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

Become a Master Rain Gardener

Protect your home against flooding & help bees, birds, & butterflies with a RAIN garden! Partners across southeast Michigan are pleased to announce details for the 2023 Master Rain Gardener course.

*Do you live in the following communities? You could qualify for FREE registration for next year’s winter Master Rain Gardener course funded by the EPA-Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grant: Protecting Lake Erie Marsh and Waters. Please email Jill Martin to see if you qualify!
Qualifying Zip Codes: Detroit (48209, 48217), Ecorse (48229), Inkster (48141), Lincoln Park (48146), Melvindale (48122), River Rouge (48218), Riverview (48193), Romulus (48174), Taylor (48180)

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

Free Self-Paced

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 2023 COURSE DETAILS

TIME: 10am – Noon
DATES: Five Thursdays, February 23, March 2, 9, 16, and 23
LOCATION: VIRTUAL, with an in-person outdoor tour

WINTER 2023 TOUR DATES & LOCATIONS (OPTIONAL):

  • Thu. Feb 23, 3pm (Clinton River/ Oakland County area) visit a residential rain garden. Hear directly from the resident about their experience designing and building their rain garden
  • Thu. Feb 23, RESCHEDULED for Sat. Feb 25, 1-2:30pm (Huron River, Washtenaw County area) visit a residential rain garden. Hear directly from the resident about their experience designing and building their rain garden
  • Mon. Feb 27, 4pm (Detroit River/ Wayne County area) visit a residential garden. Hear directly from the resident about their experience designing and building their rain garden
  • Thu. March 9, 2-4pm (Plymouth, Wayne County area) Planting design exploration of 23 rain gardens at the Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex, 650 Church St, Plymouth
  • Fri. March 10, RESCHEDULED for Tue. March 28, 2pm (Riverview/ Downriver, Wayne County area) visit a residential garden. Hear directly from the resident about their experience designing and building their rain garden

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.

SPRING 2023 IN-PERSON COURSE

DATES: April 19, 26, May 3,10,17. IN PERSON. 

LOCATION: Rolling Hills County Park. 7660 Stony Creek Rd, Ypsilanti, MI 48197. The Great Room at the Lodge. Rolling Hills is between Saline & Ypsilanti.

Questions about the class? Contact Susan Bryan bryans@washtenaw.org or Meija Knafl knaflm@gmail.com  

For more details and to REGISTER NOW

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

Susan Bryan, MLA

Washtenaw County Water Resources

Rain Garden Coordinator

Bio

Ric Lawson

Huron River Watershed Council

Watershed Planner

Bio

Dr. Chris Bobryk

Clinton River Watershed Council

Watershed Planner

McKenzi Waliczek

Friends of the Detroit River

Stewardship Director

Bio

Meija Knafl

River Raisin Watershed Council

Outreach Coordinator

Jaclyn Heikkila portrait

Jaclyn Heikkila

Friends of the Rouge

Restoration 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

Lisa Denys

Huron-Clinton Metroparks

Community Outreach Interpreter

Jason Frenzel

Huron River Watershed Council

Stewardship Coordinator

bio

Beth Rowley

Alluring Landscape Design

Landscape Designer