Ever wished you could send a message to your future self? Or enjoy eating lunch outside? How about watching a live performance under the stars? All of that and more will be possible at JCC Denver (the J) this summer. This June, JCC Denver will come together to celebrate the grand opening of the Strear-Pluss Community Garden, a beautiful and meaningful addition to our space that invites people to interact with community at the J was made possible with a gift from the Strear-Pluss Family. 

The ribbon cutting ceremony (date to be announced) will include planting a time capsule! In the weeks leading up to this event, the Early Learning School (ELS) will set up a table in the lobby displaying materials with a variety of prompts. Everyone is welcome to participate. The responses will be collected and placed in the time capsule, which will be buried in the garden and unearthed a decade from now.

“The intent of this community space is that anybody can enjoy it on their way in or out of the building,” remarks General Manager of Camps & ELS, Courtney Jacobson. “We are very grateful to the Strear and Pluss families for their generosity in bringing this incredible addition to the ELS and the organization to life.” She adds that the garden will include an outdoor classroom for children in the ELS. Complete with both learning and lunch spaces, ELS children will be able to spend more time outside, planting and tending to the garden. “We’re excited about all the new features, and learning about nature,” says ELS Director Paula Voss. “The new garden is in tune with the school’s philosophy of getting kids to learn through different modalities in new locations, and the ability to explore and grow outside of the classroom.’” 

The garden will feature stadium seating for 40 people, round planter beds filled with trees and a variety of edible and non-toxic plants both native to Isreal and Colorado. It will also include a shaded pergola providing an open-air ambiance where people can gather, relax, or work comfortably on their laptops. A central focus of the garden space will be a memorial tree dedicated to Debra (Debbie) Aleinikoff, the sister of Marci Roper and Mike Strear, symbolizing L’dor Vador, the perpetuity of carrying traditions from one generation to the next, as well as the garden’s everlasting communal functionality across all ages.