Nivonim Etgar Day One!

As has become our tradition, edat ha-Nivonim kicked off their kayitz with the start of a three-day etgar — outdoor adventure experience!  This is a fun and intense bonding experience, designed to bring together our Nivonimers into a unified edah, while also challenging themselves and exploring the outdoor world around us.

After aruchat boker this morning, we got onto buses and headed to Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire… and, together, they hiked all the way up to the top of the mountain!  (See photo above!)  Let me tell you, this is not an easy hike!  The trails are steep!!!  The Nivonimers were amazing — enthusiastic and so helpful and supportive to one another.  It was a delight to see how well they all worked together.  And when we got to the summit — wow.  The views were amazing.

As we have done since we started running this tiyul (trip), Rabbi Gelb & I joined the Nivonimers for this first day and the Monadnock climb.  It was a lot of fun!!

At the top of the mountain, everyone ate aruchat tzohorayim (lunch) and tzevet Nivonim (the NIV staff) led everyone in some beginning-of-the-kayitz festivities.  Then we walked back down (which is also a challenging experience!) and the Nivonimers headed to their campsite, to set up camp and have a yummy aruchat erev (dinner).  (While Rabbi Gelb & I went back to camp.)

Tomorrow the Nivonimers head on to more adventures…!