The Lamplighter School launched a $12.5 million capital campaign last week and it’s already off to a great start. As of October 30, the school had raised $7.5 million.

The funds will support the campus’ first expansion in more than 20 years. Phase one includes the addition of a 1,624 square foot barn and a 10,000 square foot Innovation Lab, where kids will learn the basics of robotics, environmental science and woodworking. (This means the zoning change proposal we wrote about in July was approved.) Marlon Blackwell Architects will complete both projects. The firm, which is based out of Fayetteville, Arkansas is known for its “award-winning, environmentally responsive” work.

The school celebrated the fundraising efforts for the first time at its annual Halloween Hootenanny and picnic. Roughly 1,100 costumed people attended the event and enjoyed performances by an aerial acrobat and the award-winning country artist Byron Haynie. There was also tons of confetti as evidenced in the above photo gallery.