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friends@therouge.org | 734-927-4900 | Fax: 734-927-4920

SM Crescent 13 - children and chaperones learn at the river

Rouge Education Project

The Rouge Education Project (REP) is school-based environmental education program involving elementary, middle, and high schools from across southeastern Michigan. Students learn about the Rouge River in their classroom, and then perform hands-on scientific exploration of the river on a field trip to its banks. They assess chemical, biological, and physical parameters of water quality to determine overall stream health, and report their results to Friends of the Rouge. Students are further encouraged to take action to restore and protect the river based on their results.

Our mission:

Steppingstone Shiawassee - workers in the riverPromote awareness and stewardship of the Rouge River watershed through school-based water quality monitoring, investigation, and problem-solving.

Our primary goals are to:

(1) Provide opportunities for schools to engage students in hands-on, real-world science, through water quality monitoring of the Rouge River
(2) Increase participants’ awareness of the Rouge River watershed by showing them how they impact the river, and how its health impacts them
(3) Empower participants to apply knowledge and awareness gained through the Rouge Education Project to identify and address environmental issues in the Rouge River watershed and beyond.

The REP is coordinated and facilitated by Friends of the Rouge, who trains K-12 teachers how to monitor surface water quality through a series of workshops. Resources are provided to help them plan the Rouge River watershed unit and field trip in their classroom(s), along with monitoring equipment [with the availability of funding]. Friends of the Rouge also trains volunteers, our REP assistants, and pairs them with each classroom to assist during their field trip to the river.

In addition to Friends of the Rouge staff, guidance and support for the program comes from an Education Committee.

What have we found?

Current Rouge Education Project Schools

Spring Monitoring 2024

8 Schools

Coolidge Elementary School, Livonia
Crestwood High School, Dearborn Heights
Detroit Country Day Middle School, Beverly Hills
Hope Christian Academy, Westland
The Roeper Lower School, Bloomfield Hills
Roosevelt High School, Wyandotte
Star International Academy, Canton
Steppingstone School, Plymouth

Fall Monitoring 2023

8 Schools

Clippert Academy, Detroit
Coolidge Elementary School, Livonia
Crestwood High School, Dearborn Heights
Farmington STEAM Academy, Farmington Hills
Hamtramck High School, Hamtramck
Hope Christian Academy, Westland
Steppingstone School, Plymouth
Troy High School, Troy

REP Project Contest

Interest form deadline is December 8, 2023. ATTENTION STUDENTS: Win project funding for your school! Rouge River Project Contest Contest...
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REP 2020 Fall Monitoring

With many schools still operating virtually or in a hybrid environment, fall monitoring was a bit smaller than usual this...
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River photo

REP 2020 Spring Monitoring

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in widespread school closures, spring monitoring as usual was not possible this year. The...
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REP Online Learning

Looking for at-home or at-school river education? Become a Rouge River Detective and explore local environmental issues in your community...
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Visions of the Rouge 1st Place poster crop - Illustration of glasses with a Bluegill Sunfish and a Stonefly

REP Artwork Contest Results

Every year we hold a student-designed artwork contest based on a theme. Winners are featured on posters distributed to each...
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drawing image

REP Artwork Contest

ATTENTION STUDENTS: Showcase your artistic ability! Rouge River Artwork Contest Contest begins December 6, 2019. Entry deadline is January 17,...
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REP Student Surveys

TEACHERS: Please have your students click on the appropriate link and complete the PRE- sampling survey before you begin your...
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REP Training Workshops

We offer training opportunities throughout the year that focus on K-12 hands-on streamside education at the banks of the Rouge...
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Education Committee

Educational programming is guided and supported by a committee that meets periodically throughout the school year to discuss the status...
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REP Monitoring Parameters

The REP assesses surface water quality in three main categories: chemical, biological, and physical.  Examples of what students monitor are...
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Volunteer group walking in the woods, crossing a footbridge along the river

REP Monitoring Data Archive

A note about our results: The raw data archive (linked below) includes three tabs: chemical, biological, and physical. Chemical: Any...
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Workshop being taught in a classroom

REP Assistants Needed

REP Assistants are volunteers who assist a teacher participating in the Rouge Education Project by working in the classroom and...
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New teacher orientation class

REP Info for Schools

If you are a teacher interested in learning more about joining the Rouge Education Project, please fill out this form....
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