Yachad Expeditions

The program:

Embark on a journey that blends the art of photography with the exploration of New York State’s rich cultural and natural landscapes. The Tzilum Expedition offers teens a unique opportunity to develop their photography skills while experiencing some of the most iconic and picturesque locations in New York State. From capturing historical landmarks to stunning sunsets, this expedition is designed to inspire creativity and provide a deeper understanding of the world through the lens of a camera. The trip will be led by two Israeli photographers who graduated from the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem. 

Teens will:

• Learn the fundamentals of photography and enhance their skills with practical exercises.
• Capture the essence of historical sites and natural beauty.
• Explore famous New York landmarks and engage with the local culture.
• Create lasting memories and build a portfolio of stunning photographs.
• Meet and learn from experienced photographers and community leaders who share their insights and expertise.

The out-of-camp experience: PHOTOGRAPHY

Teens will spend four days and three nights immersed in the vibrant and diverse settings of the Hudson Valley, New York City, and its surroundings, honing their photography skills and exploring iconic locations. This expedition blends artistic development with cultural discovery, offering a unique and enriching experience.

Participants will start with a photography workshop to learn essential techniques. They will explore historical sites, natural landscapes, and cityscapes, capturing local heritage and serene environments. In New York City, they will visit famous landmarks and bustling urban areas, perfect for dynamic street scenes and architectural photography.

Teens will have the chance to visit photography exhibits, drawing inspiration from the work of expert photographers. Iconic locations, such as Central Park and Times Square, provide a variety of subjects for their creative projects.

Throughout the expedition, teens will engage in discussions and reflections, connecting their experiences to broader themes of community and history. This journey is about improving photography skills, creating lasting memories, understanding the world through a new lens, and building strong connections with other campers.

By the end of the expedition, participants will have a diverse portfolio of photographs, each telling a unique story of their experiences and the rich tapestry of New York’s cultural and natural beauty.

The Accommodations:

Participants will spend one night of the trip camping in the Hudson Valley region of New York and then stay together at a Jewish organization, in group rooms separated by gender. Each participant will need to bring a sleeping bag and optional sleeping pad.

The program:

In the Masa Expedition, teens will learn about living and surviving in nature and explore Jewish and environmental values that will leave them with a desire to live with a lighter footprint and impact on the world and an intensified love of the outdoors and a desire to share that with others.

Teens will:

• Gain an appreciation of the natural world
• Explore the power of community and mutual responsibility to achieve goals
• Learn and practice serious outdoor survival skills
• Understand and experience the concept of “leave no trace”
• Learn how to truly disconnect and appreciate the world around them

The out-of-camp experience: BACKPACKING

Participants will spend four days and three nights backpacking in Harriman State Park for an intense backcountry trip. Teens will learn new skills, practice survival techniques, take on leadership responsibilities, and challenge themselves in small-group, supportive team settings of 7-10 teens.

Each group will be led by an experienced Teva (nature) Guide who has received additional pre-summer training in wilderness safety and leadership, outdoor Jewish programming, and hold additional Wilderness First Aid and CPR certifications. Each group leader will be joined by an additional staff member, who will be trained and prepared by the Teva Guide prior to the trip in order to help guide the group on the trails.

The group will hike an average of 5-8 miles a day (approximately 6-8 hours a day) and collectively carry all tents, gear and food in their packs.

Sleeping accomodations: Camp is set up each night by the group with the guidance of staff at approved camp sites with lean-tos within the park. Participants will sleep in small tents of 2-3 people of the same gender. Participants should not expect to have access to indoor bathroom facilities for the duration of the trip.

Participants should be in good physical health and willing to commit to the physical and mental challenges of this trip.

The program:

In the Etgar Expedition, teens will push themselves to challenge their physical limits and explore ways to live more healthily, improve their fitness levels, and support action to live in healthier communities year-round.

Teens will:

• Experience the power of community to reach goals, both individually and as a group
• Learn different ways to improve their own lifestyles to encourage better health, including physical fitness, nutrition, and spiritual wellness
• Leave with a desire to live a healthier lifestyle year-round

The out-of-camp experience: BIKING

Participants will spend four days and three nights biking through, and camping out in, scenic upstate New York. The group will bike between 20-30 miles each day and approximately 110 miles in total by the end of the trip. Rides will be both on paved roads and backcountry, unpaved trails.

The trip will be led by an experienced biking guide who will also be joined by between 8-10 additional staff members, who will be trained prior to the trip, spread out amongst the group throughout the ride, and be able to ensure safe riding practices throughout the trip. At least one staff member, if not the trip guide, will hold Wilderness First Aid and CPR certifications.

TY owns and annually maintains a fleet of bikes to be used for this trip. Prior to the trip, each participant will be fitted to a specific bike and helmet that is assigned to him/her for the duration of the trip. Participants will also receive a trip orientation to learn and practice safe riding practices, review signals, and get comfortable with their bikes. All participants are assessed by the trip guide and, if any participant is deemed to be unable to be safe and able to complete the trip, s/he will be re-assigned. Safety is the number one priority.

Participants will not carry their gear during the rides. Only water bottles attached to the bikes or Camelbak-style water bladders that can be worn on the riders’ back will be with the riders during the day. All additional gear and food is transported along with the group’s support vehicles (one large truck and one 12-passenger van), which will be accessible when the group stops throughout the ride. If any rider is experiencing trouble during the ride and deemed unable to ride, s/he will ride in the 12-passenger van and store his/her bike in the truck until s/he is able to ride again.

Sleeping accommodations: Camp will be set up each night at official campgrounds along the route by teens with the guidance of staff. At most sites, the group will have access to bathroom facilities (toilets and sinks, but not showers) and designated space for the group to pitch tents and create outdoor programming space. Participants will sleep in medium-sized tents of 5-8 people of the same gender.

Participants must be able and comfortable riding a bicycle and should be in good physical health. Participants with existing leg or knee issues should consult their physician to determine if this level of riding will be doable.

The program:

In the Kayamut Expedition, teens will gain a greater sense of responsibility toward protecting the natural world through understanding human impact on the environment, considering their own lifestyles and impact, and consider ways to influence and encourage others to live more sustainability.

Teens will:

• Gain an appreciation of the natural world
• Learn about existing (and future) threats to the natural world and how to combat those threats
• Consider what parts of their own lives contribute to the destruction of the environment
• Discover different ways individuals can contribute to preserving the environment
• Determine how to take action to protect nature locally, globally, and in Israel

The out-of-camp experience: KAYAKING

Participants will spend four days and three nights kayaking down the scenic Delaware River in consecutive segments. The trip concludes with the group kayaking straight off the river and into camp.

The trip will be facilitated by a professional outdoor company, Northeast Wilderness Experience (NEWE), which provides four professional river guides to lead the group on the river each day. NEWE’s river guides go through extensive training as professionals and hold numerous certifications in lifeguarding, first aid, river safety, and other open-water certifications. An additional 7-10 staff members from Tel Yehudah also join the trip to provide additional leadership and supervision, including at least 2-3 lifeguard certified staff for added support. NEWE trains and orients each of the staff before the trip, including paddling techniques, river skills, and safety requirements.

Participants will paddle at an intense level for an average of 9-14 miles, depending on the daily itinerary and should expect to be on the river for 6-8 hours each day. River conditions will vary each day, between flat water to a maximum Entry Level II Rapids.
A NEWE river guide will provide an orientation for the teens prior to the trip to introduce paddling techniques, river skills, and safety procedures before the trip begins.

On the river, teens will also learn and practice river skills through clinics in topics such as, throw bag usage, ferrying, crab crawl, body surfing, and boat rescue. All clinics will be implemented and overseen by NEWE guides. Safety is always the top priority.

Sleeping accommodations: The group is housed at same outdoor campsite (owned and operated by NEWE) for all three nights of the trip, situated along the Delaware River. At the campsite, the group will have access to bathroom facilities, picnic areas, outdoor cooking equipment and designated outdoor group programming space. Participants will sleep in large group tents of 5-8 people of the same gender.

Participants should be in good physical health and not have any shoulder or arm injuries that could be exacerbated by extensive paddling.

NOTE: The Kayamut Expedition will require an additional $150 charge for teens who choose and are selected to participate in this Expedition.

The program:

Teens who choose the Ir haKehillah Expedition will have an opportunity to both see and experience some of the best of Jewish NY while also grappling with what it means to be in and build community. Explore NYC through food and culture – the roots and future of Jewish New York – diving into some of NYC’s Jewish and historical landmarks, exploring the changing landscape of the surrounding area and engaging in impactful acts of services learning how meaningful investments in the future build community based on a shared past. 

Teens will:

• Engage with many ways that we build community
• Make a positive impact 
• Eat delicious food, see important sites, create lasting memories
• Meet different community leaders who explain their perspective on community and how they achieve their unique goals, and where applicable, the historical context
• Visit important Jewish NY sites

The out-of-camp experience: THE NEW YORK JEWISH EXPERIENCE

Teens will spend four days and three nights in New York City exploring all the ways that the Jewish people have, and continue to, create community. Teens will spend time in Brooklyn, experience the iconic Coney Island Boardwalk, explore the iconic Times Square area, explore the Lower East Side through its rich connection to history and delicious food, visit the 9-11 Memorial, and engage in several acts of meaningful service to impact New Yorkers in need.

We are partnering with many local Jewish non-profit organizations to create a meaningful and impactful itinerary for the participants, and will ground our experience in text and discussions that will help us connect personally to the expedition, and to the rest of our camp community. 

The Accommodations:

Participants of the Ir haKehillah trip will stay together at a Jewish organization, in spacious group rooms that will be separated by gender. Participants bring sleeping bags and optional sleeping   pads for their stay. Participants will also have access to showers, toilets, and sinks for their use each night and morning. 

*Please note there is an additional $200 fee due to the high cost of accommodations and food in NYC. This fee does not cover the majority of the expenses of running this trip. (Please contact us at info@telyehudah.org if you need financial assistance for this trip.)