Participants looking into the distance on the peak of a mountain in the dessert.

Camp Hagshama - HaMatzpen

A place to become a leader.|
Apply

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.

Galil Elyon Logo

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