Lake Norman Charter has launched the Knights Fund annual campaign, "Places and Spaces," to raise money for three outdoor campus projects aimed at expanding play, gathering and recreation spaces for students and the community.

Sarah Lake, the school's community relations director, presented renderings for three targeted projects: an Adventure Playground at the elementary campus adjacent to the existing Gaga Pit; a redesigned middle-school play feature called the Hill, which will use the site’s steep slope with slides and climbing elements; and an upgraded high-school courtyard to be called Knights Plaza, which would add a pickleball court, ping-pong tables, Astroturf and collaborative seating.

Lake said campaign materials will be mailed to all families, staff and board members within a week to 10 days and that donors will be able to designate gifts to particular projects or allow the fund to allocate donations where they are most needed. "You will receive our trifold that is at the printer right now," she said, describing outreach and a plan to permit directed giving while encouraging contributions to greater-need priorities.

The boosters’ athletic report noted that athletic fundraising continues to support teams: the fall golf outing raised over $18,000, funds that go back to athletic programs. Lake said final cost estimates for each Knights Fund project are pending from the landscape architect; the campaign will publish the project budgets after those figures are finalized.

The campaign launch also included a call for volunteers for a campus "Serve and Play" day of service scheduled for Monday, Nov. 25; the campaign team encouraged families to sign up or drop in to help.