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