Leadership Camp in Israel - Hagshama/Hamatzpen

What is HaMatzpen

Mechina participants standing in a circle in the dessert with hiking backpacks on the ground.

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.

About Galil Elyon

Whole mechina taking a picture outdoors.

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 over 2,500 alumni.

Program Details

Length

3 weeks

Start Date

Jul 21, 2024

End Date

Aug 11, 2024

Location

Kibbutz Amir, Israel

Cost

$2,500

*Original price is $4,000

Participants

50

*Including international participants

Language

English

*Hebrew will be present

Apply Now

Key Parts of the Program

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.

The Program

The Plan

First Week

Forming the group and getting to know the Galilee

Throughout the week we will tour and get to know the northern border of the State of Israel

We will get to know the security complexity of living alongside a conflict zone over the years

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)

Second Week

Israeli society

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 have a tour of a mixed city

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

Third Week

Leadership

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

Example Week

Day

7:00-7:30

7:30-8:00

8:00-8:30

8:30-9:00

9:00-9:30

9:30-10:00

10:00-10:30

10:30-11:00

11:00-11:30

11:30-12:00

12:00-12:30

12:30-13:00

13:00-13:30

13:30-14:00

14:00-14:30

14:30-15:00

15:00-15:30

15:30-16:00

16:00-16:30

16:30-17:00

17:00-17:30

17:30-18:00

18:00-18:30

18:30-19:00

19:00-19:30

19:30-20:00

20:00-20:30

20:30-21:00

21:00-21:30

21:30-22:00

Sunday

Arriving at the Kibbutz

Opening Workshop
Procedures
Introduction
Tour

Break

ODT (OutDoor Training)

Splitting into rooms & getting ready

Special dinner

Day wrap up

Monday

Waking up

Good Morning

Breakfast

Cleaning

Scavenger hunt in the Kibbutz

Break

Setting expectations

Lunch/Getting ready for trip/Personal Conversations

Room activity

Break

Prep for visit to Tel Hai garden

Dinner

Tour in Tel Hai garden

Tour in Roaring Lion

Back to the Mechina

Tuesday

Waking up

Good Morning

Breakfast

Cleaning

Tour in ancient human history museum

Pool

Lunch
Personal conversations

Oded - prep for border tour

Break

Movie - War with No Name

Border series brief

Field expertise - fire, cooking, Poike, songs, group activity

Wednesday

Waking up

Good Morning

Breakfast

Cleaning

Border tour

Activity in ropes park in Sasa

Drive back

Dinner - volunteers cook

Wrap up

Thursday

Waking up

Good Morning

Breakfast

Cleaning

My Shabbat

Break

Shabbat in my identity

Break

Dilemma Cafe

Lunch

Shabbat through music

Break

Conclusion

Pizza night

Movie

Friday

Waking up

Good Morning

Breakfast

Cleaning

Brief

Drive to host families

Tour

Shabbat with host families

Saturday

Shabbat with host families

Back to the Mechina

Shabbat wrap up

Register

for a zoom info session