Three boys from AMIT Ma’ale Adumim recently completed a “Survivor”-style course to become youth guides for the Education Ministry’s Shelach program. They are the first students from Ma’ale Adumim to successfully finish the course.
A Hebrew acronym for field, nation, and society, Shelach fosters knowledge about Israel through field trips, hikes, and group exercises. Being a youth guide in the program is prestigious and helps students develop leadership skills.
The three students, Nissan Zeva, Yoav Zeva, and Nir Moshe, are all going into 12th grade and have completed two previous stages of preparation to become youth guides. Yoav Zeva also won the Education Ministry’s district award for his volunteer work in various organizations.
The “Survivor” stage takes place over two weeks: The first week includes archaeological digs, building rafts, and crossing the Sea of Galilee, while the second week comprises a trek from Mt. Meron, near Tzfat, to Mt. Hermon, in the Golan, where a ceremony is held to mark the students’ success.
During the course, the students’ mettle is tested, as they sleep outdoors, make their own fires, have limited food, and no cell phones. It is meant to strengthen their love of the land, enhance their teamwork and trust in one another, and sharpen their decision-making and organizational skills.
Daniel Be’eri, the boys’ principal, congratulated them on completing the course and told them that now they are ready to enlist in elite army units.