Boneh kicks off!

Hi all
After a very busy orientation period, the shnatties arrived on Kibbutz Netiv HaLamed Hey today, to start the Boneh portion of the year.
The past few days saw the shnatties at Beit Gesher in Jerusalem, undergoing general orientation peulot as an introduction to Israel/Israeli culture, and to the year ahead. Topics discussed included the definition of the word "Hachshara" (literally in Hebrew translates to "training" but has connotations of preparations for youth movement leadership), the equality of human value, wiping away prior stigmas and starting discussions on responsibility for the year ahead.
A highlight (or possible lowlight!), was watching the Israel v England football match, together with the HDUK movement workers, who are currently in Israel on a seminar.
Today, the Boneh portion started, with some formal and informal gibush (bonding/getting to know you activities) with the Habonim Dror North American groups, who are also present on Netivaleh for Boneh. We also had a short tour of the kibbutz (as scene above), and some basic orientation information was gone over. The rest of the evening was time to prepare for tiyul tomorrow, and relax a bit!
Tomorrow the shnatties are on tiyul in the Sde Boker/Judean desert region. The plan is for them to set off relatively early on Monday morning, and hike in the Ein Ovdat region, and then sleep in a camping ground next to Midreshet Sde Boker - called Chan HaShayarot. On Tuesday, they will hike in the beautiful Dead Sea area, followed by some swim/floating time in the Dead Sea, and spend the night at the Masada youth hostel. On Wednesday they will either have a short hike, or possibly more Dead Sea time, depending on how Tuesday pans out! The buses will then do a drop off for the Rosh Hashana chag weekend.
Hoping everyone is well,
Vered