05.09.2010

How does one survive an Israeli summer? There are some who sit next to the air conditioning, eat ice cream or cold slices of watermelon, or watch “Survivor” or “Israeli Idol”, and there are some who adventure outside in the humidity and blazing sun to cope with reality. At the end of July, the Extreme Sports Center ran its 2nd annual “Survivor Challenge”. Thirty-two  Sderot youth, nine of whom were from “Ma’aleh” (a partnership group between the Extreme Sports Center and the local police force), ventured out to the beaches of Nitzanim for a weekend full of missions and challenges,  including extreme physical, mental, individual, and group competitions.
Or Rozenberg, a 17 year old participant, member of the Extreme Sports Center for the past 5 years, and newly-qualified guide for the program, enjoyed the activities immensely.  In his opinion, the most challenging part of the activities was the series of survival challenges, “We completed a march with stretchers like in the army, the guides were tough in helping prepare the youth for what to expect in the army. The hardest challenge was for the first-time participants, it was necessary to push them a little and to help them adapt.” In the words of Adam Ezran, Director of the Extreme Sports Center in Sderot, “The activities were fantastic, this is already an established tradition for the past few years, and we are happy that this year we also succeeded in running the activities".
After they survived Nitzanim, at the beginning of August, the youth went out on a soul-searching journey in the desert. On the trip, which included a hike and Jeep tour, the youth visited sites like the “Large” Crater, the Ramon Crater, the Spice Route, and the Zarhan and Zin rivers.
During the trip, the youth learned about the Bible, the history and lives of people in the region, geology, botany, and zoology.  In addition, they participated in discussions that connected their roots to life today - Jewish and Israeli identity, democracy and the freedom of choice.
 Adam Ezran, Director of the Extreme Sports Center, said “The first day of the trip was conducted around exploring basic values and personal identity. The youth faced questions connected to Israel’s Exodus from Egypt. At the end of the day after dinner under a sky littered with millions of stars, each participant was asked to rate whether he identified as a person, an Israeli, or a Jew more and why. The second day of the trip, the group discussed questions concerning the type of state or country in which they would want to live, what would be the core values this country, who would be the civilians they would want to be in this country, which institutions they would want to be in the country and what their opinions are on our country. The last day of the trip emphasized the means to achieving goals, choosing personal goals, and reconciling the personal cost and effort spent on achieving goals, without sacrificing our core values. "
On the trip, which combined activities focusing on values, life in the region, and coping with physical and mental challenges included a Jeep tour and swimming adventures in cool, fresh water springs. During this trip, the participants experienced breathtaking views and the raw beauty of nature.
The trip, which was filled with outdoor adventures and camping under the stars, was a continuation of the Center’s ongoing annual activities like its Chanukah trek and Camp during Passover vacation. Those  activities aim to explore and combine the subjects of nature and heritage.
The youth and the staff returned proud and full of satisfaction, concluding the year’s activities, and ready to start a new, successful year.