Academic & Environmental Initiatives
Chuck and Teresa Bartels Family Garden
Goal: $500,000
On August 8, 2025, we officially opened the Chuck and Teresa Bartels Family Garden with a beautiful ribbon cutting ceremony. In addition to the overall garden, we also dedicated two named spaces within the garden: Eileen's Retreat, named in memory of Eilleen Perille, given by her two sons, Bob '76 and Tom '72, and The Corsair Water Garden, given by the Young Family.
This marks the first completed space of A Bold and Inspired Vision for the Future Campaign. By transforming a formerly underutilized space, the Bartels Family Garden will shape many new paths for Corsairs to connect in meaningful ways. It promotes well-being and reduces stress, becoming a sanctuary where students can grow spiritually, academically, and personally.
Set in the largest courtyard on campus, adjacent to the science wing, this innovative outdoor space features distinct areas that can function as a life science lab, offering hands-on experiences in biodiversity and ecology. The Corsair Water Garden contains a serene 100-ft. river flowing through the garden, enlivening a dynamic ecosystem that invites exploration. Four outdoor classrooms create engaging environments for collaborative learning, allowing students to meaningfully connect with nature. The garden also includes a butterfly garden intended to spark curiosity in biology, as well as Eileen's Retreat which includes a special winding path through beautiful landscaping.
Chuck’s son, Chris Bartels ’89, an accomplished landscape architect, has designed and overseen this special project alongside local expert landscaping company Martin John.
A transformative, anonymous donation has made the Bartels Family Garden possible.
We invite you to read our COMPASS magazine feature to learn how donor generosity has brought this vision to life, cultivating a meaningful space that will inspire and nurture Carmel Catholic students for generations to come.
Academic Excellence and Environmental Sustainability
Goal: $2 Million
The Chuck and Teresa Bartels Family Garden will be the cornerstone of a comprehensive effort to prioritize sustainability across the campus and bolster environmental understanding and learning in science classes. As Carmel Catholic undertakes renovation of its campus in this Campaign, plans call for using energy-efficient materials and methods. The school’s founders, the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Order of Carmelites, share the Church’s call to live in a caring relationship with all creation.
A major highlight of this initiative involves the installation of a $1 million solar array on our campus roofs. In addition to being eco-friendly, the effort is also expected to create significant financial savings.
“The introduction of solar energy at Carmel Catholic is an evolutionary step toward caring for our common home,” Carmelite Prior Provincial Fr. Carl Markelz, O.Carm. says. “This vibrant and loving school community continues to move forward in the 21st century, recognizing that we need to take steps now to ensure the future sustainability of our earth and ensure the future of the next generation of Corsairs.”
Other improvements include funding academic and extracurricular programming related to green initiatives, developing the aforementioned outdoor spaces into hands-on learning labs, and establishing an endowment to provide for maintenance and longevity.
