Among the trees, overlooking the magnificent scenery of the Jerusalem Hills, is
KKL-JNF’s Nes Harim Field and Forest Center. Thousands of visitors from Israel and abroad visit it every year to enjoy experiential activities in the forest, get in touch with nature and learn to love Israel even more.
The Nes Harim center, which was developed with the support of KKL-JNF’s Friends worldwide including Germany, Switzerland, France, the USA, Italy, Scotland, Australia and Canada, comprises wooden cabins for guests, a high-tech educational enrichment center and well-equipped classrooms, where participants take part in a variety of nature workshops, educational activities, conferences and other events. The open-air forest classrooms also offer a convenient, well-shaded venue for gatherings among the trees.
Visiting groups are encouraged to take part in a variety of fun educational programs: excursions and hikes, outdoor training, adventure activities in the woodland and even orienteering guided by mobile phones. Visitors can also pitch a tent for overnight stays in the outdoor areas provided and enjoy a spell of camping.
“We try to instill KKL-JNF values through games, excursions and outdoor educational activities,” explained Nes Harim staff member
Noga Razo. “And there’s no better place than the forest itself to teach people about the countryside, nature conservation and the environment.”
Open to all, no matter who
People from all walks of life come to Nes Harim: young and old, Jews and Arabs, schoolchildren and soldiers, Israeli groups and delegations from abroad. Among them are numerous groups of youth with special needs, who enjoy this unique opportunity to experience the forest.
Amid these magnificent natural surroundings, the early history of the Land of Israel also has an honored place: volunteer workers busy breaking a path through the forest stumbled quite by chance upon an ancient olive press concealed among the dense undergrowth. A limekiln used for manufacturing building materials has also been discovered.
Nes Harim is just one of five field and forest centers operated by KKL-JNF across the length and breadth of Israel, from Galilee to the Negev. Its proximity to Jerusalem gives it an added importance, as Former KKL-JNF Field and Forest Centers Director Simon Elbaz explained: “The special conditions of Nes Harim enable us to open the center to the general public all year round. The variety of educational activities starts with field workshops in connecting with the land and its vegetation, and continues all the way up to advanced activities in the technological world. We try to make the content suitable for the young generation and present them with Zionist and patriotic values in language they understand.”
Special effort is invested in rendering the site accessible, to enable visitors with physical limitations to take part in activities. “We are constantly working to upgrade and accessiblize the facilities and adapt them for use by those with special needs,” emphasized Elbaz. “I’m referring both to physical accessibility and adaptation of content.”
“It’s fun to spent time in the forest”
The following are a few stories of youngsters and adults who have recently spent time at Nes Harim.
The Larger than Life NGO for children coping with cancer held a special camp that imbued its young members with new strength and hope. “Here at camp I can talk about what I’m going through, and everyone accepts me very warmly and lovingly,” said 17-year-old Shaked Cohen of Hadera.
The SHEKEL organization for young people and adults with special needs held its annual summer camp at the field and forest center. The campers explored the forest and took part in social and adventure activities. Mira Glendauer of Jerusalem told us: “Sleeping in a woodland hut at night is a very special experience. I like walking, too, and being active physically.”
Families from Israel’s Gaza envelope likewise came to spend time at Nes Harim, for a brief break from the tension of life on the border. Twelve-year-old Noam Urbon was enthusiastic: “It was really fun spending time in the forest, living in a wonderful cabin, enjoying myself with the family and making new friends.”
David Keidar of Kibbutz Nir Am in the Gaza envelope came to Nes Harim with his children and grandchildren. “It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to spend time with the whole family in this beautiful green place,” he said.
Itamar Danieli from Kibbutz Saad took part in a special event at the center held in solidarity with residents of the Gaza border communities. “Life on the border isn’t easy, but today we feel embraced by the whole nation,” he said.
These are just a few examples of the many groups that come to Nes Harim to enjoy its wide range of activities. Even now, in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, groups continue to arrive – while, of course, being careful to observe ministry of health regulations and taking all precautions to protect the wellbeing of their fellow participants.
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Walking round Nes Harim, one has the impression of being inside a hive of activity, much of which has been made possible thanks to JNF-KKL Germany’s enlistment in this important initiative. Workers are energetically renovating the cabins and adapting some of them for use by guests who use wheelchairs, while in another area a disabled-accessible plaza is being paved. New paths are being laid, and new areas of the forest are being prepared for an influx of visitors.
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Yet, there is still more to be done - the numerous other plans include the renovation of additional guest cabins; adaption of additional cabins for people with special needs; accessibilization of public spaces between the cabins; and the development of an accessible educational compound equipped with a variety of outdoor play facilities and seating areas.
As Noga Razo says: “It’s very important to us that everyone enjoy nature and the wonderful things that the forest has to offer.”