Here's what you do:

• On the contact page check "Forming my own group"
• We will contact you and help you choose appropriate dates
• You may use one of the prearranged itineraries on this site (substituting your dates), or we can help you change the itinerary in whatever way you desire
• Begin spreading the word!

If you are considering this option, we need to hear from you right away!

Is Israel Safe?

We have never taken a group to Israel where anyone felt the first sense of concern while in the Land. When asked how secure our people felt in Israel, the unanimous response has been as follows (and this is a direct quote from one of our group)...

"The trip was great, and never for one moment did I feel that I was in danger. The security provided us was superb."

Tourism is Israel's second most important industry (next to diamonds), and the State of Israel goes to great lengths to safeguard every Pilgrim. Today many people fear to leave their homes to go anywhere, even in the U.S. We believe the safest place one can be at any time is wherever God wants him to be. So, the real question is, "Does the Lord want you to go to Israel?" If so, you are safer in Israel than anywhere in the world!

What You Will Experience

Most "tours" visit sites: Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, the Mount of Beatitudes, etc. But, there is a difference between visiting a place, and experiencing the biblical history of that place. An experience should not only teach, it should also give an individual-especially a young person-a tie to that place which he or she will never forget.

This is why we climb Mount Sartaba to reenact the sending of the signal fire so those who remained hundreds of miles to the north in Babylon will know that it is time to celebrate the New Moon. This is why we collect five smooth stones from the brook in the valley where David faced Goliath so we can show those back home that we were actually "there". This is why we slosh through Hezekiah's Water Tunnel, asking ourselves how such an architectural feat could have been accomplish so quickly, with all its twists and turns, in 700 B.C.! This is why we give part or our time helping archaeologists sift through Temple Mount dirt, looking for ancient Temple treasures. This is why we spend a Sabbath weekend as the guests of an Orthodox Jewish community, experiencing, first-hand what it's like to be a pioneering Jew in the Land of the Jews.

Yet, with all this, we visit every site a normal "tour" would visit-we are just never "tourists".

What You Will Learn

In Israel, every village, town and turn-in-the-road leaps out at you from the Bible. Our guides are Bible scholars as well as experts in points of Jewish history and law. The Bible is our Tour Book-we will read from it daily. Bring it with you on the bus!

Israel is a place unique in the world. It can be a mirror to one’s soul and travelers to this Land often meet themselves and members of their families in ways they did not expect. When families are hot and tired, personal and family issues tend to surface and each individual, or family, will handle their issues differently.

Also, because Israel’s culture appears “western”, it is easy to forget that you are in a foreign country complete with its own inconveniences, inconsistencies, irritabilities and conflicting spirits.

Disappointments arise from unfulfilled expectations. If you are a person who doesn’t appreciate the unexpected, who doesn’t like surprises or who doesn’t like things to change, then this Experience may not be for you.

However, if you love the excitement of new adventures each and every day, then this is the group for you to join! And, you can be assured that—like virtually everyone who has gone before you—you will definitely meet God in ways you have never known Him.

What you are about to join has been prepared to give each participant the maximum possible experience of the biblical history of God’s People and their Land. This may include participation in archaeological work with Temple Mount artifacts. Also, because Israel’s biblical history has always been related to her political history, you and your students will have the rare opportunity to become educated in the complex relationships of the entire Middle Eastern region. For this understanding, your students will be eligible to receive credits in Biblical and Middle Eastern History and Archaeology.

Not only will you and your students learn an amazing amount of biblical history, here are some of the interesting "sidelights" you will learn:

· Where did God first appear to Abraham in the Promised Land?

· Where did God first appear to Isaac in the Promised Land?

· Genesis says that Abraham made a covenant with Abimelech who was king of the land where Abraham lived (see Genesis 21:22+). Why was this such a dramatic mistake and how was this mistake finally resolved?

· How old was Isaac when Abraham took him to Mount Moriah to sacrifice him?

· What do scientists say caused the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah?

· Do the descendants of Ishmael exist today? If so, who are they and where do they live?

· After Joseph died in Egypt, his bones were brought back to Israel to be buried. Why is this so important to Jews living in Israel today?

· Some of the inhabitants of the city of Hebron had such an unusual quality about them that 10 of the 12 men returning to Moses after spying out the land said the land could not be conquered. What was this unusual quality?

· What was the real reason God allowed the entire generation who came out of Egypt to die in the wilderness rather than enter the Promised Land?

· How close did Moses get to the Promised Land and what was the real reason he was not allowed to enter?

· Gideon was required to reduce the size of his army by having the soldiers drink from a spring (Judges 7). The men who were allowed to remain in the army drank in a certain manner. How did they drink?

· A strange story is told in Judges 17 & 18. What is the significance of this story?

· On the Day of Atonement, Jews all over the world read the Book of Jonah. Why this particular book?

· Where did David and Jonathan see one another for the last time and what did they do before parting?

· In what way were David and Goliath related?

· David was red headed. How do they know this?

· How old was David when he fought Goliath?

· What secret allowed David to capture Jerusalem in order to make it the capital of all Israel?

· God told Solomon, "Ask whatever you wish and I will grant it to you." (1 Kings 3). Was "wisdom" the wisest thing Solomon could have asked for? What else could he have asked for? What would you have asked for?

· How was King Hezekiah able to dig a tunnel underground, starting at both ends and meeting in the middle, with no instruments to direct the diggers toward one another?

· What was the "final straw" that caused God to remove His people from the Promised Land?

· What is the difference between Mt. Moriah, Mt. Zion, the City of David, Jerusalem and the Temple Mount?

· What is the origin of the name "Valley of Armageddon"?

· If white is the best color to wear in a very sunny, hot, dry climate, why are desert Bedouin women completely covered in black?

· What did archaeologists discover in the mountain fortress of Masada that is still usable today after 2,000 years?

· Where is the Ark of the Covenant now?

· What percentage of the original Promised Land are God's people currently occupying? Who believes this will change and how?

· Will a third temple be built? Is anyone actually preparing to build it?

· What exactly is the "Wailing Wall" and why is it called this? What individual has a most unusual job relating to the Wall?

· Why is it virtually impossible to drown in the Dead Sea?

· What invention, originally intended for use by a very small number of Jewish men, ended up being used by nearly everyone in the world but now cannot be used by Jewish men?

· What two historical landmarks were combined to produce the Star of David?

· How is it possible to consider oneself a Jew and still not believe in God?

· Why do religious Jews believe no one but a Jew is responsible for following the Ten Commandments? What is everyone else supposed to do?

· What is the difference between Priests, Levites, Pharisees, Sadducees and Rabbis?

· Why do religious Jews living in Israel believe that they are fulfilling the words of the prophet Zechariah? (Zechariah 8:1-8)

Testimonials

Each statement that follows is the heart-felt expression of a homeschooling family on one of our previous Experiences:

"I cannot describe the impact the entire experience had on me personally"

"Thank you, thank you, for making my dream of a family trip to Israel a reality!"

"I would most heartily recommend this tour to anyone. Not just tourist traps and time-worn sites, but a living history that comes to life right from the pages of the Holy Scriptures."

"I have talked to other Christians who have toured Israel, and none of them got to know Jewish families, participated in Shabbat, or were invited to a synagogue. None of them heard the history of the Jewish people, or went to communities and actually dwelt in the midst of the people."

"...an experience I will cherish the rest of my life."

"The trip was great, and never for one moment did I feel that I was in danger. The security provided us was superb."

"My expectations were so high I honestly expected to be disappointed; however, this trip was much more than I had ever thought it could be."

"We have been back nearly four weeks and we simply cannot seem to get back to the routine of life. We truly were so amazingly and profoundly changed by the trip! We have spent the better part of four weeks talking about the Land, the people, and the impact made on our understanding of the Bible."

"Our children discovered a world they had only read about and dreamed of; as parents, we knew their understanding of that world grew immeasurably."

"Having a guide who was clearly devoted to God's word was central to this experience."

"Having the opportunities to meet, spend time with, and talk to Israeli citizens, especially Orthodox Jews, was a true highlight. The Shabbat experience at Ma'ale Levona was one of the best features of the trip."

"It was wonderful to not only walk the land and talk to the people, but to watch us become a 'family'."

"It was incredible to see the sites, smell the smells, hear the Word of God and interact with the people."

"You may be uncomfortable at times-thirsty, hot and dirty-but you come home with such memories that all those things seem insignificant."

"You did a fantastic job, and the experience was over and above all that we could have hoped for or imagined. Thank you again for all your work and vision for this pilgrimage. It has forever changed our lives!"

"[This Experience] changed my life and that of my children forever. This is an educational and spiritual opportunity I will be eternally grateful for."

"The beauty and history of the Land is surpassed only by the depth and passion of the people. As visitors to Israel there is joy in both praying at the Wall and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. There is excitement in making your way through Hezekiah's ancient tunnel and walking through one of Jerusalem's gates for the first time. The smells, flavors and colors of the markets and shops are intoxicating. We enjoyed every minute!"

References You May Contact

The following names are some of the many families who have traveled with us in the past (click on name for e-mail address). They have agreed to answer any questions you may have about our Israel Experience. They receive no benefit for doing this other than their desire-as fellow homeschoolers-to help with your decision to visit Israel.

Moore Family

Wiebe Family

McCullough Family

Karen Sumner

Beverly Cox

Darlene Bolding

Logan Family

Cotton Family (Spain)

Foster Family

Bill Goosie

Rice Family

Who Should Come

Entire families, extended families and partial families (even couples and individuals) have joined our Experiences. Who should come? Everyone who can...don't put it off!

Recommended Ages

Minimum Age: After several years bringing families to Israel (and asking our travelers each time what they thought), we have concluded that our Experiences are most valuable for students age 12 and up. More than once, we have had children as young as 8, 9 or 10. However, at the end of our time together, their parents admitted they should have waited until the younger children were a little older and only have brought the older ones. We did have one young lady from Australia who was so mature at age 10, her presence among us was a real joy for everyone. We have also had children around this age who were lacking in the maturity for the trip to be a meaningful time for them.

Having said all this, you know your own children: The amount of sharing they are capable of absorbing; their personal attention spans; their ability to handle hot climates and different kinds of food; their ability to be interested in an experience such as the one we are providing are all necessary considerations.

We do not take extremely young children who need the kind of personal attention that could hinder the experiences of the rest of the group.

Maximum Age: We have had grandfathers and grandmothers up to age 80 on our Experiences. These individuals paced themselves, occasionally choosing not to climb or walk distances; but they enjoyed the time with their families. It is a special treat when children can have deeply satisfying experiences with a grandparent, such as one of our youngsters who was baptized in the Jordan River by her grandfather.

Materials We Provide

Because we are homeschoolers offering this Experience for other homeschoolers, we know you expect materials from us. Here is what we provide for everyone attending one of our Israel Experiences:

· A Study Guide containing references to every site we will visit. This will allow you, your family, and your students to be as prepared as you would like when you arrive in the Land. You may even use the study guide to prepare your own test if you so choose.
· A complete set of "Notes to Travelers to Israel" containing everything you need to know to be prepared for your time in the Promised Land. These "Notes" are incredibly detailed: What to pack (and not to pack); What Israelis eat; Our accommodations; How to use Israeli money; How to shop in Israel; What Israelis believe; and, pages more details…With these "Notes" you will be totally prepared for your time in Israel.

Earning Educational Credits

You will want to give your student(s) educational credits for this incredible Experience.

Here's how to figure the math for assigning credits:

Whenever you assign credits for your homeschooled student(s), consider that approximately 100 hours of academics equals one academic credit*.

On this Experience, your student(s) will be spending around 16 hours/day immersed in many aspects of biblical, historical and political analysis (this figure assumes 8 hours of sleep per night). 16 hours per day times the number of days on the Experience (plus the number of hours preparing for the Experience beforehand, plus the number of hours talking/writing about the Experience after you get home) could equal 300-400 hours or more. Consequently, the number of hours spent on this Experience could equal 3-4 academic credits.

Call the Course anything you wish and put it under the broad category of World History or Political Science. Here are some suggestions (we used the first two with our sons):

"Ancient Biblical History and Middle Eastern Archeology"
"History of Ancient and Modern Israel"
"Geopolitics of the Middle East"
"Historical and Modern Politics in the Land of Palestine"

You get the picture. Think of your own Course Titles (or use the ones above) when you return home and enter them on your students' official transcript. Give a "Course Description" or descriptions (a more detailed statement of what was done, including any books read). You may also want to have your student(s) write an essay on his/her experiences for their official Portfolio of work done.

*The Public School year is normally about 180 days. However, educators agree that only a portion (some say a small portion) of those 180 days is actually spent on "academics". For a homeschooler, 100 days more than equals an academic credit-hour.