The Shittim Orchard, a peaceful green nook located between the Shittim elementary and high schools, was founded and is managed by volunteers from the local community. The aim of the orchard is to provide experiences in a variety of environmental subjects, flora, fauna and agriculture, with emphasis on agricultural work and development of independent creative thinking, but it also serves as place where the children and relax and play.

The grounds of the orchard include net houses, a technological hothouse, a planting hothouse, open spaces, two wooden classrooms, a seating corner and a place for outside cooking. In between the hothouses there are cages for rabbits and birds, a goat pen and fish ponds. Each class comes to the orchard for one hour a week and studies a subject that is particularly suited to it, such as: germination and growing, agriculture, animal husbandry, medicinal plants and herbs, observation and research activities. The activities in the orchard allow the children to experience subjects studied in the school, with emphasis on quality of the environment, and the ties of man to the world of flora and fauna. The orchard is open during all of the school day, including breaks, and serves the students as a meeting place and a good spot to pass the time.

The project includes all of the students in the educational system, including those with special needs. The activities are adapted to the students' ages. During the past year the orchard has opened a room for raising small animals, in which meetings are held with children with special needs.

Partnership 2000 has been the major funding agency of this project, which in addition to its educational value for the children of the region, also brings their parents together as volunteers.