At the initiative of the Jewish Agency, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) is running ongoing educational programs emphasizing nature and the environment, to strengthen the attachment of children and youth from Northern Israel's attachment to their community and local environment. This is especially important in the aftermath of the Second Lebanon War, when many youth, traumatized by their experiences, questioned where they were living and their connection to the land. These programs are funded by the UJC.

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel

SPNI is dedicated to educating Israelis and developing environmentally conscious community leaders of tomorrow. The organization aims to increase awareness of and involvement in Israel's nature environment. Social and environmental justice is emphasized throughout the educational programs. SPNI is a non-profit, non-partisan NGO; a large proportion of the organization's activities focus on peripheral and national priority communities.

The organization’s programs educate the public to truly get to know and love the land of Israel. These values, in conjunction with active involvement on behalf of the local community and the environment, improve Israeli society. The ongoing educational process, in which both parents and children take an active part, strengthens and empowers local communities.

SPNI's educational goals are:

• To develop emotional affinity for, a sense of belonging to and caring for the land, nature and local environment
• To mold values of love of the land and responsibility for the environment, for humankind and for nature
• To foster responsibility and encourage youth to actively improve their environment and quality of life on both the local and national level
• To develop basic field skills
• To develop positive leadership and volunteering skills among youth and adults that will lead to environmental awareness and activity - and ultimately, to social and environmental change

Children Make a Difference

Children Make a Difference is a social-environmental education program, which encourages children to take an active role on behalf of their environment and community that is being implemented by SPNI in collaboration with the Jewish Agency for Israel. This six-year program is for children in first through sixth grades. Program curriculum includes current events issues from a social-environmental perspective, encourages responsibility for the local environment and community of northern Israel as well as social involvement, activism and environmental leadership skills.

Project Report

This project was as one of the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Fund for the Enrichment of Children and Youth in war stricken regions that has been most generously funded by the United Jewish Communities of North America (UJC).

Program Participants

Activity Distribution in the North Post-Second Lebanon War

Program Details

Program activities differ according to grade level and are led by teachers and SPNI guides who meet on an ongoing basis. Activities are carried out in and around the school and include short field trips. The program was created in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and is adapted to the general elementary school curriculum. Participating schools undertake to adopt environmental thinking and behavior while carrying out an ongoing dialogue with the community (students, teachers, families, and neighborhoods).

Program content is diverse and includes getting to know the land, its history, geography, zoology, botany, ecology, environment together with field skills. Groups of youth learn to work together to improve their local environment and promote social activism and community projects. At the same time, this framework fosters individualism, providing the opportunity for creative self-expression as each participant is encouraged to lead and take responsibility.

Programs were implemented through two afternoon venues this year - nature clubs for elementary school children and orienteering courses for children and youth. In addition, this program included special days that showcase Jewish Agency activities in the region for the parents and greater community.

Nature Clubs

These programs for elementary school children provide participants with the opportunity to truly experience nature. Led by their counselor, children get to know their surroundings, accumulate knowledge and formulate opinions. Parents join in some of the activities. Nature club activities strengthen the children's emotional attachment to their local environment, give children a sense of belonging and encourage environmental activism. Participants are exposed to environmental concepts and acquire the tools necessary to make a difference in their community. Rebuilding these children's connection with the environment are crucial to ensuring a strong and lasting allegiance with northern Israel and help separate the trauma of the war from the importance of their local community.

Orienteering Courses

Implemented for children and youth, this course combines education, hiking and orienteering, nature values, and familiarity with the land. Orienteering courses use field expertise to encourage independence, foster active involvement and responsibility, and develop leadership skills. These courses are ongoing, and participating youth continue through high school.

Program Staff

90 guides, 63 of whom are residents of northern Israel

Evaluation

Regular evaluations of the program are conducted. Results have shown:

• The program has strengthened bonds between the children, their teachers, their families, and their connection to northern Israel
• Program participants have shown increased involvement in the community's environment (For example, at the elementary school in the northern community of Maalot-Tarshiha, the children built benches out of reused materials.)
• Program participants have shown improved relationships between neighbors from diverse backgrounds (Jews, Druze and Arabs)

Operative Adjustments to be Incorporated Following Analysis of Project Evaluation

As the coming year approaches, three other elements to focus on are continuing to train existing guides, hiring suitable guides and creating a training system for those new guides. Implementation has shown that high quality guides are an integral part of success; we must make sure to improve this aspect in order to maximize the impact of the program. Increasing the number of local guides who are committed to their communities within the program will provide the children and their families with role models of people who are connected to the area by their love of the land, ensuring a better, stronger future for northern Israel.

Suggested improvements for the coming year include more special activity days throughout the year, with greater involvement and the community-at-large. All field trips, even those to nearby destinations, will be scheduled further in advance and have a more cohesive support system. To ensure that the ideals of the program are truly instilled in the children, it is necessary to increase the number of activity sessions throughout the year.

Looking to the Future

While this program has done much to support northern Israel's youth in their reconnection, knowledge and appreciation for their local flora and fauna, rehabilitation efforts are not complete. Continuous education must continue to be implemented to ensure that youth in the North maintain their connection with the region and continue their lives there, even if they have the opportunity to move elsewhere.

One year after the war, we can see that youth are starting to recover. But there is more that needs to be done. The Jewish Agency and your continued support of this program will mean that the children of the North will be able to learn more about the region, build a stronger connection to the land, and understand the benefits of staying in the region.

The children of northern Israel need to know that we have not forgotten them.