Last updated: 02.09.2009

During adolescence, many teens “suffer” from confusion, too much energy, too much free time and a tendency to boredom.  In Sderot, we can add Kasam rockets to this potentially explosive mix. 

Sderot’s Center for Extreme Sports opened in 2003 and is one of many enrichment and prevention programs offered to the city’s at-risk youth.  Extreme Sports Center activities channel natural tendencies in positive directions, giving teens a chance to release tensions and energy, challenges that are within their scope and new opportunities for development.  Activities include extreme sports, environmental training and nature studies.  The Center fosters attitudes of responsibility, social awareness, feelings of belonging and pride in their city. 

More than 300 children and youth participate year-round in the Center’s programs.  Six groups, for youth between the ages 10-17, meet on a regular basis.  Each group is led by professional staff and augmented with teen guides who are training to be extreme sports leaders.  Another 10 groups have occasional training sessions and Outdoor Training workshops; these participants come from Sderot’s Community Center and schools, the police department, various organizations and associations. 

After several years of operation, we can see that the Extreme Sports Center has had a positive influence on the boys and girls who participate in its programs:

• Education:  Increasing numbers of teens from the ongoing groups are choosing to take matriculation exams and passing them with success.  In 2008, 10 out of 15 12^th graders in the Center’s programs completed matriculation exams.
• Service in the Israel Defense Force:  Center goals include raising motivation among Israeli youth to serve in the IDF; the percentage of Center graduates who go into the military is now higher than the national average.  The Center staff stays in touch with graduates as they serve by meeting with them on weekends and following up with the graduates’ officers.  In 2009 five graduates will start their service in exclusive army units.
• Community Involvement: The teens who participate in Extreme Sports programs also volunteer in a number of community projects every year; for example:  construction and operation of a climbing wall for Sderot’s children; respite activities for children during vacations and holidays; adoption and renovation of public sites so that they can be used and enjoyed by all the city’s residents.

About half of the Center’s annual budget comes from income from workshops and school activities. The founders of Sderot’s Extreme Sports Center are long-time residents of Sderot, who have extensive experience in guiding tours and leading challenging sports in Israel and overseas.  Together with the Gvanim Association, they are taking steps to establish an Extreme Sports park in Sderot; such a park will strengthen the Center and enable expansion of its activities.

Gvanim thanks its program partners:  Sderot’s Community Center and Magbit Canada.