KKL-JNF foresters and forest workers continued to care for the forests throughout the lockdown period, ensuring the woodlands’ readiness for the public’s return.
After two months of Coronavirus lockdown that had millions of Israelis hunkering down at home, KKL-JNF’s forests have reopened to the public. This past Friday (May 15, 2020), KKL-JNF held ‘Back to the Forest’ fun days to celebrate, in three of its main forests: central Israel’s Ben Shemen Forest; Plugot Forest in the south; and Carmel Coast Forest in the north, which was where the main event took place. Visitors could take part in a wide range of activities that included hikes, arts and crafts, games, quizzes, challenges, scenic walks and children’s performances.
“It’s fun to get back to the KKL-JNF forests and nature,” said the organization’s public relations officer for the northern region, Revital Aviv. “We’ve been waiting such a long time for this, and we know that the public has been missing the forests, too. It’s fortunate that we’re getting a chance to enjoy the spring and its flowers.”
Fun activities for children at Hof HaCarmel Forest. Photo: Yoav Devir, KKL-JNF photo archive
Natalie Kazakova of Kiryat Bialik arrived for the festivities in Carmel Coast Forest, together with her 8-year-old son Leon and his little sister Mila. “It’s wonderful to get back to routine,” she affirmed, as her children constructed mobiles from pinecones. “This is a marvelous opportunity to enjoy a whole host of forest activities for children. There’s a lovely atmosphere, too, so KKL-JNF deserves a big thank-you.”
“I’m having fun in the forest,” declared Natalie’s nephew, 7-year-old Maxim Avdeyev. “Me too!” Leon chimed in.
It's impossible not to notice how much children have missed getting out into the open air and natural surroundings. With the guidance of KKL-JNF instructors, they happily created handicrafts out of natural materials such as pinecones and twigs, participated in Israel quizzes in the form of Snakes and Ladders, ran to and fro through the forest to carry out a variety of tasks and challenges, enjoyed a lively juggling performance and a team-building plank walk exercise.
Family having fun after the lockdown at Hof HaCarmel Forest. Photo: Yoav Devir, KKL-JNF photo archive
Throughout all these activities, the Ministry of Health’s directives were strictly observed. Temperatures were taken on arrival, and participants were divided into small groups that were spread out through different parts of the forest. “Hey, I’m 36.7 [Celsius]!” called out one of the children proudly, and made fun of his little brother whose temperature was two tenths of a degree below his. KKL-JNF representatives distributed facemasks to those who had forgotten to bring them. Even the welcome signs were redesigned to suit the spirit of the times. The regular wording “Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael - Jewish National Fund welcomes you to the forest” was followed by an addition: “Please observe health ministry regulations.”
Throughout the lockdown period, KKL-JNF foresters continued to care for the forests while everyone else stayed at home, to ensure the woodlands’ readiness for when the public returned. Pnina Levanon, Western Galilee Community and Forest Coordinator, told us: “We took advantage of the absence of visitors to tidy up the recreation areas and get them ready for future activities. And, of course, we protected the forests from vandalism and tree theft.”
Revital Aviv, KKL-JNF public relations officer for the northern region. Photo: Yoav Devir, KKL-JNF photo archive
As far as Kiryat Motzkin resident Pe’er Adelovitch is concerned, the forest reopening came not a moment too soon: another minute and his children would have finished destroying the house. “They turned the living room into a nature reserve,” he explained with a broad smile. “In the middle of the couch, they dug a hole in in one of the sofa cushions, and when I asked them if they’d gone completely crazy, my older son reassured me: ‘Don’t worry, Abba, we’re careful when we jump over the hole.’ It’s lucky for us that the forests have opened before they finished dismantling the house completely. And it’s really fun here!”