CHALLENGE FOUNDATION ACADEMY

Address: 3980 Meadows Dr., 46205, Center Township

School Website: http://indy.teamcfa.org/

General Overview of the School: Challenge Foundation Academy is a K-5, tuition-free, quality public charter school founded on the Core Knowledge curriculum. Established in 2006, CFA is open to all students. Our core focus is to provide an outstanding education for our children equipping them with the knowledge, wisdom, core values, and behaviors to be successful in life. They are located in the Meadows neighborhood and serve as a key component in the success of the area.

General Overview of the CFA KIB Club: Led by the 3rd grade teacher, Jodi Stegemiller, the club will consist of a group of kids ranging in age and will focus on creating and maintaining the different projects that will take place at the school.

General Overview of Landscape Design Plan: CFA has a fairly large campus with some mature trees around the perimeter, so their first goal is to plant more trees… native, fruit and nut, shade, etc. A vegetable garden has already been installed and is growing very well, but needs some expertise in design and maintenance and eventually expanded. Composting would is one element that the club would like to experiment with as well as starting their own seeds and transplanting them. A formal “Calming Garden” is in the works for the south side of the building where students can go to reflect and experience nature. There are also 3 areas around the campus that are just asking to be planted with “water-loving” perennials and trees as it regularly floods in these areas and could use the beautification.

Volunteer Landscape Architect: Adam Garvey, Gardens of Growth

Recent Projects

CFA students working in the rain garden

On May 13th, 2011, volunteers from Harding Poorman and EProtex helped plant lots of native trees and build compost bins for their veggie garden.

On September 22nd, 2011 about 75 volunteers from Ernst and Young helped to plant around 35 trees and worked in the rain garden. A few of the volunteers also helped tutor kids in the classroom.