We have provided the following sample itinerary to give you a better feel for this experience. The actual program will vary. A confirmed itinerary is distributed no later than two weeks prior to the start of the program.
DAY 1 | DEPARTURE FLIGHT
Meet your staff and teens at the airport before traveling together to Israel on an overnight flight. Once we land, your trip officially begins! We’ll break the ice with some fun and engaging activities so that you get to know everyone in the group. To learn more about how we organize travel to and from the program, click here.
DAY 2–6 | JERUSALEM
Our journey begins in Jerusalem. We’ll gather at the Armon HaNatziv Promenade—overlooking the unique topography of the city—for a Shehecheyanu blessing, which is a Jewish prayer said to celebrate special occasions. Walk along the ramparts of the Old City walls from Jaffa Gate to Zion Gate, explore the ancient squares and rooftops of the Jewish Quarter, then reflect on your time in Jerusalem at the Kotel, also known as the Western Wall. We’ll visit Deer Land Park, an extreme sports site that has the longest zip lining in Israel. Teens will feel the energy of Israel at Mahane Yehuda open-air marketplace before watching the city fall silent for Shabbat. After celebrating our first Shabbat together in the Jewish homeland, your group will enjoy a night out on Ben Yehuda Street, arguably the most famous street in Jerusalem.
Pay your respects at Yad Vashem—The World Holocaust Remembrance Center—and explore the grounds of Mount Herzl National Cemetery, honoring Israel's founders, national leaders, and fallen soldiers. Before departing Jerusalem, we’ll meet and train with a local basketball or soccer team.
DAY 7–9 | TEL AVIV
Teens will choose from one of three elective options to participate in during our time in Tel Aviv. Test your surf rescue and swimming skills through our Hatzalah Course, learn basic first aid from Magen David Adom—the national emergency service—or volunteer at Kids Sports Camp, an organization that provides healthy activities and sports training for children and young people.
Spend an afternoon doing body workout sessions and learning Krav Maga, an Israeli form of martial arts. Learn Israel Defense Forces (IDF)-style workouts led by soldiers who will share stories of their service to defend Israel with you. Then, catch a Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club game. After this, we’re off to the desert!
DAY 10–13 | CENTRAL ISRAEL
We’ll travel to a green oasis tucked away in the Kana’im Valley of the Judean desert. This picturesque desert resort has Bedouin-style tents and many relaxing spots to unwind among palm trees and captivating nature. The group will spend the evening at a Bedouin encampment. Together, we’ll embark on a camel trek, share a Bedouin feast, and stargaze after a unique bonfire experience.
One of the most anticipated moments of the trip, the group will take a pre-sunrise climb up Masada via the Roman Ramp Trail and arrive just as the sun starts to peek over the horizon. Teens will tour Herod’s desert mountaintop fortress and the bastion of an ancient Jewish rebellion before descending via the Snake Path or cable cars. From there, teens will experience effortlessly floating in the salt water at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. Then, we’ll spend the rest of the day preparing and bringing in Shabbat together.
Enjoy practicing your yoga poses and letting yourself relax, learning breathing exercises and meditation techniques. Once we leave Masada, we’ll cool off under the desert waterfalls in Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, Israel’s biggest oasis. As we make our way back to the Tel Aviv area, we’ll visit a Startup Sports Accelerator, which is a business program that support early-stage, growth-driven companies through education, mentorship, and financing.
DAY 14–15 | TEL AVIV
We’re back in a familiar area, but the experience will be completely different for you this time around. Tour Wingate facilities & Academy, a sports training facility located south of Netanya. This building serves as the host facility for numerous Israeli national teams. We’ll go through activities to strengthen the body together before attending a Maccabi Tel Aviv Soccer Game.
When you wake up the next morning, your body will feel refreshed and ready to start another adventure. We’ll build on our previous strengthening activity and hear on topics such as food, functional medicine, self-care, healthy cooking, and how nutrition plays a pivotal role in overall wellness. The group will spend the afternoon visiting the Maccabi World Union Museum, a fantastic center that provides a glimpse into the origins of Jewish Sports and the Maccabi Movement.
DAY 16–19 | NORTHERN ISRAEL
Before we head to Haifa, teens will enjoy one more wellness course to work deep and posture muscles in the body and practice combat fitness with Bahad 8, the Sport Army base in Wingate. Once we’re settled at the accommodations, we’ll feast in a Druze village and learn from a member of the community about their secret religion and lifestyle.
We’ll train with a basketball or soccer team in northern Israel, walk through Haifa’s open-air marketplace, and enjoy an activity with Shaar LaShivion, a social, educational, and sporting project whose main purpose is to provide a positive framework for children and youth from the social peripheries and marginalized communities of the State of Israel. End the day on a graffiti tour, seeing the street art scene of Haifa and following the grand murals that decorate the streets of downtown.
As we prepare for our last Shabbat together in Israel, teens will have an opportunity to meet with Maccabi Tzair members. Maccabi Tzair brings Jewish-Zionist education to 100,000 Jewish youth through weekly activities, camps, in-service training, and more. You’ll meet with your host family for the weekend and enjoy Shabbat in a truly authentic Israeli atmosphere. Try wall climbing and other engaging activities with them! Enjoy one last BBQ party with your family before saying goodbye.
DAY 21 | TEL AVIV
On our last visit through the vibrant city of Tel Aviv, we’ll stop at Beit Halochem, a unique rehabilitation, sports, and recreational center serving disabled veterans and their families. It was built on seven acres of land, includes an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and has approximately 5,600 Zahal disabled veterans as active members.
Spend an afternoon at Beit HaGalgalim, whose purpose is to engage those with disabilities and provide them with opportunities to learn and grow. Their Rolling Experience puts teens in the shoes of a person with disabilities to experience what their life is like first-hand. You’ll meet with Noam Gershony, an Israeli wheelchair tennis player who won the gold medal in Quad singles and shared a bronze in Quad doubles with Shraga Weinberg at the 2012 Summer Paralympics.
On our final day, we’ll go to the Peres Center for Peace & Innovation, an organization that allows young people from Israel and the Middle East to take part in educational activities aimed at tackling the fears and barriers between them, enabling familiarity and open dialogue to them as future leaders who will have a positive impact on their society in particular and the region as a whole. Then, we’ll shop at Carmel Market, the largest shuk in Tel Aviv. Enjoy a 3x3 basketball class and tournament with some special Israeli guests before we head to the airport for an overnight flight back to the U.S.
DAY 22 | RETURN FLIGHT
It’s never goodbye, just see you later. Give your friends one last hug and part ways once your flight arrives at the airport. While your summer trip with us is over, the memories you’ve made will last a lifetime!
