On Saturday, April 29, The Orchard School gave back to the broader Indianapolis community with support from the environmental and community nonprofit Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB). Community members helped plant over 100 trees at James Foster Gaines Park on Tibbs Avenue in honor of Orchard’s Centennial year. These efforts not only supported the KIB mission of improving environmental equity in Indianapolis, but they also aligned with Orchard’s new strategic plan. “Environmental Education and Stewardship” is one of our strategic priorities, and it captures our long-term commitment to the concept of Nature as Teacher.

 

The successful service project was connected with Orchard's summer Giving Week Campaign where more than 140 families gave $100 or more to have their names included on a unique commemorative tree plaque. The piece will be hung in the Center by Winter Pageant. Those who gave at this level did so in honor of Orchard's Centennial year and the tree planting service project with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful. 

 

Thank you to all of our supporters for helping Orchard commemorate 100 years by sharing the beauty and benefit of the trees students enjoy each day in the Orchard woods with the broader community.