Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mahinui/1526416146

Summertime was approaching and the students and pupils of Netanya’s Students Build a Neighborhood Project in Kiryat Nordau needed some way to cool off and celebrate the completion of another year of enriching and enjoyable time together. Forty pupils accompanied by ten students left early in the morning by bus to enjoy a day at the Michmoret Marine Studies Institute. They learned from the highly trained and dedicated staff about the research and protection given by the Institute to the population of freshwater and saltwater turtles native to the area. Then they all partook of the sailors’ view of our beautiful coastline by sailing out into the Mediterranean. The institute’s staff took good care of their landlubber guests as they cruised through the waves and breathed the clean, salty ocean breeze.

And how could a day by the beach be complete without a good dunk into the inviting blue water?                

With supervision all around, the students and pupils paddled their kayaks out into the waters protected by the breakwaters and had a great time swimming and splashing - that is, until the voice of adult responsibility said it was time to head back to the bus and home,  A communal moan was heard for miles around.

Thanks for this exciting and enjoyable day to:

• Udi and the wonderful staff of the Michmoret Marine Institute.
• Neomi, project leader, for making it all work and for watching over us so that we all had a wonderful, wet day.                
• Nina Zuck and ESRA for making all this possible.