The Ariel National Leadership Development Center recently hosted its first all-adult group from the United States. Although accustomed to training adult Israeli groups, including the IDF and the Israeli Police Force, this group consisted of adult men from Miami who sought a team building experience. They came to the right place.
Before climbing the ropes the group met briefly with Mayor Ron Nachman. They were told of his leadership experiences by their tour guide, George Horesh. For most it was their first time in Samaria. They appreciated their encounter with Mayor Ron Nachman and they asked to see more of the city that he built.
Avi Zimmerman, Director of American Friends of Ariel, took the group on a tour of the city. They saw the Ariel University Center, the Netzarim community from Gush Katif, the Israeli security fence and the Antenna Hill IDF post. They continued to the Ariel Regional Center for the Performing Arts, where they had an opportunity to ask questions with the goal of bridging the gap between their mass-media fed preconceptions and the unexpected reality they faced. By the end of the session they all agreed that their visit to Ariel was both an eye-opening experience and one of the most important places they had ever seen on any of their trips to Israel.
The last stop was the Ariel National Leadership Development Center. They came with good spirits and a lot of energy. As with the young teenage groups that visit the site, they simply did not want to leave.
American Friends of Ariel thanks the Boys Town Men’s Club visitors, who came to see Ariel and experience leadership.