Camp Hagshama – HaMatzpen is a program for empowering youth from all over Israel and abroad. It is a three-week summer program located in Kibbutz Amir, in the Upper Galilee. It provides an opportunity for both Israeli and international Jewish participants to immerse themselves in the culture and deepen their connection to Israel and their Jewish identities. During the program, the participants learn and experience group life, deepen their connection to Israeli society, acquire tools and skills in leading, experience independent and mature life, travel around the country, and of course participants get a taste from the world of pre-military preparation (Mechina).
Participants will have the chance to explore various perspectives on Jewish leadership and gain an understanding of what it means to be a leader within the Jewish community. The program is conducted entirely in English. Camp Hagshama – HaMatzpen offers a unique summer experience that combines personal and group development.
The Upper Galilee Leadership Academy (Mechinat Galil Elyon) was founded in 1998 with the spirit of democracy and pioneering and the mission of shaping identity and cultivating young leaders with values. Who are able to influence and are committed to the Jewish people and the Israeli society. The Academy enforces taking responsibility and leading while being caring and sensitive to one’s surroundings for a better future.
Galil Elyon fosters a strong connection to Israeli, Jewish, and Zionist heritage. Our leaders search for the greater impact that they can have within the Israeli society.
The Mechina has 5 groups throughout the Galilee (including a six-month program for youth from all over the world). There are a total of 300 participants a year and 2,500 alumni.
Faced with endless opportunities to better yourself and others, the participant learns to value leadership. Through group problems, new experiences, and constant responsibility, the Mechina achieves this.
Learning new ideas and skills through the variety of trips, presenters, and seminars in the mechina, including lectures made by fellow participants.
Creating meaningful experiences by volunteering in different places inside the kibbutz and outside; learning kindness, how to help others and create a better future for people all around Israel.
To know the land itself, the rich history that it has experienced and to give back to the land that the Mechina calls home.
Through many aspects such as Judaism, Leadership, personal values, and day to day experiences, exploring your own identity is a natural process of the Mechina, but is also emphasized.
Forging a stable alliance with the kibbutz the Mechina is situated in, and to further share the experience of a kibbutz life, with all of it’s communal values and togetherness.
Throughout the week we will tour and get to know the northern border of the State of Israel
We will have a tour of a mixed city
We will visit Tel Hai Courtyard Museum
We will get to know the pioneering legacy that led to settlement all over the Land of Israel in general, and in the Upper Galilee in particular
We will visit a number of attractions in the Galilee (kayaks, rope parks and more)
Throughout the week we will learn about different sectors that make up the Israeli melting pot
We will be meeting teenagers from the Arab sector
We will visit Tel Hai Courtyard Museum
At the end of the week, we will stay with the Orthodox community in Tzefat-
We will get to know their lifestyle in a deep and interesting way
Throughout the week we will experiment with tasks related to leading teams and standing in front of an audience
We will visit the Knesset of Israel
We will meet a number of social entrepreneurs and end with a visit to the Peres Center