We've all heard about going green, but one school district is doing more than just talking about it. The Black River Falls School District is in the process of creating an environmentally focused charter school, opening this fall.

Getting in touch with nature, and going green will be a big part of the BRAGS school, or Black River Area Green School. Organizers say it's perfect for the student who loves the outdoors, and who may want to work in an eco-friendly industry one day.

Black River High School counselor Sue Leadholm says part of the idea for the school is, “Students in our area that were excelling in the sciences could really benefit from the wonderful natural resources that we have in our area.”

Leadholm and Black River Falls High School Principal Tom Chambers both saw a growing need in the green movement. Chambers says, “I believe strongly that the green industry all across the board whether its building, organic farming, air and water quality, global warming issues, all those issues we're going to face more and more as the years go on.”

Which is why the school district applied for a federal planning grant of $50,000 to plan their environmentally based charter school. Chambers says the district plans to launch the new school this fall, with an expected enrollment of about 20-25 students in grades 11 and 12.

Leadholm says, “We're really excited about giving back to the community and being able to share their knowledge with younger students.”Another aspect the district is excited about -- working with the Ho-Chunk Nation, and the importance they place on learning about the world in which they live.

Forrest Funmaker is the Executive Director of Education for the Ho-Chunk Nation, he says its important for younger Ho-Chunk generations to learn to, “See how our environment is such an integral piece of how we live today and how we manage it. What's really important is the stewardship of the land, and how we see our role as protectors of the land.”

Funmaker says he looks forward to the charter school teaching students to understand their roles as stewards of the earth.

The BRAGS school is a public charter school and is open to anyone in Wisconsin, for more information click on the link below.