Light The Way
A $300,000 Matching Campaign to Secure the Future of The Skola
Light the Way is an invitation to strengthen the foundation beneath everything that happens at The Skola. Through a $300,000 dollar-for-dollar match, every gift made during this campaign is immediately doubled, accelerating the work needed to ensure long-term stability, safety, and sustainability for our students and teachers.
Light the Way represents a pivotal moment for The Skola, shaped by both generosity and thoughtful stewardship.
In 2024, The Skola received the extraordinary gift of its permanent campus, securing a long-term home for learning in this community. Since then, the school has invested more than $350,000 to make that gift usable and safe for students through required infrastructure improvements, including access, classroom upgrades, and essential safety systems. These investments made it possible for The Skola to open and operate fully, though some of this work required taking on debt.
In late 2025, two community members, Steve Lull and Brogan Thomsen, stepped forward with an extraordinary act of belief in The Skola. Though they had no prior connection to the school, they were deeply moved by its mission, its students, and the kind of learning that unfolds here each day. Together, they committed $300,000 and issued a powerful challenge to our community: every dollar donated will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $300,000.
Their gift recognizes both where The Skola has come from and what is possible next. Light the Way allows the school to complete remaining infrastructure needs, retire remaining debt tied to campus systems, and move fully into long-term sustainability. With these systems secured, The Skola can focus forward on what matters most: exceptional teachers, intentionally small classes, and a nature-based education that honors childhood.
Why Light The Way Matters
Building A Secure Foundation
In 2024, Skola received the extraordinary gift of its permanent campus, securing a long-term home and anchoring the school’s future in this community.
Since then, Skola has invested $350,000 to make that gift usable and safe for students through required improvements. Supported in part through responsible debt, these investments made it possible for Skola to open and operate as a fully functioning school.
This $600,000 campaign completes that work by retiring remaining infrastructure debt and finalizing essential campus systems required to meet county and public school standards, including:
$150,000 for septic system improvements
$60,000 for water system upgrades
$40,000 for power and electrical upgrades
Completing these systems ensures the campus can operate safely, reliably, and without interruption.
At the same time, Light the Way strengthens Skola’s core operations by supporting the people and programs that make learning possible every day.
Together, this investment allows Skola to provide:
Stability that allows children to feel safe, seen, and supported
Intentionally small classes and attuned teachers who know each child deeply
A forward-thinking curriculum that honors curiosity, creativity, and individualized learning
Critical systems that support daily operations, including campus infrastructure, educator salaries, and programmatic investments
A permanent home where nature and learning belong together
A future shaped with intention and care
An Invitation to Light the Way
Light the Way is more than a campaign. It is a shared commitment to protect what makes The Skola special and to ensure that learning here continues with care, consistency, and wonder.
We are deeply grateful for every donor who chooses to be part of this moment.