Eagle Scout Philip Weiss, 17, and Gan Preschool student Elai Yinhar, 3, make music at the drum station Weiss designed and built as his Eagle Scout Project on the campus of Maimonides Jewish Day School and The Gan-Portland Jewish Preschool. Located on the school’s natural playground, the music station includes the drum station, a larger drum and a gong wall. Weiss spent about 250 hours on the project and mentored 15 younger Scouts and friends during the installation. He raised $1,250 in monetary donations and about $3,000 in-kind donations, including $250 in metal and $1,700 in labor from Elite Bath to cast the gongs for the gong wall, above. Gan Director Mimi Wilhelm says the preschool was delighted with the outdoor free standing music station that gives children the opportunity for sound exploration. Playing in natural setting provides a rich source of sensory exploration as well as physical challenges, says Wilhelm.
