Stay Involved

5% Discount for Past Participants!

So you’re back to reality. Sad, we know. But to make things a little better, we’ve got a present for you: a 5% discount on your next trip with Katan Adventures! All you have to do is fill out the trip evaluation your trip leader handed out at the end of you last trip and mail, fax or email it back to us here. As long as you book within a year of your last departure, 5% is on us!

Stay Involved

We know that for reasons financial and otherwise it might be awhile before your next trip with us. That’s why we have assembled this list of ideas for you to keep the Katan Adventures spirit alive while you wait for your next journey.

Volunteer of Behalf on the Environment – Get EcoloJEWcal! We hope that your experience with Katan Adventures has promoted a greater awareness of the fragile environment within which we live and the myriad of problems that it is facing. There are a number of ways you can put this awareness into action, whether by volunteering for local parks, attending rallies on behalf of the environment, volunteering for organizations that support environmental issues and good old fashioned giving of gelt (not chocolate, the real stuff).

• National Resources Defense Council
  The NRDC is at the forefront of efforts to protect the environment through legal and government action. Their website outlines a number of ways to get involved.
• Hazon
  Hazon works to create “a healthier and more sustainable Jewish community.” They run great bike rides and hikes, both in the US and Israel, with the goal of raising environmental awareness. They also organize CSAs (community supported agriculture) in a number of cities in the US.
• Defenders of Wildlife
  Defenders of Wildlife is an organization that works, through the legal system, to do just that: defend wildlife from the attacks of loggers, oil-drillers, etc. who encroach upon more and more irreplaceable wildlife habitats on a daily basis. Their website features a number of different ways to get involved.
• Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life
  COEJL is the leading Jewish environmental organization in the United States and has put environmental protection on the agenda of the organized Jewish community and made the case to elected officials and decision-makers that protecting the environment is a moral and religious obligation. Their website also offers and number of ways to make a difference.
• Grist
  Grist provides top-notch environmental news and commentary and manages to do so without taking themselves too seriously. 

Of course, this is just a sampling of the many organizations working on behalf on the environment, but it is as good a place as any to get started on the path to doing something about protecting our Mother Earth!

Stay connected with Jews – Maybe you don’t have to work to do this or maybe you don’t even want to. However, for those of us who like to get together with our peeps from time to time but find it difficult as a result of where we live, work, etc., there are tons of ways to make it happen and it doesn’t have to be through a synagogue or in any religious way if you aren’t into that kind of thing. There are many organizations that are “Jewish” in a cultural sense and others that support causes that, regardless of our religiousity as Jews, we can all get behind:

• Gesher City
  Connects young Jews to Jewish events and resources in various cities throughout the US.
• JDUB
  Even if you don’t want to hang with Jews, JDUB is the record label with the coolest Jewish tunes and artists (Matisyahu, Balkan Beat Box, Sagol 59, Michael Showalter, etc.).
• Jew and the Carrot
  Great blog about Jews, sustainable food, and other contemporary issues.
• Nextbook
  A group we dig that presents itself as “a new read on Jewish culture.” They have an online magazine, a book series, and produce really cool events around the country. Check it.
• Jewcy
  Another blog – apparently Jews really like to blog.
• New Israel Fund
  Want to support Israel in a way that is meaningful to you and reflective of your values? The New Israel Fund is the preeminent supporter of all causes good and right in Israel such as religious pluralism (making sure the Orthodox way of being Jewish is not defined as the ONLY way of being Jewish), equal rights for all of Israel’s citizens (including Arabs), social and economic justice and environmental protection. The New Generations of NIF is comprised of their younger supporters (20s and 30s) and has many great events throughout the year, first and foremost of which is the New Generations Benefit which is held each year in New York and San Francisco.
• Birthright Israel NEXT
  Birthright Israel NEXT hosts retreats, concerts, volunteer opportunities and more for the North American Jewish community.  Get connected to this great organization!