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OPENING SESSION Processing Resources OPENING SESSION Goal Participants will begin the Israel Trek feeling comfortable and secure The opening session is your best opportunity to set the tone for your Israel Trek and kick off the experience on the right note It prepares participants for what lies ahead helps them feel more comfortable in the group and creates a strong foundation for the experience Therefore you must give this session sufficient time and organize it in a quiet welcoming venue An ideal opening session should include an introduction get to know each other activity and a conversation that sets expectations Here are some advice and ideas Preparation Don t wing it plan it You can consult your Program Manager and Tour Educator for help or direction Divide roles before the conversation starts so everyone knows who is leading what 1

OPENING SESSION Introduction Start by introducing yourself and your goals for the Israel Trek Don t forget to introduce and explain the roles of your co Lead ers Tour Educator and the Israel Fellows Sit in a circle so you can see everyone and participants can make eye contact with each other Begin the session assuming no one knows anyone else 2

OPENING SESSION LIPASRTCAETCNITIVNICEGE Get to know each other Sit in a circle and ask participants to introduce themselves Use a topic or a guiding question And Or Divide into small groups and ask participants to introduce themselves Use a topic or a guiding question Then go back to the big group to share what you heard And Or Sit in two concentric circles The participants face each other the inside circle looking out and the outside circle looking in thus making couples Give the participants a subject to discuss for 2 3 minutes Then ask the participants on the outer circle to move one spot to the right and repeat the activity with another topic Continue for several rounds Here are some topics to discuss Where did you grow up and who s in your family How did you get your name Who is a leader you most admire and why What is your greatest ambition What are you studying and why Why did you decide to attend this Israel Trek Where will you be in five years Prepare how you will explain these activities clearly and concisely BE CREATIVE and adjust the questions to your group This activity will take more time if you have a large group Make sure to budget your time or divide into smaller groups Smaller groups allow participants to speak freely and connect more quickly 3

OPENING SESSION Expectations Review the itinerary Discuss ground rules and the code of conduct Explain emergency and safety instructions You reYaolul rseealtl steot tloead an amazilneagIdsrIaasnerlaaTmreealkz iTngrek Find ground rules emergency instructions and an opening session checklist at the QR code Scan here for more icebreaker activity ideas 4