Bar Mitzvah In the Trees

If your child is looking for an out of the box Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah experience, look no further than the trees. Boundless Adventures in Purchase, New York was the setting for Colin Funtleyder’s Bar Mitzvah celebration. Following a Saturday morning service at Congregation Kneses Tifereth Israel and a luncheon for adult family and friends, Colin was joined by 70 boys for a Sunday night zip and climb through the trees. Unexpected? Yes, but not surprising, because adventure parks are a family affair for the Funtleyders.

Mom Lorrie, who owns Boundless Adventures with her husband, Brian, explains that their first experience at an adventure park was back in 2012 during a family vacation to West Virginia. “It was the best family bonding experience we ever had, and it instilled such confidence in my children, that we wanted to bring this experience closer to home. Despite working on Wall Street for 15+ years, my husband and I left that world to start this business.” Six years later, Boundless Adventures is a growing business with locations in New York and Massachusetts.

The photographer was Mark Leslie. A complete list of vendors for this celebration follows at the end of the story.

Saturday Service & Luncheon

The invitation, by Out of the Box NY, featured a separate insert for the climbing party on Sunday night

Dad Brian, mom Lorrie, Bar Mitzvah boy Colin and sister Brooke at the Saturday luncheon

The Bar Mitzvah boy was all smiles after his service

Mom and dad relax after the service

Colin and his dad share a laugh at the adult luncheon

Colin's Grandma bought the Bar Mitzvah cake at a local Scarsdale bakery

Sunday Night Climb

Colin and his sister Brooke were joined by their cousins

The boys wore custom glow in the dark "Colin" t-shirts for their journey into the trees

They had a blast conquering the high ropes courses...

... and making their way through the trees at night

Colin and his friends enjoyed a traditional "kids' food" buffet catered by Trattoria 632

The course was illuminated at night

Mitzvah Advice

“Try to make the Bar or Bat Mitzvah about what it is, your child’s Jewish transition into adulthood,” says mom Lorrie. “Let your child be involved in the decision making process since becoming an adult means making decisions.”

Mitzvah Project

Colin’s Mitzvah project involved giving learning impaired children opportunities that they otherwise wouldn’t have. Colin climbed at Boundless Adventures with a non-verbal child with severe autism. He plans on bringing more children to the park in the future.

Vendor Directory

The following vendors helped to make Colin’s Bar Mitzvah a night to remember.  If you contact any of them about their services, please let them know you read about their company on MitzvahMarket.com.

Venue:  Boundless Adventures, 914-893-4550
Invitations: Out of the Box NY, Leslie Goldberg, 914-934-2323
Food: Trattoria 632, 914-481-5811
Photographer: Mark Leslie Photography, 973-305-1088
Custom T-Shirt Favors: Custom Ink, 800-293-4232
Hair/Makeup: Vashni Michos