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

Become a Master Rain Gardener

UPDATE: The Winter 2024 virtual Master Rain Gardener course is now FULL. Thank you for everyone who registered with us!

If you would still like to join a rain garden class, see the free self-paced course option offered through Washtenaw County (click orange button on the right), join an in-person class this winter with River Raisin Watershed Council (Wednesdays from Feb 28- Mar 27, 9-11:30am), or email Rainsmart@therouge.org to be waitlisted for the winter virtual course (in case any current registrants drop) or learn about other upcoming rain garden learning opportunities.

Can’t wait? You can always take the free, self-paced version of the class instead!

Free Self-Paced

Protect your home against flooding & help birds, & butterflies with a RAIN garden! We teach you *everything* we know about rain gardens. That includes lessons learned from more than 1,400 rain gardens built by homeowners just like you! Learn what works and what doesn’t. Ask questions in our live class! Visit a real rain garden in person! Neighborhood virtual breakout rooms and Facebook (or an alternate forum) for discussion/homework. Earn your certification – including a t-shirt and sign – by building your own rain garden, or adopting a public rain garden. Partners across southeast Michigan are looking forward to having you for the 2024 Master Rain Gardener course.

PARTNERS

Water Resources Washtenaw County MI logo

Partners from across southeast Michigan have come together to offer the largest ever Master Rain Gardener Training Course, with capacity for over one hundred students drawn from across all of southeast Michigan. Students will be paired with expert instructors from their region, enjoying both one-on-one support and the friendly support of a small peer group of no more then ten fellow students.

WINTER 2024 COURSE DETAILS

TIME: 10am – Noon (9-10am office hours)
DATES: Five Thursdays, January 25, February 1, 8, 15, 22
COST: CLASS FULL
LOCATION: VIRTUAL, with optional in-person outdoor garden tours (rain or shine!):

  • Thurs. Jan 25, 1-2:30pm: 5 Ann Arbor Residential Gardens led by Huron River Watershed Council and Washtenaw County
  • Thurs. Jan 25, between 1-4pm: Southfield Residential Garden led by Oakland County
  • Wed. Jan 31, 1pm: West Bloomfield Residential Garden led by Oakland County
  • Sat. Feb 3, 10am: Adrian- Lenawee Intermediate School District Center for Sustainability Garden + Green Roof led by River Raisin Watershed Council
  • Sat. Feb 25, 1-2:30pm: Ann Arbor Residential Garden tour led by Huron River Watershed Council and Washtenaw County
  • Tue. Feb 27, 3-5pm: Berkley Residential Rain Garden Tour led by Clinton River Watershed Council
  • Thurs. Mar 7, 2-4pm: Plymouth- Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex’s 25 Gardens led by Friends of the Rouge
  • Additional garden tours TBD!

SELF-PACED OPTION

Can’t make the live class fit into your schedule? Take the free self-paced version of the course, or simply watch the video recordings online. If you build a rain garden on your own after watching the recordings, contact us about getting your certification.

SPONSORS

Water Resources Washtenaw County MI logo
Alliance of Rouge Communities
Erb Family Foundation logo

ABOUT THE MASTER RAIN GARDENER TRAINING PROGRAM

The Master Rain Gardener Training Program began in Washtenaw County in 2010, developed by Susan Bryan, Harry Sheehan, and Shannan Gibb-Randall. Since that time, hundreds of gardeners have earned certification as a Master Rain Gardener and built beautiful rain gardens! Rain Gardens filter and cool stormwater so that our streams and rivers run clean. It is a nonpoint solution for nonpoint source pollution. During class, you will…

  • Design your own rain garden step-by-step
  • Receive friendly encouragement each step of the way from course instructors, past graduates, and fellow students
  • Become your neighborhood’s expert on rain gardens!

REQUIREMENTS

Participants must attend all five classes and plant (OR adopt) a rain garden to earn their Master Rain Gardener certificate, garden sign, and t-shirt.

TESTIMONIALS

I love this class! Every gardener should take it for background knowledge. The class is so well organized with visuals and field trips! Meeting more than my expectations.

2018 trainee

I like everything about this class: the way it is taught, field trips, individual help, resources. Matthew and Ian are so knowledgeable.

2018 trainee

COURSE INSTRUCTORS

Jaclyn Heikkila portrait

Jaclyn Heikkila-Stafiej

Friends of the Rouge

Restoration Coordinator

Susan Bryan, MLA

Washtenaw County Water Resources

Rain Garden Coordinator

Bio

Ric Lawson

Huron River Watershed Council

Watershed Planner

Bio

McKenzi Waliczek

Friends of the Detroit River

Stewardship Director

Bio

Meija Knafl

River Raisin Watershed Council

Outreach Coordinator

Jason Frenzel

Huron River Watershed Council

Stewardship Coordinator

bio

Jacy Garrison

Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office

Environmental Planner

Bio

Jill Martin

Huron-Clinton Metroparks

Community Outreach Interpretive Services Supervisor

Anita Daley

Huron River Watershed Council

Marketing Executive

New MRG Teacher for 2024!

Rosina Newton

Friends of the Rouge

Restoration Assistant/ Volunteer Coordinator

Bio

Elizabeth Perera

Friends of the Detroit River

Stewardship Associate

Bio

Samantha Walsh

Friends of the Detroit River

Operations Manager

Bio

Kate Laramie

Huron River Watershed Council

Associate Watershed Ecologist

Shana Totten

Huron-Clinton Metroparks

Lydia Nicholas

Clinton River Watershed Council

Kaleigh Snoddy

Clinton River Watershed Council