This research examines outdoor education programs for Bedouin youth in the Negev Desert, as part of a broader study on shifting environmental perceptions within formerly nomadic societies experiencing urbanization. The Negev Bedouins, descendants of a nomadic pastoral societies, maintained a deep, unmediated connection with the desert landscape, upon which their survival and economy depended. In recent decades, however, nearly the entire community has undergone urbanization, leaving most Bedouin youth born in towns and detached from the desert environment.
In the current reality, outdoor activities are introduced mainly through formal and informal educational systems, yet these systems often provide activities that lack connection to Bedouin nomadic history, traditions, and cultural heritage. For instance, activities are held in forests rather than open desert areas and oases, and they emphasize individual empowerment over tribal collectivism.
The study, based on 40 in-depth interviews with educational leaders in Bedouin society and observational data, suggests a comprehensive approach to outdoor education. This approach aims to reconnect Bedouin youth with their ancestral heritage, community strengths, and resilience skills that are deeply rooted in the desert environment.
