Embracing Nature's Classroom.
Outdoor Education in Central Wisconsin and How Red Granite Charter School Fits Into Its History
Wisconsin's landscape, characterized by its pristine lakes, lush forests, and rolling hills, has long been an inspiration for outdoor enthusiasts. We’ve witnessed a notable evolution in outdoor education throughout the state, reflecting a broader national trend towards recognizing the inherent value of experiential learning in natural settings.
With its opening in fall 2024, Red Granite Charter School will add its own narrative to this part of the state’s history. How did we get here? And who is paving the way to ensure that Red Granite Charter School not only exists, but thrives once its doors open? Let’s take a look.
Outdoor education has been around for quite a while. Just shy of 100 years ago, Wisconsin’s first school forests opened in Laona, Crandon and Wabeno (Source). The state's commitment to environmental education has been evident in its emphasis on fostering a sense of stewardship for the natural world. If you are a child who grew up in Wisconsin, you likely remember not only studying leaves and photosynthesis in the classroom, but then also visiting a forest to experience those lessons first-hand.
Outdoor education has specifically grown in central Wisconsin over the last decade. In 2012, Chamomile Nusz founded the Tomorrow River Community Charter Schools (TRCCS) in Amherst. For the last 11 years of her career she has worked to improve and innovate education. Chamomile says her children set her on the path to bring TRCCS to the area; she knew she wanted something more sustainable for her family. Her solution: start a school. Steadfast in her vision, Chamomile brought TRCCS to life. The school is focused on developing the whole child through nature, art, language and music in an innovative, collaborative and supportive educational environment. TRCCS is guided by the core principles of public Waldorf education, environmental education and other proven pedagogy.
Under her direction, the elementary, middle and virtual schools have received multiple certifications and grants including the prestigious US Department of Education’s National Green Ribbon Schools Award. As executive director, she helped to grow the school from just under 50 students in its first year to over 260 students in its 9th year. This elementary, middle and virtual school was, at the time, the only public Waldorf school in Wisconsin, and the first charter school in the Tomorrow River School District. Since leaving the role as Executive Director of TRCCS, Chamomile has also co-founded Central Sands Community High School and consulted for Fremont STEM Academy.
When Meghan Hughes, a mother of two in the Wausau area, felt moved to bring something similar to Wausau, she naturally connected with Chamomile to get her ideas. Understanding the vast knowledge, experience and passion Chamomile had in this area, the two partnered and started the journey of building a strong foundation for Red Granite Charter School.
“I was so inspired by Chamomile and had no doubt she was the right person to bring alongside me to make this dream a reality for our community,” commented Meghan. “She is the thought-leader and difference maker in this space. In addition to her work with TRCCS, she is the Membership Director for the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education, supporting over 60 schools throughout the United States. She works with the Wisconsin Resource Center for Charter Schools (WRCCS) supporting the development of high-performing charter schools throughout the state of Wisconsin. Her experiences, knowledge and passion are immeasurable and are instrumental in our ability to build Red Granite Charter School on a foundation built to last."
Months of hard work and dedication brought a great deal of progress on making Red Granite Charter School a reality. Things started to move quickly in 2023, with a significant $1.9 million federal grant awarded to the school that will pave the way in establishing curriculum, developing state-of-the-art learning facilities, and hiring and training educators who share the school’s values. In early 2024, the Wausau School District approved the partnership and site plans between Red Granite Charter School and Monk Botanical Gardens, giving the green light for the school to open in fall 2024 as a public charter school within the district.
Meghan and Chamomile’s vision, along with the school’s board of governance, exemplifies the evolution of outdoor education in Wisconsin. They are tying together a forward-thinking approach to education, where the boundaries between the classroom and nature blur, creating a richer and more immersive learning environment for generations of central Wisconsin students to come.