Who Is Israel Outdoors?

Whether you are curious, excited, or unsure about joining a Taglit-Birthright Israel trip with Israel Outdoors, we invite you to explore the stories below – spoken directly by our alumni. We take great pride in the diversity of our participants, and you’ll find Israel Outdoors is a good fit for all types of people with all types of expectations. Are you Israel Outdoors? Explore on…

The Seeker

You have a passion for travel and you are open to new ideas and new ways of looking at the world. Prepared to be inspired! We like to think that Israel Outdoors is an experience, not merely a trip. In just ten days, you will have ample opportunities to find meaning without being told what to believe. Our program guides are natural leaders who are trained create an environment that encourages a personal journey. Let your curiosity get the best of you as you embark on a wide-eyed adventure.

The Networker

You're social and look forward to meeting new people outside of the bubble. Join a national trip to make friends from all over the country. Expand your horizons with like-minded peers. The diversity of people on a national trip will characterize the journey as much as the itinerary itself. After your travels with us in Israel are long over, your network of new friends will remain.

The Hebrew School Dropout

Let's face it -- You have a Jewish mother. She wants you to go on Taglit-Birthright Israel to rekindle the Jewish flame, or meet a nice Jewish girl or guy. Israel Outdoors will make both you AND your mom happy. We like to think Israel Outdoors attracts a self-selecting group of especially interesting people. Maybe it is no coincidence that a number of high profile artists, athletes, actors, and all around fascinating people have chosen Israel Outdoors through the years. You'll come away with new relationships and new Jewish connections, while making a meaningful connection to Israel itself.

The Locavore

You like where you live, and you are looking to make new local friends. Did you know that Israel Outdoors offers the most community trip options? Traveling on a community trip means that that your whole group is comprised of people who live in the same region as you. If you are excited about the opportunity to make 40 new friends that you can hang out with back home and keep your traveling memories alive, Israel Outdoors has options for you!

The Student

You're looking forward to an escape from the library and a new experience beyond the walls of college life. Make the most of your break with Israel Outdoors. We offer two types of trips designed exclusively for undergrads. Go on a campus-based trip, where you'll travel to Israel with fellow members of your campus community. Alternatively, go on a national trip, where you'll meet fresh faces from new places. Either way, the Israel Outdoors trip focuses on experiential education and learning by doing. We tend to avoid lectures and seminars -- you get enough of that already on campus!

The Professional

You have a career path and not much flexibility to stray from it. Perhaps you are transitioning from one opportunity to another. Whether your office is in a skyscraper or a classroom, Israel Outdoors offers an alternative break from the daily grind. Explore Israel with other 22-26 year-olds who are seeking more than just a vacation. With more trip choices than anyone else, Israel Outdoors can accommodate you on a trip with dates that work best for you.

The Independent Traveler

You're all about the journey. Travel is what sustains your soul, and you're a pro at it. However, the thought of traveling with a large group is more foreign to you than a new country. So why be a part of an organized group of 40 peers on a Taglit-Birthright Israel experience? Israel Outdoors will take care of your itinerary start to finish, giving you more time to soak up your surroundings and meet new people. The active nature of the program itself is perfect for meeting new people in an informal and fun way. You'll quickly feel a part of a traveling community, and be able to share the experience with other like-minded people. This is an experience that can't be recreated on your own; it's simply a once in a lifetime journey.

The Adventurer

You are at your prime playing outside -- and even better when you are breaking a sweat. As our name suggests, Israel Outdoors is designed to expose you to the breathtaking natural beautify of Israel. Our flagship program, Israel Quest, is designed for anyone with a spirit for adventure. Our Israel By Foot and Israel By Bike programs are designed to take you on a more physically active journey -- Including a night of real camping in the desert wilderness. You can be sure that every Israel Outdoors trip will take you to the vast canyons of the Judean desert, the green hills of the Galilee, and the picturesque beaches of the Mediterranean Coast. If the thought of getting off the bus and connecting to the Land of Milk and Honey excites you, Israel Outdoors is right for you.

The Skeptic

You're Jewish. Well, you're Jew-ish. You haven't had a strong Jewish upbringing and are concerned that you'll be out of the loop. Maybe you're worried about the trip having a political nature. The good news is that you're far from alone. Israel Outdoors attracts Jewish people of all backgrounds (even very limited backgrounds). The even better news is that Israel Outdoors does not have ANY hidden religious or political message. Our outlook is 100 percent pluralistic, and we are un-affiliated with any Jewish institutions or specific ways of thinking. We do believe in exposing you to new ideas and new surroundings throughout the ten days in Israel -- but we encourage you to form your own opinions along the way -- and express them. The experience is truly what you make of it.

Join us this summer!

Join us for a free trip to Israel this summer! Whether on a national, campus, community, or specialty trip, we offer the option for you! We also are the official trip provider for AEPi Brothers, SDT Sisters, and BBYO alumni. Don't miss out this summer!

Discover for yourself why Israel Outdoors is the most popular Birthright Israel experience for five years running. Because of that, we're able to offer the most options for trip dates! This summer we will be offering about 130 trips with multiple departures each week. That's more than 5,000 participants! All of our trips are non-denominational and non-affiliated, so they are really designed for everyone, from all different backgrounds.

Registration for Summer 2014 trips is on February 19, 2014. Find out more information and register at www.israeloutdoors.com.

This trip is a gift from Taglit-Birthright Israel.