Bringing Torah to Life with the Seasons
Jewish Nature Mentorship for Children in the East Bay Woods
|Grades K–1||Grades 2–5|
Program begins February 16
Come learn more and see if B’hootz
is what your family is looking for!
Thursday, January 30 | 7–8 pm
JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley
B’hootz (“Outside” in Hebrew) brings Judaism to life through a nature-based “Sunday school in the woods” that focuses on discovering the natural world and provides fundamental naturalist, survival, and leadership skills through the lens of Jewish stories, blessings, and ethics.
Our amazing mentors are skilled in Jewish studies and experiential nature education. To foster the unique curiosity of each child, we value our low child to mentor ratio. B’hootz meets for seven sessions, every other week in the fall and in the spring.
B’hootz Roots (K–1st grade): Nourish the roots of nature connection with Jewish stories, adventure, and play in the forest, and basic naturalist skills. Seven Sundays February to May from 10 am to 1 pm.
B’hootz Shoots (2nd–5th grade): Grow your child’s Jewish nature and bring Jewish concepts to life with learning that connects mind, heart, and body through adventure and skills, such as fire making, basketry, or whittling, and looking deeper into the treasures of the forest. Seven Sundays February to May: 5 Sundays run from 10 am to 1 pm and two special Shoots enrichment days run from 10 am to 3 pm.
Learn more about the B’hootz program, schedule, and more using the links on the left.
What kids love about B’hootz
- Fantastic mentors who develop a personal relationship with them
- Group building activities and fun games in the woods!
- Jewish teachings that connect to the cycles of the natural world
- Wilderness skills such as shelter building, fire making, and basketry
- Nature connection such as animal tracking, bird language, sensory awareness games, and guided time alone (hitbodedut)
- A broad foundation of nature connection and mentorship is laid for B’naiture, Wilderness Torah’s Bar and Bat Mitzvah nature-based rite of passage program