Friends of the Rouge
650 Church Street Suite 209, Plymouth, MI 48170
EIN: 38-2672879
734-927-4900

Copyright 2025 Friends of the Rouge.

Jan
18

2026 speaker series – A River of Knowledge

Location

Fair Lane: Home of Clara and Henry Ford
1 Fair Ln Drive, Dearborn, MI 48128

Site Coordinator

Nicole Wilson, Development Coordinator

nwilson@therouge.org

Description

As we celebrate 40 years of restoring, protecting, and enhancing the Rouge River watershed, we invite you to join us for our 2026 Speaker Series— A River of Knowledge with four afternoons of learning, connection, and inspiration.

Dates:

Sunday, January 18 – Creating a fish expressway with fish expert Bob Muller

Sunday, April 26 – The hidden stories of Fair Lane’s restoration with Austin Eighmey, Director of Historic Resources at Fair Lane Estate

Sunday, July 26 – Restoring Balance: Native habitats and invasive plant management at UM-Dearborn with Rick Simek, Natural Areas Manager at UM-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center (EIC)

Sunday, October 25Growing in the Gardens at Fair Lane Estate with Karen, Director of Gardens and Grounds at Fair Lane

Time: 2:00–4:00 PM

Location: Fair Lane, Home of Henry and Clara Ford, right on your Rouge River in Dearborn, MI

Tickets are $20 per presentation and include admission to that session along with light refreshments.

— choose the sessions that inspire you most and join us for one, or enjoy them all! Come back anytime to purchase future sessions.

Each gathering brings together passionate speakers and curious minds, offering a chance to deepen your shared commitment to the Rouge River.

Come as you are—business casual attire fits the spirit of the day. Let’s gather by the river, learn together, and celebrate the journey ahead.

Only 100 tickets available per session. Reserve your spot today!

(Please check back for more information on the Oct session)

Build a Better Future

You deserve a clean and healthy Rouge River for your loved ones to safely enjoy today and to leave to future generations. Show your commitment to restoring the Rouge River watershed ecosystem by becoming a member and friend today.

Volunteer

Volunteers (like you!) are the people who make it possible to restore and protect your Rouge River right here in southeast Michigan

Donate or Become a Member

Restore and protect the Rouge River ecosystem by becoming a member and friend today.

On Your Own

What you do in your yard can make a big difference to the health of the river and our whole ecosystem.