A Field School in Israel (originally established as a training center by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel) is an institution primarily aimed at providing accommodation and guidance services for various travelers. It is managed by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI).
Today, there are approximately 12 field schools across Israel, located in proximity to nature reserves from Mount Hermon in the north to Eilat in the south. Nine of them include accommodation and lodging services. Additionally, two other institutions in Israel define themselves as field schools but are not affiliated with SPNI: the Kfar Etzion Field School and the Sha'ar HaGai Field School in Moshav Beit Meir.
History.
The first field school in Israel was established in Ein Gedi in 1960, and in 1963 the second field school was established in Sde Boker. By 1966, there were seven field schools in Israel: Ein Gedi, Sde Boker, Eilat, Hof HaCarmel, Mount Meron, Western Galilee, and Moshav Bar Giora. In the Sinai Peninsula, while Israel controlled the area, field schools were established in the 1970s in Sharm El-Sheikh, Yamit, and Saint Catherine, which operated until the evacuation of the area in 1981. In 1975, a field school was established in Ofra.
Activity.
Field schools are located in the heart of Israel’s natural landscapes, in key locations with unique scenery and close proximity to popular and interesting hiking trails. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) guides, both young and experienced, are based in these field schools, deeply connected to the environment and its dynamics, and accompany hikers along the area's trails and landscapes.
Each year, thousands of visitors stay at field schools, including families, school students, young adults, and older individuals, benefiting from guided tours led by specialists in their fields and regions.
Some of the annual high school trips in Israel, organized as part of outdoor education classes (Shelach), which span several days and require lodging and guiding services, utilize field schools for these purposes. Field schools also serve as educational centers for university field courses and as guidance hubs for hikers. In some field schools, youth clubs and activities are also held.
References.
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