Inclusive Israel Travel for Teens in the Pluralistic Setting of BBYO’s Passport to the World Program Jocelyn Orloff
Dec 22, 2015
Inclusive Israel Travel for Teens in the Pluralistic Setting of BBYO’s Passport to the World Program
Jocelyn Orloff
Project Summary• Feasibility study for Passport to the World Program to create an Israel trip
inclusive of typical teens and teens with special needs
• Examined existing opportunities for teens with special needs
• Created draft itinerary and recruitment suggestions
• Examined Judaic sources on special needs• Developed budget for 10, 12 and 14 day
trips• Provided recommendations for pilot year
of program based on research
Need Assessment• What currently exists for
adults?:
• What exists for teens?:–NFTY Trip- 2011 pilot year– Ramah Tikvah– Yad B’Yad
• No Pluralistic trips
Background and How this Trip Fits with the BBYO Model and Initiatives
• Stand Up for Each Other Campaign• Individual community inclusion of
teens with special needs• Provide meaningful Jewish experience
for typical teens• Attract and involve more Jewish teens• Fits with Pluralistic mission to
provide diversity and depth to BBYO opportunities
Goals of Trip
• Serve an underserved community• Establish life long friendships• Provide typical teens with meaningful
experience• Further engage in Jewish life and
continuity• Engage while participants are in high
school rather than as adults• Utilize the model of inclusion rather
than needs specific trip
Feasibility
• Participants– 25 total- 8-10 with special needs 15-17
typical teens• Potential challenges with recruitment and desire
to keep group at an intimate size, thus keeping number low
– 3 staff members- highly trained– Teens must be high functioning and it is
preferable that they have experienced an inclusive environment in the past
– Typical teens recruited from BBYO and local organizations with interest in participating in an inclusion program
How?
• 10 days for pilot trip• $3800 per participant without
grants or scholarships– Possible additional money at local
federations, grants, and local offices
• 3 activities per day• 3-4 bases for travel
2 Examples of Sample ItineraryDay 2- MondayWhat We Bring to the Table Welcome to Israel – Shecheyanu at the
Haas Promenade overlooking the Old City
Shopping time leading into lunch program
Lunch- Machne Yehuda Market “What we bring to the table”
Tour Virtual Second Temple Model at Davidson Center
KotelText study on Inclusion in Judaism at
KotelDepart for Tel AvivCheck in & Dinner at hotelEvening activity at hotelOvernight- Tel Aviv
Day 3- TuesdayIndependence Breakfast at hotelIndependence HallDiscussion on what does it mean to declare independenceActivity on independence- reflection and expression of what it means personally and for the groupPizur LunchNachalat Binyamin- Explore the art of IsraelShow at Nalaga’at Center in Tel AvivReturn to HotelOvernight-Tel AvivNote: Tracks included on other days with more active options
Conclusions and Evaluation
• Possible barriers include financial and recruitment
• The creation of this experience is in line with BBYO’s mission and values and will equally benefit BBYO and the participants
• BBYO’s Passport to the World can accommodate this trip and the best practices visited in this project can aid in its formation