Groundbreaking for Outdoor Exploratorium at Congregation B'nai Israel in Rumson

On Tuesday, June 10, 2014, Congregation B’nai Israel (CBI) in Rumson held a groundbreaking ceremony for an Outdoor Exploratorium. Clergy leaders, lay leaders, educators, administrators, board members and fundraisers all gathered to ceremoniously break ground for this new project. “The Exploratorium, part playground, part classroom, will replace the existing playground and be the centerpiece of a revitalized outdoor space for the young children in our community,” said Fran Semaya, President of CBI.  “The Exploratorium, unique in Monmouth County, is more than just an outdoor playground, it is a dynamic, nature-based play and learning space.”

“What makes the Exploratorium more than just a playground,” said Rabbi Jeff Sultar, “is its focus not just on the equipment itself but on the environment it. There will be birdhouses to attract birds and bushes to attract butterflies. We will be planting a garden so that community members across the generations can work together on a meaningful project. Our plan is that some of our harvest will not only go into our community meals, but also to a food bank in the area. In this way, our students will experience in a direct, hands-on manner the central role of caring for others in Jewish tradition.”

“Construction for the Exploratorium will begin this week,” said Larry Kaplan, project liaison.  “While the project will be built in several phases, the initial phase should be finished in time for our summer camp,” explained Suzanne Wycoff, director of the Gan Yeladim Early Learning Center at CBI. “The Exploratorium will provide the children in camp and preschool with a safe, inspiring, outdoor space to create, explore, splash, make music and exercise. In addition to a garden, the Exploratorium includes water features, a trike path with tunnel and bridge, all-weather musical instruments, a station for arts and crafts as well as traditional playground equipment.”

“A later phase will include a multi-purpose space that can be used by the children for story time and performances, and by the CBI community as a whole for outdoor services and events,” added Rabbi Sultar. “In addition to providing a fantastic play space for our younger children, the Exploratorium will help connect what goes on in inside our building to the outside world, to nature, to multi-generational relationships, and to our responsibilities to other people.”  

Gan families, members, friends, and business associates of CBI funded the project. “We are so thankful that our members and friends recognized the value of this outdoor classroom,” said Tootsie Olan, Co-chair of Fundraising.  “When Melanie Brown, my Fundraising Co-chair and I reached out for donations, we were so warmed by the response and generosity of the community. Some donors made general contributions but others gave to cover specific elements of the Exploratorium and they will be recognized on those elements.”

CBI is located at 171 Ridge Road, at the corners of Hance and Ridge Roads in Rumson, New Jersey.  Serving the Jewish community for more than 90 years, the synagogue serves as a spiritual home for families throughout Monmouth County, provides religious education for preschoolers to adults and hosts social and civic functions for the Jewish community. For more information about CBI, go to www.cbirumson.org. For more information about Gan Yeladim or the summer camp at CBI, contact Suzanne Wykoff at Suzanne.ganyeladim@cbirumson.org.