Members of the Royal Rangers, an Evangelical Christian youth movement in Germany, came to Israel to perform volunteer forestry work in the Carmel Forest and plant trees in the north’s Lavi Forest.
“When we heard about the
fires that broke out in the Carmel in the past, we understood that this was an opportunity for us to enlist to help Israel,” said
Andreas Huhn, the Hamburg Outpost Leader. “As rangers we love nature and the forest. As Christian Germans it is important for us to show our solidarity with the Jewish nation.”
The Royal Rangers is a global educational Christian movement, which is concerned with nurturing a love of nature, developing leadership skills, and learning through experience. The German delegation includes approximately 20 children, teenagers, and adults, rangers and movement leaders. They arrived in Israel for two weeks of trips, tours, encounters, volunteer work, and getting to know the country. This is their second year volunteering in the Carmel as part of this program.
The members of the group dispersed throughout Hof HaCarmel Forest, where they engaged in pruning and thinning, created barrier lines to
prevent the spread of fires, and pruned lower tree branches to prevent the treetops from catching fire in the event of a blaze.
“The joint work is a wonderful way to strengthen the bond with the other members of the group,” said
Simone Huhn, a team leader in the Hamburg Royal Rangers. “I love Israel a lot and there’s a deep sense of satisfaction in knowing that we’re doing something significant here.”
The Hof HaCarmel Forest is spread out over 10 square kilometers on the western slopes of
Mount Carmel and overlooks the stunning vista of the Carmel’s coastal plain and the sea. The natural tree groves are integrated with the planted forest, and there is an abundance of rest areas, lookout points, and paths for hiking and cycling.
Roy Revach, a KKL-JNF forester and firefighter, accompanied the volunteers in their work. “These are young and dedicated people, who live the forest,” he said. “It is very important for us to recruit volunteers for activity in the forest, because in addition to the professional help and the extra working hands, it’s also a wonderful way to connect people to the land and increase their awareness to the importance of forests and preserving them.”
Aaron Huhn, Simone and Andreas’s 10 year old son and a member of the Royal Rangers, joined in the forestry work. “It feels good to work in the forest, because I like helping,” Aaron said, while vigorously sawing off a pine branch.
Other members of the group include 14 year old
Amelie Schneider and her 11 year old brother
Elias. “As rangers we hold a lot of activities in nature, and the knowledge we’ve gained helps us a lot in forestry work,” said Amelie.
Elias is particularly happy for the opportunity to travel and volunteer with good friends. This is his first visit to Israel and he excitedly said that he finds the country very beautiful.
A group of young Israelis hiking along the Israel National Trail, which stretches across the length of the country, passed by the working group. The travelers were moved to hear that they were volunteers from Germany who came to aid in forestry works. Andreas Huhn said that he and his wife also wish to walk the entire length of the Israel National Trail, and they have even managed to complete some beautiful sections of it in the
Negev.
Dietrich Bracht, from the city of Kassel, had visited Israel many times (9 times to be precise, but who’s counting?). “This trip offers us new and thrilling experiences,” he said. “This is a beautiful country rich with history, and there are so many fascinating things to learn about it. The work in the forest connects us to the land and the people, and we are proud of the opportunity we’ve been given to help keep the country beautiful”.
At the end of their work on the Carmel, the group members of the group left behind them a green, beautiful, and safer forest, a testament to the busy hands and loving hearts of the German delegation’s members who lovingly tended the site.
Living the Land of the Bible
The group spent the night sleeping in tents in the field and the next morning they all hiked, backpacks and all, to
Lavi Forest. “When I walked on the dirt road I understood for the first time that I am really here in Israel, and I felt that I am living the
land of the Bible,” said Svenja Domeyer, a Royal Rangers team leader in the city of Flensburg. “Planting a tree means leaving behind us something alive in Israel, something that’s a part of us".
At the Lavi Forest planting center the guests were greeted by
Judith Perl-Strasser, director of KKL-JNF’s Germany Desk. “Together, we’re building a bridge that connects different nations and different religions,” she said. “Working shoulder to shoulder with KKL-JNF foresters creates a meaningful connection to Israel. The spirit of volunteering provides a wonderful added value, far beyond a regular tourism trip. Planting trees binds the members to the country’s roots, knowing they’re creating life for future generations here.”
After reading the planter’s prayer together, and hearing a brief explanation on how to plant in Lavi Forest from planting center director
Dotan Noach, the time had come to roll up their sleeves and get to work. The members planted carob and pine trees all by themselves, and didn’t forget to water them in the end.
For
Claas Westerwick, a 15 year old from Hamburg, this was the first time that he planted a tree in his life. “This was a very special experience, and I hope to come back and see how my tree’s growing,” he said.
The delegation members received KKL-JNF certificates of appreciation for the planting, shouldered their backpacks and continued their journey through Israel. In a week they’ll return to their homes in Germany, full of experiences that will accompany them throughout their lives, and with a deep bond to Israel.