Nitzana - Masa Desert Challenge: Cost, Coverage & How to Fund It
Nitzana — Masa Desert Challenge is a 7-month MASA-affiliated outdoor adventure, environmental education, and community development program run by JAFI Nitzana, set at the Nitzana Educational Village in the heart of the Negev desert near the Egyptian border. One of Israel's most distinctive educational experiences, the program immerses participants in the desert landscape that defined the biblical journey and continues to inspire Israel's frontier spirit — combining challenging outdoor activities with environmental learning, cross-cultural dialogue, and community development work in the Negev. For participants who want an Israel year unlike any other, the desert is the classroom.
Program Highlights
- ✓Based at Nitzana Educational Village in the Negev — one of Israel's most unique and remote educational campuses
- ✓Desert outdoor challenge — multi-day desert treks, night navigation, wilderness camping, and Negev exploration
- ✓Environmental education rooted in the Negev ecosystem and Israel's desert conservation challenges
- ✓Community development projects in the Negev — contributing to Israel's southern frontier communities
- ✓MASA grant eligible — up to $4,500
- ✓7-month immersion in one of Israel's most profound and least-visited landscapes
What's Included
- ✓Desert outdoor adventure programming across the Negev
- ✓Environmental education curriculum
- ✓Housing at Nitzana Educational Village
- ✓Community development project participation
- ✓MASA grant application support
- ✓Israel cultural programming and cross-cultural dialogue
$250 one-time account opening fee applies
What Parents Say About Nitzana - Masa Desert Challenge
“The Negev is not what I expected Israel to be — ancient, vast, and breathtakingly beautiful. Nitzana's Desert Challenge put me inside that landscape for seven months, trekking, learning about desert ecology, and working on community projects in a place most American Jews have never seen. I came back a different person. Israel Prepaid's Bronze Plan covered the whole experience.”
“I wanted an Israel experience that was genuinely different, and Nitzana's desert campus delivered that completely. The outdoor challenges were real — multi-day treks, night navigation, desert camping. The environmental learning was substantive. And the community development work gave the whole thing meaning. My parents' Bronze Plan was ready when I needed it.”
Stories are illustrative of typical parent experiences.
How Israel Prepaid Covers Nitzana - Masa Desert Challenge
The Bronze Plan is recommended for Nitzana - Masa Desert Challenge. The earlier you enroll, the lower your monthly payment and the higher your coverage.
| Enrollment Age | Monthly Payment | Guaranteed Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Age 0 | $89/mo | $35,976 |
| Age 3 | $105/mo | $32,392 |
| Age 5 | $119/mo | $30,044 |
| Age 8 | $151/mo | $26,584 |
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