravan came to the summer camps with a wealth of educational activities connected to the State of Israel and its environment, the singing caravan provided an Israeli experience with old and new songs that got the audience up on its feet. The members of the band are alumni counselors from the scouting movement, and they are every bit as good as the members of the IDF singing troupes!
Smiles and Feelings of Accomplishment
Alon Bar David, an emissary of the Hineni movement in Australia, said: “During KKL-JNF’s activities in camp, the campers were asked to find a solution to the problem of brackish (high salinity) water. They were asked to build a kit that included a pipe, a portable burner, a damp towel, and aluminum foil. The children transformed the salt water to fresh water, and the smiles on their faces and their sense of accomplishment were amazing. The fact that we succeeded in holding a fun activity that is connected to KKL-JNF’s work, and that the children were able to fulfill it on their own, was extremely satisfying and educational. Thank you, KKL-JNF, for the inspiration!”
Adam Schonker, director of the Betar camp in Australia, said: “Even though the activity that we held in partnership with KKL-JNF took place seventy years after the State of Israel was established, it simulated, through ‘live action,’ the critical choices that KKL-JNF made as a major player in purchasing land, preparing people, and helping to establish Israel’s borders. The children had to make decisions and life choices such as immigrating to Israel, going to university, finding work, joining the underground or a kibbutz, and so on. It was a meaningful and challenging activity that combined experience and thinking.”
Zohar Vloski, KKL-JNF’s educational emissary in the U.S., summed up: “KKL-JNF’s caravan of activities had a significant effect in the U.S. The emissaries’ connection with the youth brings a great deal of added value to the community because it gives the young people a connection to the State of Israel as equals. Through these activities, the campers connected to Israel’s landscapes, the story of Israel’s establishment, and challenges regarding water conservation and early settlement. They enjoyed the Israeli experience that they had at camp, on the lawn and in the activity rooms.”