18 – Teva (Nature) Trail
Created Summer 2023
Design by Michael Streger, Landscape Architect and Sinai member
Construction and hardscapes, Adam Ardoin, Landscape Studio Group
Gifted by Dorn and Joanne Swerdlin
Added to our campus in 2023, Temple Sinai’s Teva (nature) Trail is a beautiful, ½ mile loop path that winds through the synagogue’s wooded property. The trail is easy to traverse and includes comfortable benches at various points along the path as well as an overlook deck and two spaces for gathering. With nature-themed mindfulness quotes interspersed throughout, the trail provides a tranquil setting for reflection, learning, and meditation, or even just a lovely place for people to go for a walk with friends. The Teva Trail also helps to encourage environmental stewardship and foster an appreciation of nature and the wonders of creation. Its impact is profound, providing a space for renewal and the integration of Jewish wisdom with the natural world in a meaningful and accessible way.
Reflection from Michael Streger:
As a landscape architect, I have always been captivated by the simple beauty of Sinai’s acres of undisturbed property. Vistas from our outdoor chapel and playground revealed rolling topography, ravines, old-growth trees, and vegetation, along with all the sounds and scents of nature, as well as the spiritual essence with which it is imbued. So I was delighted when asked to assist with the creation of a nature trail on our campus.
From the outset, it was clear many different facets had to be considered and incorporated into the trail’s design: accessibility, drainage, topography, code restrictions, existing tree health, and safety, to name a few. And, without question, the trail also had to evoke a sense of spirituality. So, rather than the traditional pen and paper design approach, I simply allowed the land to tell us what it had to offer, and after walking the property for several hours, the initial design started to take shape. Destination points emerged, connectivity routes became apparent, and the majestic trees seemed to point and nudge the design in ways I could not have imagined.
After a lot of hard work from our team of contractors, we proudly opened the Teva Trail in May 2023. The trail includes a ½ mile, easy-to-traverse, and mostly shaded loop path that winds through the synagogue’s wooded property. Additional features include comfortable benches at various points along the trail, an overlook deck complete with seating and a “little” library, and two “nook” gathering spaces, which are also furnished. With nature-themed mindfulness quotes interspersed throughout, the trail provides a tranquil setting for reflection, learning, and meditation, or even just a lovely place for people to go for a walk with friends, including those with 4 legs.
